Repurposed Spontoon?

Jim McDougall · 21st January 2026, 09:07 PM

Good one Capn with that Ceylonese hanger for the Dutch, and that is one of the most remarkable examples of this colonial situation....the character of the lionhead mouth is compelling.

Mark, good point, why could this spontoon not be Flemish? French? While these heads seem invariably hafted with side straps, these could have easily been cut away. That leaves the issue with the tang.

Still, there is a strong case for maritime association here, which would lean toward the East Indies/Orient trade and its strong connections in New England.

21st January 2026, 09:07 PM	#10
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,848	Good one Capn with that Ceylonese hanger for the Dutch, and that is one of the most remarkable examples of this colonial situation....the character of the lionhead mouth is compelling. Mark, good point, why could this spontoon not be Flemish? French? While these heads seem invariably hafted with side straps, these could have easily been cut away. That leaves the issue with the tang. Still, there is a strong case for maritime association here, which would lean toward the East Indies/Orient trade and its strong connections in New England.