Spear ID

[JeffS]

Anyone recognize this style? 39.5 cm OAL. Heavy duty tang.

[Battara]

Kind of looks Indonesian to me, maybe Borneo, but shorter than usual. The base also looks a little Chinese, but I could be wrong.

[Ian]

Hi Jeff,

Judging from the heavy construction of the blade and tang, this one could be a lance head. It looks as though it has been around for a while and has been used a lot. Nice piece.

I don't recognize the style.

[JeffS]

Originally Posted by Ian

Hi Jeff,

Judging from the heavy construction of the blade and tang, this one could be a lance head. It looks as though it has been around for a while and has been used a lot. Nice piece.

I don't recognize the style.

Interesting. Would that limit origin geographically? We don't often discuss mounted combat in SE Asia

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by JeffS

Interesting. Would that limit origin geographically? We don't often discuss mounted combat in SE Asia

I think that it is of South-East-Asian origin.

Regards,
Detlef

[Ian]

Originally Posted by JeffS

Interesting. Would that limit origin geographically? We don't often discuss mounted combat in SE Asia

I don't know the answer to that question Jeff.

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In looking further at your spear head, I notice that it has some old damage to the blade. In a blow up of your picture, I see a piece missing on the bottom edge (arrowed). There is a crack in the steel which may have been a forging flaw or caused by contact. I think I can see evidence of lamination elsewhere also. This appears to be a laminated blade with some age—at least late 19th C., maybe earlier.


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[DavidFriedman]

Could it be a Vietnamese specimen?

[DavidFriedman]

Notice the similar concentric ring design on the collar, and obviously, the SE Asian tang, found on this Nguyen dynasty Vietnamese Snake/hook lance.

Originally Posted by Ian

I don't know the answer to that question Jeff.

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Attachment 225401


In looking further at your spear head, I notice that it has some old damage to the blade. In a blow up of your picture, I see a piece missing on the bottom edge (arrowed). There is a crack in the steel which may have been a forging flaw or caused by contact. I think I can see evidence of lamination elsewhere also. This appears to be a laminated blade with some age—at least late 19th C., maybe earlier.


.

[JeffS]

Originally Posted by Ian

In looking further at your spear head, I notice that it has some old damage to the blade. In a blow up of your picture, I see a piece missing on the bottom edge (arrowed). There is a crack in the steel which may have been a forging flaw or caused by contact.

I was assuming all the cracks were cold shuts, but the area you point out is cracked on both sides and the profile slightly distorted at that location. Thank you for pointing that out.