Boarding pike? What is it?

russel · 25th August 2013, 11:48 AM

Thanks again,
I am not the owner, but he will be pleased to read your assessment. I'll try our local maritime Museum.
Cheers, Russel

trenchwarfare · 28th August 2013, 11:36 PM

Looks sorta like an elephant goad to me. With just a rat-tail tang, and no rivets, it wouldn't pull much weight. Unless, the head was lashed to the shaft via the ring.

Timo Nieminen · 29th August 2013, 02:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trenchwarfare

Looks sorta like an elephant goad to me. With just a rat-tail tang, and no rivets, it wouldn't pull much weight. Unless, the head was lashed to the shaft via the ring.

It does look the part. I've considered using a boat-hook head for making a long-hafted elephant goad.

(I find that "boat hook" is a common guess for "What is this?" when you show people an elephant goad. Not as almost-universal as "napkin ring" for a Chinese archer's thumb ring, but common.)

russel · 29th August 2013, 02:40 AM

I had thought about an elephant goad, buy the scale doesn't seem right. At 25cm (10") across is it not rather large for an elephant goad?

machinist · 29th August 2013, 03:10 AM

It looks a bit like a loggers pike pole.

M ELEY · 29th August 2013, 08:59 AM

Admittedly, many of these types do look like ankus/elephant goads, but I still think with the marking, general shape and from past examples I've seen, it's a gaff. Now a logging pike? That is a possibility.

Anyway, here is an example of what I'm talking about- 3rd example down.
http://www.civilization.ca/cmc/exhib...liswl02e.shtml

Now here's one that might be an elephant goad or it might be a gaff. You decide. I think the side langets, being a European/American afactation, could point to it being a gaff.
http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedi...aval-boat-hook

kronckew · 29th August 2013, 05:44 PM

i'm persuaded it's a loggers pike point. they also used a point with a larger more open hook with a barb used to turn floating logs, that was called a 'peavey' or 'cant hook'. the pike hook was used not only for gaffing logs, but a logger that had fallen into the water could more easily haul himself out with the hook. a rope anchor point like the ring in the original post would be useful. google images show many similar 'loggers pike pole', along with the normal off topic stuff unrelated to the search

.

two points: (plus a fireman's pike pole after them)

edited: added a modern fireman's pike with fibreglass pole, note the attachment point for a rope. this may then be a firefighter's tool. a bit more upmarket than a loggers, and probably an early one at that. the 'hook' of fireman's ubiquitous tools, the hook and ladder.

29th August 2013, 08:59 AM	#6
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,141	Admittedly, many of these types do look like ankus/elephant goads, but I still think with the marking, general shape and from past examples I've seen, it's a gaff. Now a logging pike? That is a possibility. Anyway, here is an example of what I'm talking about- 3rd example down. http://www.civilization.ca/cmc/exhib...liswl02e.shtml Now here's one that might be an elephant goad or it might be a gaff. You decide. I think the side langets, being a European/American afactation, could point to it being a gaff. http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedi...aval-boat-hook Last edited by M ELEY; 29th August 2013 at 10:53 AM.

29th August 2013, 05:44 PM	#7
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	i'm persuaded it's a loggers pike point. they also used a point with a larger more open hook with a barb used to turn floating logs, that was called a 'peavey' or 'cant hook'. the pike hook was used not only for gaffing logs, but a logger that had fallen into the water could more easily haul himself out with the hook. a rope anchor point like the ring in the original post would be useful. google images show many similar 'loggers pike pole', along with the normal off topic stuff unrelated to the search . two points: (plus a fireman's pike pole after them) edited: added a modern fireman's pike with fibreglass pole, note the attachment point for a rope. this may then be a firefighter's tool. a bit more upmarket than a loggers, and probably an early one at that. the 'hook' of fireman's ubiquitous tools, the hook and ladder. Attached Images Last edited by kronckew; 29th August 2013 at 06:09 PM.

25th August 2013, 11:48 AM	#1
russel Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Tasmania, Australia Posts: 236	Thanks again, I am not the owner, but he will be pleased to read your assessment. I'll try our local maritime Museum. Cheers, Russel

28th August 2013, 11:36 PM	#2
trenchwarfare Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 385	Looks sorta like an elephant goad to me. With just a rat-tail tang, and no rivets, it wouldn't pull much weight. Unless, the head was lashed to the shaft via the ring.

29th August 2013, 02:40 AM	#4
russel Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Tasmania, Australia Posts: 236	I had thought about an elephant goad, buy the scale doesn't seem right. At 25cm (10") across is it not rather large for an elephant goad?

29th August 2013, 03:10 AM	#5
machinist Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 93	It looks a bit like a loggers pike pole.