Halberds ca. 1500-1580

M ELEY · 4th January 2009, 02:02 AM

Michael, in the picture of the room full of amazing pieces, is that a pike I see in the one pic close to the ceiling with a diamond-shaped point? It is the one above the two wall-mounted halberds. I have a shorter one with similar tip, wormy ash haft cut in the same pattern as yours with the tip bearing primitive X designs. I suspect that mine is a Spanish colonial boarding pike and just wanted to confirm yours as a pike (I'm trying to rule out Spanish lance, spear, javelin, etc). Thanks,
Mark

M ELEY · 5th January 2009, 02:03 AM

Opps...disregard. I see from the discussion that it is a spear. Still trying to pin mine down to an exact catagory.

Matchlock · 5th January 2009, 09:10 PM

Hi Marc,

Please forgive my not answering back any earlier.

It is a Styrian spear from the Graz armory, made in the 1570's. It is the only one known to retain its original octagonal haft which is branded with the inventory stamp of the Metropolitan Museum New York in around 1900 and must have been deaccessioned of later.

Interesting enough, there are still hundreds of these spears (Froschmaulspiesse) preserved at Graz but all their round hafts are replacements.

Michael

M ELEY · 5th January 2009, 11:45 PM

Thanks, Michael. I hadn't heard of this type of spear before and mistook it for a pike. Very nice piece! You do have your own museum there and very impressive. Thanks for taking the time to post all of your pics. I'm following the one I asked you about closely (the chain-shot from your collection and that of the museum's). I don't suppose you know anyone that has a like item for sale anywhere?

This stuff is hard to find.

Matchlock · 6th January 2009, 07:41 PM

Enjoy, Mark and the others!

Michael

Matchlock · 7th January 2009, 04:32 PM

Mark,

I sent you a private message.

Michael

Matchlock · 27th March 2009, 04:35 PM

... on a painting of the Resurrection by Simon Franck, ca. 1525, in the basilica of Aschaffenburg/Northern Bavaria.

Michael

6th January 2009, 07:41 PM	#5
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Styrian Spears at the Graz Armory Enjoy, Mark and the others! Michael Attached Images

27th March 2009, 04:35 PM	#7
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Early 16th Century Halberds ... ... on a painting of the Resurrection by Simon Franck, ca. 1525, in the basilica of Aschaffenburg/Northern Bavaria. Michael Attached Images

4th January 2009, 02:02 AM	#1
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,077	Michael, in the picture of the room full of amazing pieces, is that a pike I see in the one pic close to the ceiling with a diamond-shaped point? It is the one above the two wall-mounted halberds. I have a shorter one with similar tip, wormy ash haft cut in the same pattern as yours with the tip bearing primitive X designs. I suspect that mine is a Spanish colonial boarding pike and just wanted to confirm yours as a pike (I'm trying to rule out Spanish lance, spear, javelin, etc). Thanks, Mark

5th January 2009, 02:03 AM	#2
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,077	Opps...disregard. I see from the discussion that it is a spear. Still trying to pin mine down to an exact catagory.

5th January 2009, 09:10 PM	#3
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Hi Marc, Please forgive my not answering back any earlier. It is a Styrian spear from the Graz armory, made in the 1570's. It is the only one known to retain its original octagonal haft which is branded with the inventory stamp of the Metropolitan Museum New York in around 1900 and must have been deaccessioned of later. Interesting enough, there are still hundreds of these spears (Froschmaulspiesse) preserved at Graz but all their round hafts are replacements. Michael

5th January 2009, 11:45 PM	#4
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,077	Thanks, Michael. I hadn't heard of this type of spear before and mistook it for a pike. Very nice piece! You do have your own museum there and very impressive. Thanks for taking the time to post all of your pics. I'm following the one I asked you about closely (the chain-shot from your collection and that of the museum's). I don't suppose you know anyone that has a like item for sale anywhere? This stuff is hard to find.

7th January 2009, 04:32 PM	#6
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Mark, I sent you a private message. Michael