Sahel spear with European pike/lance ? head

colin henshaw · 2nd September 2012, 12:36 PM

Hi

Here are some images of a Sahel (maybe Hausa or thereabouts), spear with a head that looks like it came from a European lance or pike of some sort ?

Can anyone shed some light on this - possible origin and rough date of the spear point ?

The wooden haft has been cut away to fit the head and drilled in line with the holes in the metal shank, but there are no rivets or nails present.

Comments are welcome on this unusual weapon....

Also posted on the European forum.

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The European pike was 'phased out' with the introduction of firearms and it is unlikely such an 'outdated' weapon would have been used/taken to Africa (by Euro forces)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.

colin henshaw · 7th September 2012, 06:08 PM

Thanks to David and David R for their input on this item.

Browsing over the internet- the European lance heads I can see appear to be of a narrow profile with closed sockets. A few naval boarding pikes have wider blades with langets, but not a particularly close match to mine.
Looking at the spear head on my piece...it seems to be of slightly crude and irregular forging, also the langets differ a little in length. Would this be of high enough quality for 19th century European manufacture ?

Bearing in mind Matchlock's comments on the European forum, I am beginning to think this might be an African copy of a European pike/lance head ?? Another point to consider is that the rusting to the butt of the spear is of quite a different pattern compared with that on the head.

Please see attached close-up images.

Anyone have any further ideas on this enigmatic weapon ?

Regards.

Jim McDougall · 12th September 2012, 03:53 AM

Im inclined to agree with David that this may well be a native copy of probably a British pattern lance head, which often were with nail openings and were elongated straps. These seem roughly made and uneven with the straps splayed and ill fitting. The shoe is more like that of Saharan lances if I recall.

2nd September 2012, 12:36 PM	#1
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,430	Sahel spear with European pike/lance ? head Hi Here are some images of a Sahel (maybe Hausa or thereabouts), spear with a head that looks like it came from a European lance or pike of some sort ? Can anyone shed some light on this - possible origin and rough date of the spear point ? The wooden haft has been cut away to fit the head and drilled in line with the holes in the metal shank, but there are no rivets or nails present. Comments are welcome on this unusual weapon.... Also posted on the European forum. Attached Images

7th September 2012, 06:08 PM	#7
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,430	Thanks to David and David R for their input on this item. Browsing over the internet- the European lance heads I can see appear to be of a narrow profile with closed sockets. A few naval boarding pikes have wider blades with langets, but not a particularly close match to mine. Looking at the spear head on my piece...it seems to be of slightly crude and irregular forging, also the langets differ a little in length. Would this be of high enough quality for 19th century European manufacture ? Bearing in mind Matchlock's comments on the European forum, I am beginning to think this might be an African copy of a European pike/lance head ?? Another point to consider is that the rusting to the butt of the spear is of quite a different pattern compared with that on the head. Please see attached close-up images. Anyone have any further ideas on this enigmatic weapon ? Regards. Attached Images

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2nd September 2012, 01:26 PM	#2
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	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	#3
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	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	#4
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,051	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	#6
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,051	Probably not a French year II pike then, could still be a boarding pike though, I think.

12th September 2012, 03:53 AM	#8
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,735	Im inclined to agree with David that this may well be a native copy of probably a British pattern lance head, which often were with nail openings and were elongated straps. These seem roughly made and uneven with the straps splayed and ill fitting. The shoe is more like that of Saharan lances if I recall.