Interesting little article (https://sagy.vikingove.cz/en/on-a-series-of-ottonian-spears/) cataloguing Medieval winged spears, plus nice period images of Ottonians.
Metal spears may be durable on-table but we do lose this fancier spear head type.
really nice article. thanks for the find Anthony!
Fascinating. Boar spears is what leapt to mind at first, but the idea of a religiously influenced fashion trend is interesting.
Me either
It is interesting to consider fashion rather than just function in weapon design. Winged spears do have a long life as a weapon type in the Middle Ages, especially if you include derivatives like the partisan and the wonderfully named Bohemian Earspoon.
Quote from: Erpingham on Jul 29, 2025, 09:28 AM>
and the wonderfully named Bohemian Earspoon.
Any chance that was a play on the word espontoon, I wonder?
Quote from: Martin Smith on Jul 29, 2025, 10:19 AMQuote from: Erpingham on Jul 29, 2025, 09:28 AM>
and the wonderfully named Bohemian Earspoon.
Any chance that was a play on the word espontoon, I wonder?
I don't think so, as the original name is in German
Böhmischer Ohrlöffel . It probably comes from the medieval/renaissance habit of jokey names for weapons.