Boarding pike? What is it?

russel · 24th August 2013, 12:35 AM

Hello all,

A friend asked me to try to identify this item for him. I know it isn't really under the banner of ethnographic but I thought someone here may know what it is. I don't think it is an elephant goad due to its size. Maybe a boarding pike/spike/hook? Or an whaling flensing tool?

All sugggestions gratefully recieved.

Cheers - Russel

M ELEY · 24th August 2013, 01:55 AM

Hello Russell,
I think we are looking at a gaff here. If you can imagine this mounted on a pole with one of the spikes acting as the tang for the piece, you can see how it would resemble a boarding pike. Gaffs such as this have existed before colonial times and were used to pull in lines, secure the ropes (note the ring on your piece), pull smaller craft closer to the dock for disembarking, etc. Some types of gigs were used in fishing, as Fernando's resent accquisition will attest to (for gigging tuna or mackarel). One could easily be fanciful and say it 'could' have been used as a boarding pike for defence, but without definite proof, the use of gaffs like yours used as weapons remains speculative. Some of us naval collectors have debated this in the past, both here and on other maritime/naval sites. here's the thing about so-called "boarding weapons". In the scrap of battle, almost everything on the deck of a ship could and would be used to attack/defend oneself. Belay pins were a part of the ship, but they were commonly used for a ship's defense. Likewise, whaling harpoons, fire axes, grappling hooks, knotted ropes, and blubber knives all came into the fray when it came to fighting on deck.
Soooooo...a ship's gaff tool that theoretically might have seen action. I'd date it to late 18th to mid-19th century. A nice piece of nautical history!

russel · 24th August 2013, 02:17 AM

Thank you, that is great information. Do the stamped initials T.R.y.s. ring any bells?

M ELEY · 24th August 2013, 04:06 AM

Opps! I've been calling it a gig and what I meant to say was that it is a gaff!! Sorry!

I was looking at the stamp, hoping that it might be a ship's name, dockyard name, etc. Likewise, if it had been a number, it might have been a locker/rack number on a ship. More than likely, it is the maker of the tool. Perhaps a google search under shipping/tools? Do you acquire this piece in Australia? Perhaps searching for local tool makers in the 19th c. Although blacksmith-made, for the piece to be stamped, it was a better than average example.

russel · 25th August 2013, 11:48 AM

Thanks again,
I am not the owner, but he will be pleased to read your assessment. I'll try our local maritime Museum.
Cheers, Russel

trenchwarfare · 28th August 2013, 11:36 PM

Looks sorta like an elephant goad to me. With just a rat-tail tang, and no rivets, it wouldn't pull much weight. Unless, the head was lashed to the shaft via the ring.

24th August 2013, 12:35 AM	#1
russel Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Tasmania, Australia Posts: 236	Boarding pike? What is it? Hello all, A friend asked me to try to identify this item for him. I know it isn't really under the banner of ethnographic but I thought someone here may know what it is. I don't think it is an elephant goad due to its size. Maybe a boarding pike/spike/hook? Or an whaling flensing tool? All sugggestions gratefully recieved. Cheers - Russel Attached Images

24th August 2013, 01:55 AM	#2
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,073	Hello Russell, I think we are looking at a gaff here. If you can imagine this mounted on a pole with one of the spikes acting as the tang for the piece, you can see how it would resemble a boarding pike. Gaffs such as this have existed before colonial times and were used to pull in lines, secure the ropes (note the ring on your piece), pull smaller craft closer to the dock for disembarking, etc. Some types of gigs were used in fishing, as Fernando's resent accquisition will attest to (for gigging tuna or mackarel). One could easily be fanciful and say it 'could' have been used as a boarding pike for defence, but without definite proof, the use of gaffs like yours used as weapons remains speculative. Some of us naval collectors have debated this in the past, both here and on other maritime/naval sites. here's the thing about so-called "boarding weapons". In the scrap of battle, almost everything on the deck of a ship could and would be used to attack/defend oneself. Belay pins were a part of the ship, but they were commonly used for a ship's defense. Likewise, whaling harpoons, fire axes, grappling hooks, knotted ropes, and blubber knives all came into the fray when it came to fighting on deck. Soooooo...a ship's gaff tool that theoretically might have seen action. I'd date it to late 18th to mid-19th century. A nice piece of nautical history! Last edited by M ELEY; 24th August 2013 at 04:12 AM.

24th August 2013, 02:17 AM	#3
russel Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Tasmania, Australia Posts: 236	Thank you, that is great information. Do the stamped initials T.R.y.s. ring any bells?

24th August 2013, 04:06 AM	#4
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,073	Opps! I've been calling it a gig and what I meant to say was that it is a gaff!! Sorry! I was looking at the stamp, hoping that it might be a ship's name, dockyard name, etc. Likewise, if it had been a number, it might have been a locker/rack number on a ship. More than likely, it is the maker of the tool. Perhaps a google search under shipping/tools? Do you acquire this piece in Australia? Perhaps searching for local tool makers in the 19th c. Although blacksmith-made, for the piece to be stamped, it was a better than average example.

25th August 2013, 11:48 AM	#5
russel Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Tasmania, Australia Posts: 236	Thanks again, I am not the owner, but he will be pleased to read your assessment. I'll try our local maritime Museum. Cheers, Russel

28th August 2013, 11:36 PM	#6
trenchwarfare Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 385	Looks sorta like an elephant goad to me. With just a rat-tail tang, and no rivets, it wouldn't pull much weight. Unless, the head was lashed to the shaft via the ring.