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.

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The European pike was 'phased out' with the introduction of firearms and it is unlikely such an 'outdated' weapon would have been used/taken to Africa (by Euro forces)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

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

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.

Probably not a French year II pike then, could still be a boarding pike though, I think. :shrug:

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.

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.