Early Medieval Winged Spears

[Erpingham]

Interesting little article 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.

[Imperial Dave]

really nice article. thanks for the find Anthony!

[Keraunos]

Fascinating.  Boar spears is what leapt to mind at first, but the idea of a religiously influenced fashion trend is interesting.

[Imperial Dave]

Me either

[Erpingham]

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.

[Martin Smith]

>
and the wonderfully named Bohemian Earspoon.

Any chance that was a play on the word espontoon, I wonder?

[Erpingham]

>
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.