South African throwing spear

[fearn]

Dunno, Tim--you can join me in the aerodynamically sleek male category, I think

So far as the bent staves go--yes, I agree with those of you who talked about the problem of finding a straight sapling. I'd further point out that, if you go to the local lumber yard and try their dowels, you'll find that most of them aren't straight either, although they're fairly close.

Even more, I've had a 6' walnut walking stick for over 20 years now. It's probably a wonderful weapon (probably in that I've never had to fight with it), it's light, strong, and stabs and strikes quite accurately. It's also got a pronounced bend in the middle. I would not want to throw it, but it's a great (potential) hand weapon.

HOWEVER (you knew this was coming), there still is the conservation issue. I think one sees it far more with arrows than with spears, but some weapons get well and truly warped when kept in a museum collection for 50-100 years, just as swords can become rusty and mildewed. Photos of museum specimens can be extremely deceptive that way, because they don't stop time--they just image the way something looked in the collection at a particular point.

This is a case of "bad becoming normal" as Temple Grandin put it in another context. As specimens decay over time, we get used to them looking ratty, until we start wondering how people could ever have fought with such poorly built and badly-designed weapons... you all know that particular story, I think.

I've primarily heard complaints about warping from Native Americans and those who enjoy NA archery--they say that the arrows in museum displays are often badly distorted. I suspect we see some of that here as well with spears and other pole arms. In conserving our collected weapons, I'd simply suggest that we might want to pay attention to is keeping the staves as straight as we got them, rather than leaning them in a closet for 20-30 years.

Fearn

[Rick]

I store/display my spears horizontally on cafe curtain rod brackets . This method gives me the opportunity to rotate them and so far they've stayed fairly straight .

/keeping fingers crossed

[Lew]

Originally Posted by Rick

I store/display my spears horizontally on cafe curtain rod brackets . This method gives me the opportunity to rotate them and so far they've stayed fairly straight .

/keeping fingers crossed

Hi Rick
I think climate control and not so much as in what position a spear is displayed is just as important. Constant changes in humidity and temperature is more a factor of warpage than hanging them horizontally or vertically. I keep the temperature within 3-5 degrees all year round with low moderate humidity.

Lew

[Rick]

Hi Lew , I wish I could regulate my in house temp and humidity .
I certainly am in no position to determine which method of display is better .
I live right next to a tidal marsh and have no central AC .
I'm at the mercy of the elements .

Not to mention my Wife who keeps eyeing the spears as possible curtain rods .

[Lew]

Rick

You see that is where we differ my wife has no interest in what I collect so my spears are safe from being made into curtain rods . You can try waxing the shafts with carnuba wax this will keep the moisture level more constant during the different seasons.


Lew

[Rick]

Thanks for the tip Lew .

[Conogre]

Often the straightness of the haft depends upon the original use of the spear itself, as well as where and when it was made.
Much of northern Africa has become severely deforested, with arrid expanses of desert bearing tribal names that translate as the "black forest" and such (and not the one in Germany! LOL! I already saw that one coming) and since wood is also the ONLY heating and cooking source, ANY stick will do as long as it's the appropriate length.
Not all of this deforestation, by the way is recent, and has been ongoing for over 2,000 years, at least partly speculated as causes for the fall of the Nubian and Egyptian kingdoms.
Hunting spears are often not as straight as we imagine because they are not intended to be thrown for great distances, with the skill of the hunter in being able to approach closely of prime importance.....even a wiggly shaft will fly straight over 30 yards or so when the weight of the head is taken into consideration.
Here are some of my spears, with the supports made out of plexiglass so as to not obstruct the view of the weaon/shaft.
Mike