...and while were on the topic of pole arms.....
 

I found these guys a couple of years ago, and was told by the seller that he bought them in France or Belgium.

I believe they're Victorian era copies, but, still, the price was so low I couldn't resist.

The longer one is 29 inches long, the shorter is 25 1/2 inches.

I could be wrong, so any comments are most welcome!

They're not cast.

I always look for signs of handwork and they are there, at least on the straps and spear points. It's just that the blades are so thick. It wouldn't be cost effective to cast the blades and have a smith forge out the blades and straps and fit them together, it wouldn't make any sense!

Anyway, I will keep them around for a while and eventually move them out when something else comes along that I have to own.

Maybe props for movies or the like :o

I'm not sure of this. I've seen a lot of movie props, and most of them are either molded plastic, or, if they're metal, they might look good from afar, but close up, there's no mistaking them for props.

Besides, they show some age.

These guys are sharp enough to where you should be careful not to stumble into them or otherwise come into surprise contact. They'll cut or poke a good size hole in you if you're careless.

I suspect they're 19th century copies made for a manor house, or something similar.

Well, things put that way, you are most probably right :cool:

Just a metallurgical aside.

"Cast iron cannot be wrought and wrought iron cannot be cast."

This was a true saying through the 19th century, at least in the Western World.
Steel takes something over 1430C (2600F) to melt, cast iron maybe 200-250C (400-450F) lower. A somewhat ductile form of cast iron, "Malleable Iron" was developed in 18th century France. It would not be suitable for any axe or spear, it is not that tough.

Michigan Steel Cast Company was organized in 1908 in Detroit, I believe MISCO was a rather early steel foundry.