Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Rather · 12th May 2006, 10:23 AM

I would agree that it is a hunting weapon. They were often decorated with tufts of hair or some kind of tassels, that would explain the small nails to fix such decorations and which seem to be useless otherwise. A lengths of 35 – 40 cm is usual for such spears, and 600 grams is even on the low side. Many of them had no cross bars, or cross bars were just strap down to the shaft.
They are still legal for hunting in Germany, nevertheless not very popular anymore, and you can buy them new. (Picture attached)

Fine examples from 16. and 17. century one can find on the internet page of the German Historical Museum in Berlin

http://www.dhm.de/magazine/jagdwaffe...=10&page=3&x=1

The forging technique of the socket reminds me of tools, I have seen in a local agriculture museum. My estimate of age is 200 years (+/- 50), made by a rural blacksmith, definitely not 7th century.

12th May 2006, 10:23 AM	#11
Rather Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Hamburg, Germany Posts: 72	I would agree that it is a hunting weapon. They were often decorated with tufts of hair or some kind of tassels, that would explain the small nails to fix such decorations and which seem to be useless otherwise. A lengths of 35 – 40 cm is usual for such spears, and 600 grams is even on the low side. Many of them had no cross bars, or cross bars were just strap down to the shaft. They are still legal for hunting in Germany, nevertheless not very popular anymore, and you can buy them new. (Picture attached) Fine examples from 16. and 17. century one can find on the internet page of the German Historical Museum in Berlin http://www.dhm.de/magazine/jagdwaffe...=10&page=3&x=1 The forging technique of the socket reminds me of tools, I have seen in a local agriculture museum. My estimate of age is 200 years (+/- 50), made by a rural blacksmith, definitely not 7th century. Attached Images