Excavated Partizan Polearm For Comment

dana_w · 4th July 2014, 12:01 AM

This excavated polearm appears to be a Partizan. Possibly Colonial Spanish from the early to mid 18th century.

Jim McDougall · 4th July 2014, 06:39 PM

Dana you continue to bring amazing contributions here, thank you!!
This excavated polearm would appear to be distinctly Spanish as you have well observed. In "Spanish Military Weapons in Colonial America 1700-1821" (Brinckerhoff & Chamberlain, 1972), p.106, pl. 206, a Spanish 'esponton' (spontoon) which has the same side blade profile and overall blade similarity of the spear blade is shown.
It is classified as c1750, and the authors note an unspecified similarity to French patterns.

Apparantly these polearms were carried by junior officers as a weapon and badge of rank until 1768, when superceded by short swords and fusils for these men. These remained in use until end of the century but certainly longer in the colonies (Havana had them in armouries in 1771).

It seems the terms partisan and spontoon are often used somewhat interchangeably with these widely varied polearms, while the halberd if I understand correctly is actually an axe on a pole with long spike atop.

I checked "Swords and Blades of the American Revolution" (George Neumann, 1973) but found no corresponding head shapes which were notably as close as the Spanish example cited.

While this example does not have the same ferrules around the base fixture and does not seem to have the raised royal escutcheon which usually appeared in the blade center between the blade projections, the side blades have the same distinct shape with volute terminals top and bottom symettrically.
Also the blade seems somewhat narrower and has the raised midrib of earlier examples in the century (Neumann, p.208) .

dana_w · 4th July 2014, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

This excavated polearm would appear to be distinctly Spanish as you have well observed.

Thanks Jim. I've been wondering if I am posting too many excavated relics lately. I tend to photograph for several weeks. That is followed by weeks or months of research and very few postings.

I'm glad you agree that the Partizan / 'esponton' (spontoon) could well be Spanish Colonial.

Now here is another excavated relic that probably has the raised royal escutcheon you were talking about on one side. It is completely indecipherable. The reverse side shown here, has an almost indecipherable image of a rearing horse, and some indecipherable text. The text looks like FXADVL SODECVS or EXADVL SODECVS. These letters are the most questionable ?XAD?? SODECVS. It is very hard to read in person with good lighting, and it is difficult to photographic. Maybe someone will recognize it anyway.

Jim McDougall · 4th July 2014, 09:29 PM

Dana, before I even comment on this example, I cannot resist loudly exclaiming - there is no such thing as posting too many examples, and excavated examples are a personal favorite as well as of others here.
What is so important is that these are historic artifacts and have been static often from the moments they were in use last, to me almost virtual time machines.
A great example of this is the many medieval and renaissance artillery and ordnance artifacts Matchlock has so graciously shared here for years. Many of these are either excavated or of equivalent status from static locations.

Keep them coming!!!

dana_w · 16th December 2014, 04:00 PM

I have just discovered that the first polearm / Partizan posted here was excavate by my father, Jack Williams (F.E. Williams III) near Fort Mose, and probably dates from the War of Jenkins' Ear. The Siege of Fort Mose occurred on June 26 of 1740.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Fort_Mose

This screen shot is from an interview Dad gave to a local TV station in 2007.

Matchlock · 17th December 2014, 08:06 AM

Hi Dana and Jim,

I, too, think that this is the remains of a partisan or spontoon (German: Partisane, Sponton) of ca. 1700:

http://www.google.de/imgres?imgurl=h...ed=0CG0QrQMwFg

The one in the top att. was sold Hermann Historica, Munich, 8 November 2013.

Jim, I am having a VERY bad conscience about being so silent for so long but I will contact you soon - please do have patience on me!

Best,
Michael

4th July 2014, 12:01 AM	#1
dana_w Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Southeast Florida, USA Posts: 429	Excavated Partizan Polearm For Comment This excavated polearm appears to be a Partizan. Possibly Colonial Spanish from the early to mid 18th century. Attached Images

16th December 2014, 04:00 PM	#5
dana_w Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Southeast Florida, USA Posts: 429	I have just discovered that the first polearm / Partizan posted here was excavate by my father, Jack Williams (F.E. Williams III) near Fort Mose, and probably dates from the War of Jenkins' Ear. The Siege of Fort Mose occurred on June 26 of 1740. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Fort_Mose This screen shot is from an interview Dad gave to a local TV station in 2007. Attached Images

17th December 2014, 08:06 AM	#6
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Hi Dana and Jim, I, too, think that this is the remains of a partisan or spontoon (German: Partisane, Sponton) of ca. 1700: http://www.google.de/imgres?imgurl=h...ed=0CG0QrQMwFg The one in the top att. was sold Hermann Historica, Munich, 8 November 2013. Jim, I am having a VERY bad conscience about being so silent for so long but I will contact you soon - please do have patience on me! Best, Michael Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 17th December 2014 at 08:22 AM.

4th July 2014, 06:39 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,938	Dana you continue to bring amazing contributions here, thank you!! This excavated polearm would appear to be distinctly Spanish as you have well observed. In "Spanish Military Weapons in Colonial America 1700-1821" (Brinckerhoff & Chamberlain, 1972), p.106, pl. 206, a Spanish 'esponton' (spontoon) which has the same side blade profile and overall blade similarity of the spear blade is shown. It is classified as c1750, and the authors note an unspecified similarity to French patterns. Apparantly these polearms were carried by junior officers as a weapon and badge of rank until 1768, when superceded by short swords and fusils for these men. These remained in use until end of the century but certainly longer in the colonies (Havana had them in armouries in 1771). It seems the terms partisan and spontoon are often used somewhat interchangeably with these widely varied polearms, while the halberd if I understand correctly is actually an axe on a pole with long spike atop. I checked "Swords and Blades of the American Revolution" (George Neumann, 1973) but found no corresponding head shapes which were notably as close as the Spanish example cited. While this example does not have the same ferrules around the base fixture and does not seem to have the raised royal escutcheon which usually appeared in the blade center between the blade projections, the side blades have the same distinct shape with volute terminals top and bottom symettrically. Also the blade seems somewhat narrower and has the raised midrib of earlier examples in the century (Neumann, p.208) .

4th July 2014, 09:29 PM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,938	Dana, before I even comment on this example, I cannot resist loudly exclaiming - there is no such thing as posting too many examples, and excavated examples are a personal favorite as well as of others here. What is so important is that these are historic artifacts and have been static often from the moments they were in use last, to me almost virtual time machines. A great example of this is the many medieval and renaissance artillery and ordnance artifacts Matchlock has so graciously shared here for years. Many of these are either excavated or of equivalent status from static locations. Keep them coming!!!