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Spear design question

Jaepheth

Jaepheth

Platinum Member
So my random internet tangent for tonight covered spear hunting wild boar.

It occurred to me that a side handle (a grip perpendicular to the shaft; like a nightstick's) could be quite handy in helping thrust a spear and also to hold the wounded target at bay.

My searches haven't been able to find any instance of this feature on a spear. Does anyone here know of, or wish to conjecture, any particular reason(s) why?
 
My first thought was that you would have to carve a hole into the stick. Then put another piece of wood through the hole. I guess that could potentially create a weakness in the shaft when it flexes?
 
Jaepheth said:
So my random internet tangent for tonight covered spear hunting wild boar.

It occurred to me that a side handle (a grip perpendicular to the shaft; like a nightstick's) could be quite handy in helping thrust a spear and also to hold the wounded target at bay.

My searches haven't been able to find any instance of this feature on a spear. Does anyone here know of, or wish to conjecture, any particular reason(s) why?
Click to expand...

how would that help anything?
 
I can see why you think it would be beneficial for jabbing.
Hold spear in left hand, hold handle in right hand for added jabbing strength. The spear couldn't slide through your hands.

I don't ever remember seeing this variation on a pike either, which there are hundreds of variations of.

For throwing, it would obviously affect trajectory, especially if you used the handle to throw it.
 
I think that could cause it to torque out of your hand, and maybe break your wrist in the process.
 
They won't let you bring an actual wild boar to your next LARP event.
 
shouldn't you be tossing the spear at those boars?

my recommendation would be to improve your throwing technique, but always carry a medium blade with you, like a machete, to dispatch the charging boar if your initial spear attack doesn't stop it.

maybe even improve your shield technique. I've had success bashing wolves to death, in my pelt-hunting days.

good luck.
 
If all the TV shows and movies I've seen are correct, they never used handles on spears in old times. Must be some reason aside from ease of manufacturing.
 
Sheesh, its called a boar spear and the cross piece is because a wild boar will force the spear through its body and kill you before it dies itself. You don't throw them either as boars are covered in heavy hide, so the only way to penetrate is stabbing at close range.
 
just get an halberd so you can axe it to death.

I guess it doesn't exist because it makes the weapon less flexible, whereas a spear can be held whichever way you want.

I don't think throwing is convenient, boars have thick hide so even if you get it right the first time it can still kill you.
 
What I want to know, is how the hell prehistoric man took down mammoths with sharp rocks attached to sticks.

Those mammoths must have been retarded.
 
edro said:
What I want to know, is how the hell prehistoric man took down mammoths with sharp rocks attached to sticks.

Those mammoths must have been retarded.
Click to expand...

Overwhelmed by numbers. Humans also used terrain, and would run them off cliffs, and stuff.
 
Jaepheth said:
Allows you better utilization of the palms when absorbing an impact or applying thrust.
Click to expand...

But a side handle would put lateral force on the spear, and would be much more likely to break it. Then you have a wounded wild boar coming at you.


If you want to make boar hunting more challenging, use a handgun.
 
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