what kind of lance is this?

Rick · 6th January 2007, 08:27 PM

From the looks of the butt , this piece IMO has been cut; I was expecting to see a cap or finial for the end.
Is there any wear on the end?

As far as the rest of it goes; it looks to be what it is .

I wouldn't want to try to pin down exactly where in the Archipelago this originated.
Good job on the blade.

fernando · 6th January 2007, 08:53 PM

Thank you Rick.
Yes, you are quite right ... and i was blind. It has all signs of having been sawed off, and not so long ago.
By the way, could this be an old piece ?

Henk · 6th January 2007, 09:20 PM

IMHO I think the length of the haft is good, so I doubt it is shortened. I have two similar lances of the same length if I can judge it correctly.
I think you bought a nice lance from Sumatra.

Tim Simmons · 6th January 2007, 09:21 PM

looks like it is at least from the turn of the 19th/20th century. I like the way the halft has thicker piece glued on. I wonder why the end was cut. So you got at a good price in the end?

Rick · 6th January 2007, 09:23 PM

Judging from the 'before' pictures I think it is not new.

Tim Simmons · 6th January 2007, 09:24 PM

I will go with Henk and it is possible the end was always like that. Unless a picture show clearly over wise.

fernando · 6th January 2007, 10:29 PM

Hi Henk
I do think it is visible that the haft was cut shorter, although not necessarily a great length of it. Let's consider for example that its present length is the maximum allowed for postal transportation. I have heard cases where spear hafts are abandoned or cut shorter for such reason.
Tim, you make me fear i was blind for the second time with this piece. I was thinking that the haft was a whole cane piece, only with an unusual "jump" between the sections . Now you tell me that actually the sections were loose parts with diferent thicnesses, later put together to form the haft. Quite a bizarre solution, right ?
Yes, the price became more favourable, both in amount and currency. I swapped this lance and a vintage book cabinet ( for my daughter ) with two little pistols i wasn't interested on.

fernando · 6th January 2007, 11:05 PM

Can i call this piece a tombak ?
And the steel forging method, any characteristic name for it, rather than just plain steel ?
Thanks for help.

Henk · 7th January 2007, 09:25 AM

Fernando,

I have such a similar spear haft on a spear. Still I think it isn't shortened with a saw, maybe with a file or something like that to flatten the bottom of the haft. And maybe some less smarter person rubbed with it on a stone. On the picture I wouldn't say it is a fresh saw cut. A saw cut is more smoother and cleaner.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1672

Take a look at the third spear. Not a very sharp picture, but you can se that the haft is similar to yours.

To call this a tombak? I'm not very sure, but I think a tombak is something different. I would prefer to call it a lance or a spear with a good forged steel blade.

6th January 2007, 10:29 PM	#7
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Hi Henk I do think it is visible that the haft was cut shorter, although not necessarily a great length of it. Let's consider for example that its present length is the maximum allowed for postal transportation. I have heard cases where spear hafts are abandoned or cut shorter for such reason. Tim, you make me fear i was blind for the second time with this piece. I was thinking that the haft was a whole cane piece, only with an unusual "jump" between the sections . Now you tell me that actually the sections were loose parts with diferent thicnesses, later put together to form the haft. Quite a bizarre solution, right ? Yes, the price became more favourable, both in amount and currency. I swapped this lance and a vintage book cabinet ( for my daughter ) with two little pistols i wasn't interested on. Attached Images

6th January 2007, 11:05 PM	#8
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	How to name it Can i call this piece a tombak ? And the steel forging method, any characteristic name for it, rather than just plain steel ? Thanks for help.

6th January 2007, 08:27 PM	#1
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,365	From the looks of the butt , this piece IMO has been cut; I was expecting to see a cap or finial for the end. Is there any wear on the end? As far as the rest of it goes; it looks to be what it is . I wouldn't want to try to pin down exactly where in the Archipelago this originated. Good job on the blade.

6th January 2007, 08:53 PM	#2
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Thank you Rick. Yes, you are quite right ... and i was blind. It has all signs of having been sawed off, and not so long ago. By the way, could this be an old piece ?

6th January 2007, 09:20 PM	#3
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	IMHO I think the length of the haft is good, so I doubt it is shortened. I have two similar lances of the same length if I can judge it correctly. I think you bought a nice lance from Sumatra.

6th January 2007, 09:21 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,894	looks like it is at least from the turn of the 19th/20th century. I like the way the halft has thicker piece glued on. I wonder why the end was cut. So you got at a good price in the end?

6th January 2007, 09:23 PM	#5
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,365	Judging from the 'before' pictures I think it is not new.

6th January 2007, 09:24 PM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,894	I will go with Henk and it is possible the end was always like that. Unless a picture show clearly over wise.

7th January 2007, 09:25 AM	#9
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	Fernando, I have such a similar spear haft on a spear. Still I think it isn't shortened with a saw, maybe with a file or something like that to flatten the bottom of the haft. And maybe some less smarter person rubbed with it on a stone. On the picture I wouldn't say it is a fresh saw cut. A saw cut is more smoother and cleaner. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1672 Take a look at the third spear. Not a very sharp picture, but you can se that the haft is similar to yours. To call this a tombak? I'm not very sure, but I think a tombak is something different. I would prefer to call it a lance or a spear with a good forged steel blade.