Question on Boarspears

[John_Schmidt]

Were Boar Spears ever employed on the battlefield or was it strictly used for hunting?

[Jeffrey Hull]

I would suggest that the "winged" spear of the Viking Age was probably utilised for both hunting and fighting.

JH

[Brian Hunt]

Paulus Hector Mair has some plates that include fighting with the Boar spear against other weapons.

hope this helps.

Brian Hunt
GFS.

[Shane Smith]

Fiore has a flanged spear called a Chiavarina as seen at the link below on the page bottom;

http://www.varmouries.com/wildrose/fiore/section7.html

[John_Schmidt]

Thanks guys

the link really helped

[ChrisThies]

Hello Brian Hunt:
Are these boarspear Mair images available in the members area? I had difficulties at my end downloading; and only saw staff, headless pike, and blunt tipped halberds in the c. 1542 Mair on the public site.

Hello John_Schmidt:
It's my personal opinion that in times of need all available assets, as situationally prudent, would be made available to help ensure a victory. So the disbursement of designated hunting weapons to loyal underlings, underlings that would otherwise be going afield un- or under-armed, is completely plausible to me.

Of recent I've been doing some limited research into historical (period) European hunting practices and implements. Almost exclusively German sources account that's all I currently have to work with. The German 'Sauspieß' (Sow spear) had some particular characteristics that differented it from other 'Stangenwaffen' (pole arms).

The Sauspieß had either a lance or leaf shaped double edged spear head, complete with a 'Tülle' (spout) at its base into which the shaft was riveted. The shafts was approximately 2 meters long, and they were not milled from a larger piece of wood, but instead were selectively harvested for their specific use. Thus each shaft represented a small tree trunk, often maintaining those natural characteristics of the wood (such as the retention of the branch knobs, which improved grip). These shafts were also worked to various degrees (either lattice or spiral carved, or wrapped with narrow leather straps, or equipped with nail heads, etc.) in order to further prevent hand slippage. A particularly characteristic addition to the Sauspieß was an 'Auflaufknebel', which was a right-angled toggle, made of iron, bone, antler, or wood. It was attached underneath the spear head, either as a rigid rectangular appendage, or it was attached to a strong strap. Usually finger thick, this Auflaufknebel prevented over penetration of the game, while at the same time preventing the dangerous game from advancing further against the hunter.

[Brian Hunt]

Hi Chris,

There are two books in each one of Mair's manuals. The second section of the Vienna (the manual on the ARMA webpage) is not shown, nor is it publicly availible anywhere that I am aware of. This is the section where the sweinspeiß (boarspear) plates are. There is also the Dresden MS (this also has two books), and the Munich (also two books). The Dresden in in German, and the Munich is in Latin. The Vienna of course lists both the German and the Latin verses.

hope this helps some.

Brian Hunt.
GFS

[John_Schmidt]

Ya I suppose your right when the need arises even a stout stick could be a weapon

Does anyone know how you would go about using a boar spear against a human?

[Brian Hunt]

The same way as you would a regular spear.

Brian Hunt.
GFS