A 19th century American boarding pike

Rick · 19th May 2021, 04:12 AM

The deck surface was bare wood which was kept bright with holy stones. Going into combat they were wetted and sanded for traction.
The bulwarks and port lids often were painted red.

Speaking of decorative carvings on warships; there is the end of a Cathead from HMS Somerset 64 that was wrecked on the offshore sandbars in North Truro in 1778 in the Provincetown museum near the pilgrim monument. Every decade or two Somerset's bones get uncovered after a storm. The end of the cathead was found when the wreck was uncovered after a storm some 100 years later.

Dmitry · 19th May 2021, 09:12 PM

How much does it weigh? What wood was the shaft made of, any guesses?

I suppose without the martial markings it could be from a merchantman, not a ship of war. I would go over the haft and the langets with a magnifying glass.

M ELEY · 20th May 2021, 04:17 AM

Rick, that is an amazing Cathead (and I'm glad it's not a real one!

). Quite incredible. Would love to own such a thing! I once had pieces of wood from the wreck of the Royal George off Spithead. Like a young naïve fool, I sold it long ago.

Dmitri, good to hear from you. I carefully looked over the head after removing some of the rust and saw no markings. Likewise, none on the shaft I've been able to find. i haven't weighed it yet, but it is definitely substantial. I took for granted that this piece was naval versus private purchase, but you bring up a good point. Of course, I'm also told that many of the naval ones weren't marked either even though everything else bore inspection. I'm not so clear on what's the truth on this matter...

Jim McDougall · 20th May 2021, 04:19 PM

As someone not especially well initiated in the nautical thing, what is a 'cathead'? or should I say what does it represent (other than the obvious figure).
On the markings, it seems to me that in many areas of equipage, weapons are sans markings. As far as the hafts, these seem to have been remounted with newer ones over years, or obviously if damaged.

Rick · 20th May 2021, 06:16 PM

The Cathead is a beam that projects from the bow area where the stock of the anchor is secured when underway. The anchor is brought to the cathead and secured then the fluke end is 'fished' to secure that part of the anchor against the bows.
Without the cathead dropping and raising the anchor becomes problematic.
What better thing to carve on the end of the cathead than a cat's head!

Lee · 20th May 2021, 07:54 PM

Here are the promised images of my boarding pike. The overall length is 94 inches, with the head straps to tip 20½ inches and the square spike 11½ inches. The pole is just over 1¼ inches in diameter and most likely oak and the head is secured by 2 pins. Weight is about 3¾ pounds (1687 g.)

A slightly shorter example with similar paint pattern and color sold at Morphy Auctions a couple of days ago (May 18, lot 1025) and a few others also show up on the internet

Jim McDougall · 20th May 2021, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

The Cathead is a beam that projects from the bow area where the stock of the anchor is secured when underway. The anchor is brought to the cathead and secured then the fluke end is 'fished' to secure that part of the anchor against the bows.
Without the cathead dropping and raising the anchor becomes problematic.
What better thing to carve on the end of the cathead than a cat's head!

Thank you Rick!
There is really a fascinating jargon here, and sets the mind to wonder how the etymology came about.

M ELEY · 21st May 2021, 03:26 AM

Lee, these are really great examples! Not only do we have the lack of swelling, a later development, but yours has just two pins securing the langets. These are definitely early 19th/War of 1812 period and a great find! Who knows! Perhaps they might have served on that fabled ship you mentioned!

fernando · 22nd May 2021, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

The Cathead is a beam that projects from the bow area where the stock of the anchor is secured when underway. The anchor is brought to the cathead and secured then the fluke end is 'fished' to secure that part of the anchor against the bows.
Without the cathead dropping and raising the anchor becomes problematic.
What better thing to carve on the end of the cathead than a cat's head!

Amazing how the nautic lexicon varies among different nations. Over here they call this apparatus Serviola (from the old Catalan meaning Hart=Deer, apparently referring to its horns) or Turco do Lambareiro (Portugueses for Turc of the sweet tooth). I don't find them here so exuberant as (American ?) Catheads, but more in the basic shape without a figure; and i realize they ceased being built in ships bows when irons (anchors) started being the 'swallow' type, by the end XIX century, i guess.

.

Jim McDougall · 22nd May 2021, 05:09 PM

The nautical terminology is most definitely colorful and fascinating with these similes! adding the language element to the glossary truly does add further dimension.
I recall in numerous cases Fernando has described sword hilt elements, in one case where the hilt had resemblances to the horse bit and was described accordingly.
I suppose overall these kinds of descriptive terms are found in many types of descriptions, which makes etymology pretty intriguing.
There are some which I would leave alone, 'poop deck' ?

19th May 2021, 04:12 AM	#1
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	The deck surface was bare wood which was kept bright with holy stones. Going into combat they were wetted and sanded for traction. The bulwarks and port lids often were painted red. Speaking of decorative carvings on warships; there is the end of a Cathead from HMS Somerset 64 that was wrecked on the offshore sandbars in North Truro in 1778 in the Provincetown museum near the pilgrim monument. Every decade or two Somerset's bones get uncovered after a storm. The end of the cathead was found when the wreck was uncovered after a storm some 100 years later. Attached Images Last edited by Rick; 19th May 2021 at 04:24 AM.

20th May 2021, 04:17 AM	#3
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,141	Rick, that is an amazing Cathead (and I'm glad it's not a real one!). Quite incredible. Would love to own such a thing! I once had pieces of wood from the wreck of the Royal George off Spithead. Like a young naïve fool, I sold it long ago. Dmitri, good to hear from you. I carefully looked over the head after removing some of the rust and saw no markings. Likewise, none on the shaft I've been able to find. i haven't weighed it yet, but it is definitely substantial. I took for granted that this piece was naval versus private purchase, but you bring up a good point. Of course, I'm also told that many of the naval ones weren't marked either even though everything else bore inspection. I'm not so clear on what's the truth on this matter...

20th May 2021, 06:16 PM	#5
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	The Cathead is a beam that projects from the bow area where the stock of the anchor is secured when underway. The anchor is brought to the cathead and secured then the fluke end is 'fished' to secure that part of the anchor against the bows. Without the cathead dropping and raising the anchor becomes problematic. What better thing to carve on the end of the cathead than a cat's head! Attached Images

20th May 2021, 07:54 PM	#6
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 932	Promised follow-up Here are the promised images of my boarding pike. The overall length is 94 inches, with the head straps to tip 20½ inches and the square spike 11½ inches. The pole is just over 1¼ inches in diameter and most likely oak and the head is secured by 2 pins. Weight is about 3¾ pounds (1687 g.) A slightly shorter example with similar paint pattern and color sold at Morphy Auctions a couple of days ago (May 18, lot 1025) and a few others also show up on the internet Attached Images

19th May 2021, 09:12 PM	#2
Dmitry Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 607	How much does it weigh? What wood was the shaft made of, any guesses? I suppose without the martial markings it could be from a merchantman, not a ship of war. I would go over the haft and the langets with a magnifying glass.

20th May 2021, 04:19 PM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,190	As someone not especially well initiated in the nautical thing, what is a 'cathead'? or should I say what does it represent (other than the obvious figure). On the markings, it seems to me that in many areas of equipage, weapons are sans markings. As far as the hafts, these seem to have been remounted with newer ones over years, or obviously if damaged.

21st May 2021, 03:26 AM	#8
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,141	Lee, these are really great examples! Not only do we have the lack of swelling, a later development, but yours has just two pins securing the langets. These are definitely early 19th/War of 1812 period and a great find! Who knows! Perhaps they might have served on that fabled ship you mentioned!

22nd May 2021, 05:09 PM	#10
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,190	The nautical terminology is most definitely colorful and fascinating with these similes! adding the language element to the glossary truly does add further dimension. I recall in numerous cases Fernando has described sword hilt elements, in one case where the hilt had resemblances to the horse bit and was described accordingly. I suppose overall these kinds of descriptive terms are found in many types of descriptions, which makes etymology pretty intriguing. There are some which I would leave alone, 'poop deck' ?