Spear?

[Raf]

Agreed. My point was to show that spontoons , genuine or copies sometimes get mis described as boar spears.

[Jim McDougall]

What?! an arms reference made a misteake?
Arms study is always a work in progress, and most authors I am familiar with typically add a disclaimer in their introductions that there will invariably be errors in some cases.

It seems of course that there is an innate comparison between many types of tools and weapons, and as noted earlier often one can become the other and vice versa. There may be notable influences between these as well.

As a matter of functionality, the cross bar's purpose, to prevent excessive penetration in hunting boars would serve as well on a combat weapon. Perhaps the convention on the spontoon had the same root?

By that token, could a spontoon serve as a boar hunting weapon? of course, just as Raf noted early in this discussion.

Good observation BTW Raf, on the remarkable shape of the expanded point on the boar hunt sword! that is a compelling comparison to the blade on the example in OP .

Here I would note again that there are with colonial arms (and tools for that matter), incredible numbers of variants in the examples made by blacksmiths, which of understandably are often in majority.
This is the bane of the arms researcher, trying to categorize or identify these items which are 'outside the box' visually.

Polearms and staff weapons seem to vex many (including me) with the proper terms and classifications. What separates pike from spontoon?
the halberd is easier as it has an axe type head and poll but is simply on a longer shaft instead of handle.

While we may not reach a consensus on the identification of this apparently very old piece, the possibilities remain intriguing, and the discussion here is valuable in the salient points that have come up. Thats what its all about!!

PS,
This reminds me of the flensing knife (for whaling) I posted recently, with a crescent type blade as identified in several nautical antiquities references........and was countered by identification of a virtually identical example used by leather workers.
Could these same type knives have been utilized by both? why not?

[Norman McCormick]

Hi,
Spontoons come in a variety of guises, here are two 18thC ones I have and an illustration of the halberd type. I would suggest the crosspiece on a spontoon is more decorative than utilitarian as a mortal wound need not be much more than a couple of inches a lot less than the total blade length on a spontoon.
Regards,
Norman.

P.S. It is obviously no surprise to any of us that an auction misidentified an item.

[kronckew]

Originally Posted by Norman McCormick

Hi,
Spontoons come in a variety of guises, ... and an illustration of the halberd type. I... .

MY 'Halberd' Type: LOA 2 m.

[fernando]

... And we call the cross bars "Travincas".


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