How pikes/lances were made 500 years ago

Matchlock · 5th March 2012, 11:39 AM

From Christie's, September 19, 1990, lots 47 and 48, an image from their showroom attached. There was three of those, so I chose the better two. Originally they came from the arsenal of the Fortress of Hohensalzburg; an image of a pile of those in the reserve collection there attached.
I never saw any other of these again. Apart from these, and the Historic Museum Basel, Switzerland, I have never seen pikes with their irons still blued!

Both retaining their original blued irons and straps (!), as well as their oiriginal ash hafts (one slightly bent).
Overall lengths 4.66 and 4.57 m respectively. They might even have been a bit longer originally.

The only way to display them in my showroom was to suspend them crossed from the ceiling.

Best,
Michael

5th March 2012, 11:39 AM	#8
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Two Mid-16th Century Hapsburg/Austrian Pikes in my Collection From Christie's, September 19, 1990, lots 47 and 48, an image from their showroom attached. There was three of those, so I chose the better two. Originally they came from the arsenal of the Fortress of Hohensalzburg; an image of a pile of those in the reserve collection there attached. I never saw any other of these again. Apart from these, and the Historic Museum Basel, Switzerland, I have never seen pikes with their irons still blued! Both retaining their original blued irons and straps (!), as well as their oiriginal ash hafts (one slightly bent). Overall lengths 4.66 and 4.57 m respectively. They might even have been a bit longer originally. The only way to display them in my showroom was to suspend them crossed from the ceiling. Best, Michael Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 5th March 2012 at 02:34 PM.