Sahel spear with European pike/lance ? head

katana · 2nd September 2012, 01:26 PM

Hi Colin,
I would say that this is a lance head.

Lancers were used in many campaigns in Africa and were still used during WW1 by European Armies.
The European pike was 'phased out' with the introduction of firearms and it is unlikely such an 'outdated' weapon would have been used/taken to Africa (by Euro forces)

All the best
David

katana · 2nd September 2012, 01:47 PM

If British, could be the 1846 pattern .....this had long langets which could have been 'cut down'. I cannot source a picture (close-up) of the 1846 'head' to confirm the shape/size etc. Later British pattern lances were all socketted. I believe langets were a feature of German Lances so checking their patterns may help give you a more conclusive answer.

David

David R · 2nd September 2012, 10:43 PM

Question, is it flat on one side? If it is, it could be a French pike head dating to the Revolutionary wars 1790s or a ships boarding pike of up to the mid 19th C.

colin henshaw · 3rd September 2012, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David R

Question, is it flat on one side? If it is, it could be a French pike head dating to the Revolutionary wars 1790s or a ships boarding pike of up to the mid 19th C.

Hi - the spear head is not flat on one side, it has the same mid-rib both sides.

David R · 3rd September 2012, 05:21 PM

Probably not a French year II pike then, could still be a boarding pike though, I think.

2nd September 2012, 01:26 PM	#1
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Hi Colin, I would say that this is a lance head. Lancers were used in many campaigns in Africa and were still used during WW1 by European Armies. The European pike was 'phased out' with the introduction of firearms and it is unlikely such an 'outdated' weapon would have been used/taken to Africa (by Euro forces) All the best David

2nd September 2012, 01:47 PM	#2
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	If British, could be the 1846 pattern .....this had long langets which could have been 'cut down'. I cannot source a picture (close-up) of the 1846 'head' to confirm the shape/size etc. Later British pattern lances were all socketted. I believe langets were a feature of German Lances so checking their patterns may help give you a more conclusive answer. David

2nd September 2012, 10:43 PM	#3
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,131	Question, is it flat on one side? If it is, it could be a French pike head dating to the Revolutionary wars 1790s or a ships boarding pike of up to the mid 19th C.

3rd September 2012, 05:21 PM	#5
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,131	Probably not a French year II pike then, could still be a boarding pike though, I think.