I've had an ugly duckling polearm sitting in my umbrella stand with the other excess spears and halberds for a couple years. It's crude, lacks traditional form, and doesn't fit into normal construction techniques for European Arms. I had the damndest time finding it in my usual European references.
Then it hit me... it isn't in European references, because it's $&*#ing American.
It's technically what we'd call a spontoon, owing to the bulbous portion that normally is more exaggerated to allow for symbols or engraving, often with a crossbar beneath in more spear-like examples.
Here's an example of a Revolutionary War spontoon from the Met, but the Met should not be used as comparisons because they typically have the finest examples of polearms, worth multiple times more than the average piece. But, you can see the bulbous section was often quite larger.
Here is a more typical example found on the market (this sold for about $375 in 2009)
Attached FileMy example, and the one above, are more in line with locally/Blacksmith made items. Mine likely attaches with a tang or screw, and the socket is overlaid on top to reinforce. European sockets tend to be completely integral, even dating back to Roman times and early Medieval period. In other words... our smiths were slackers in comparison.
I have a book on order that should help narrow down more information, but I thought I'd share this in the history section.
I have four very nice polearms coming in from Italy this month, and one may be a real treat... possible early to mid 1300s.
Next on the research table is this example that, again, is proving difficult to identify:
It's more correctly classified as a partizan, but this particular form has existed across multiple areas, but doesn't have its own name. Partizans generally have their side wings both pointing up. There are multiple American examples of spontoons with opposing, curved wings. Unfortunately, everyone seems to call American polearms "spontoons" or "pikes," even when they don't really fit either definition.
It bears a similarity in form to this Swedish example I've had for a bit from 1697. However, the integral langets that act as a socket are associated with American polearms more often than not.
Hopefully the book I have coming will answer some questions... enough so that I can sell them and buy more European ones. Papa wants an Italian Roncone!
Attached File