A Revolutionary War-era boarding pike head

Jim McDougall · 31st October 2025, 11:03 PM

This is an outstanding piece!!! and as you say, little info provided, which is likely because few people have any idea of the particulars of these items. Thankfully you DO!!! and the resources you have cited are the only ones I have for more info.

As I know little on these types of items, the questions I would ask are , why the broad leaf pattern? I had thought boarding pikes had narrower blades,.
Like many naval weapons it seems the period of use had long span, is there a set range of use for this type? was it peculiar to British (thus colonial) use or were these leaf types also to other nations navy's?

It would be interesting to look for art work that depicts these or similar types in use!

The game's afoot!!!!

31st October 2025, 11:03 PM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,670	This is an outstanding piece!!! and as you say, little info provided, which is likely because few people have any idea of the particulars of these items. Thankfully you DO!!! and the resources you have cited are the only ones I have for more info. As I know little on these types of items, the questions I would ask are , why the broad leaf pattern? I had thought boarding pikes had narrower blades,. Like many naval weapons it seems the period of use had long span, is there a set range of use for this type? was it peculiar to British (thus colonial) use or were these leaf types also to other nations navy's? It would be interesting to look for art work that depicts these or similar types in use! The game's afoot!!!!