spear

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pickin_grinnin

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Is anyone aware of anyone who makes functional hunting or fighting spears? The Cold Steel ones don't appear to be well made, and most of the others I have found are purely decorative.

Thanks!

Jesse
 
As an owner of Cold Steel spears, I have to say they are quite well made, especially for the price. I made my own staff from wax wood, but the ash shafts they offer work just fine.
 
The CS spears are sturdy. You can go hunt a 1000 lb boar with one, and not be under speared.

They just don't look very fancy.
 
LOL I just finished my first functional spear, 6Al4V Titanium alloy Besh wedge point about 11", solid wood core shaft with seamless unidirectional CF and 45 degree bidirectional CF overlay (X2 @ stress points) and 0/90 degree cf collar (with 45bi overlay for looks), and an epoxy texture coat.... pics or video tour coming soon!

It's well under 2 lb haven't had a chance to weigh it, oh and a 20degree total edge... slicey!

Spear threads might end up in the axe forum...
 
Yeah--pics please! Can't wait to see it!

Personally I've found that, believe it or not, Windlass Steelcrafts makes some very decent spears. I have their hewing spear on an oval teak shaft and it's like a gladius on a stick! :D Holds an edge pretty nicely, as well.
 
Spear threads might end up in the axe forum
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I wondered about that.

There are a number of spear heads available from both Hanwei and Windlass. I wouldn't exactly label the Windlass hewing spear as a gladius on a stick but it is a good size short sword length. I thought about getting one for a pizza cutter.

On the higher end of finished spears are the Arms&Armor spears. The Friedrich spear is lovely and I picked one up on the secondary but in truth a bit disappointed because the original spear is half again as big. The original indeed an impressive size but the A&A version, while quite nice, pales in comparison. Stats for both here.

http://www.myarmoury.com/maly_othr_aa_fred.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:H...ead_of_Frederick_IV_of_the_Tyrol,_c._1430.jpg

I have fooled around with the Cold steel and agree it would be sturdy enough for hunting but a caveat in that the haft and overall build are a bit light for the purpose, especially half ton animals.

On the quite light side, I recently hafted a spear point from Chris Makin and at just more than five feet finished, is more of a hall sweeper and poke along than a heavy fighting or hunting size. A handy house size. A dagger on a stick.
http://www.swordforum.com/forums/showthread.php?109547-Chris-Makin-Spear-Point

makin%20yari%20blade.JPG

makin%20hafted%20012.jpg




I also recently hafted a G Gedney Godwin $30 special and that would qualify as a heavy fighting spear but could be ground down in thickness by about half and still be effective. It is forged iron and quite big but will need to be hafted, like so many. The socket is very nicely done and there is only a small ridge inside from the seam. Needs a heavy haft to suit.

Cheers

GC
 
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Another shout out for CS spears. They're actually pretty decent. Most of their value stuff is worth the price, IMO.
 
Left to right

Friedrick IV spear from Arme & Armor (they have a handful of spear options). Center the GGGodwin "monsta" An example as found in old colonial forts. Right, the discontinued Hanwei British spontoon. Fairly true to the originals, even with the threaded assembly between socket and head. That one about eight feet tall with the other two a smidge more than seven feet tall. The Godwin point is cheaper than a good haft, all in all. There are a number of pole sources for lighter spear points but the Godwin rates a beefier bo or other source.

long%20short%20004.jpg

long%20short%20002.jpg


For a ready made and hafted spear aside from the Cold Steel, check out Arms&Armor www.armor.com Also look through Kult of Athena www.kultofathena.com

Cheers

GC
 
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horseclover said:
I wouldn't exactly label the Windlass hewing spear as a gladius on a stick but it is a good size short sword length. I thought about getting one for a pizza cutter.
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I thought you might say that. Allow me to clarify: "It's like what the lay-person might consider as being like what they erroneously consider to be a gladius on the end of a stick." :D :D :D

I had mostly been referring to the blade length more than anything else, as it's at least a size most folks have an idea of for comparison. ;)
 
pickin_grinnin said:
Is anyone aware of anyone who makes functional hunting or fighting spears? The Cold Steel ones don't appear to be well made, and most of the others I have found are purely decorative.

Thanks!

Jesse
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Try www.armor.com. They are in the pole arms category. Oops, I see that Horseclover beat me to it.
 
I have a kris cutlery yari I hafted a while back. It has a 15 inch tang and I used some copper fittings to reinforce it. Overall length 6 feet and a 11 inch blade.

IMG_0689.jpg


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Thanks for all the suggestions! I have read a number of reviews that say that CS spears just don't hold up very well, but I'll give them another look, along with the rest of the things y'all have suggested.
 
I just wish that CS extended their socket by a couple of inches. Then you could use just the head as a chopper.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
I just wish that CS extended their socket by a couple of inches. Then you could use just the head as a chopper.
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Even with a longer socket, they are lightweight sheet steel formed in the shape of a spear. They are fine for simple thrusting and some slashing but they simply lack the weight for much chopping. The same os true of the Bushman. There is simply not the mass.

I guess I just don't understand the fascination at times where any object immediately prompts a need to use one for something it was not intended to.. I suppose one could use a spear to drive tent pegs as well. :P

In a related matter and circumstance, Victorian cavalry practiced tent pegging with lances from horseback but it did not relate using weapons for something they were not.

Cheers

GC
 
The bushman is an excellent slicing and stabbing tool, and on a staff, it's a seriously lethal spear, but i can't see it being used for chopping. It's just not profiled right for it, and as mentioned, the weight is just wrong.
 
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