Spear & Javelins; Dimensions and Weights

Interested Party · 9th August 2020, 08:04 PM

Can anyone help with me with a question on spear and javelin heads? Specifically on weight, length and width of blade, length of tang, and/or socket socket opening's diameter. Is it purposed primarily as a hunting tool or a weapon. Is it for stabbing or throwing? Finally, if it has a butt spike or counter balance what is this piece's weight?

Rick · 9th August 2020, 08:57 PM

What culture(s)?

Interested Party · 9th August 2020, 10:27 PM

Rick, I'm not picky. I would love for people to say where their example is from. I'm gathering information, and I thought people might like to talk about what they have. Observing cultural variants in what diverse peoples carried and trying to understand an item's designed use is what interests me. If members aren't able to give specific component weights an overall weight would still be very helpful.

Tim Simmons · 10th August 2020, 10:21 AM

What forms are main interest? You need to narrow down from the millions of versions. I have some African spears and some from the Solomon Islands. They function in very different ways but ultimately stabbing weapons . The African ones I have are not throwing weapons.

Interested Party · 11th August 2020, 08:25 AM

I think I'm look for information on hunting/weapon versions of the spear. Utilitarian. Cultures I'm not sure. I know parts of the Philippines, Oceania, and New Guinea used spears till the last hundred years. African spears seem to be very focused on large game . Size and weight of several types, from several cultures is my big focus in this thread. I'm looking for some type of continuity of design. Inertia for penetration vs speed of the tip.

Tim Simmons · 11th August 2020, 11:27 AM

I agree spear are most interesting and some can be very impressive. I came show this East African example my favourite. 1.520kg so not something you are going to throw unless absolutely forced to. Total length 174cm. The blade not including the socket part just the stabbing and cutting edges is 77cm long. A heavy square section shoe and the last 10cm of the tip is an average 8mm thick. This is a weapon for thrusting with both hands the weight and balance would make one handed thrusting very tiering. The robust construction of this spear makes this weapon very effective in two handed use like that of staff/stave with slashing and jabbing, both blade and shoe in fairly close combat but too long and heavy for hand to hand combat. Used in a shield wall it would be hard to get past. In the open, an opponent would have to be supremely confident to get in close enough to engage the carrier in face to face hand to hand combat.

Interested Party · 11th August 2020, 03:40 PM

That is a monster! Do you know what tribe used this pattern?

9th August 2020, 08:04 PM	#1
Interested Party Member Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: Eastern Sierra Posts: 464	Spear & Javelins; Dimensions and Weights Can anyone help with me with a question on spear and javelin heads? Specifically on weight, length and width of blade, length of tang, and/or socket socket opening's diameter. Is it purposed primarily as a hunting tool or a weapon. Is it for stabbing or throwing? Finally, if it has a butt spike or counter balance what is this piece's weight?

11th August 2020, 11:27 AM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,806	I agree spear are most interesting and some can be very impressive. I came show this East African example my favourite. 1.520kg so not something you are going to throw unless absolutely forced to. Total length 174cm. The blade not including the socket part just the stabbing and cutting edges is 77cm long. A heavy square section shoe and the last 10cm of the tip is an average 8mm thick. This is a weapon for thrusting with both hands the weight and balance would make one handed thrusting very tiering. The robust construction of this spear makes this weapon very effective in two handed use like that of staff/stave with slashing and jabbing, both blade and shoe in fairly close combat but too long and heavy for hand to hand combat. Used in a shield wall it would be hard to get past. In the open, an opponent would have to be supremely confident to get in close enough to engage the carrier in face to face hand to hand combat. Attached Images

9th August 2020, 08:57 PM	#2
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,290	What culture(s)?

9th August 2020, 10:27 PM	#3
Interested Party Member Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: Eastern Sierra Posts: 464	Rick, I'm not picky. I would love for people to say where their example is from. I'm gathering information, and I thought people might like to talk about what they have. Observing cultural variants in what diverse peoples carried and trying to understand an item's designed use is what interests me. If members aren't able to give specific component weights an overall weight would still be very helpful.

10th August 2020, 10:21 AM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,806	What forms are main interest? You need to narrow down from the millions of versions. I have some African spears and some from the Solomon Islands. They function in very different ways but ultimately stabbing weapons . The African ones I have are not throwing weapons.

11th August 2020, 08:25 AM	#5
Interested Party Member Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: Eastern Sierra Posts: 464	I think I'm look for information on hunting/weapon versions of the spear. Utilitarian. Cultures I'm not sure. I know parts of the Philippines, Oceania, and New Guinea used spears till the last hundred years. African spears seem to be very focused on large game . Size and weight of several types, from several cultures is my big focus in this thread. I'm looking for some type of continuity of design. Inertia for penetration vs speed of the tip.

11th August 2020, 03:40 PM	#7
Interested Party Member Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: Eastern Sierra Posts: 464	That is a monster! Do you know what tribe used this pattern?