[Warren]

I'm making a spear and I can't decide what size to make the point.

Some friends say it should be about .355 inches across and some other dudes say it should be be about .45 inches across.


What should I do?

[Leaky Waders]

Hmm I don't know...but if you do a search of atlatl's then you may find an answer...there's kind of a renascence of that traditional weapon going on.

Or you could model a broadhead...they have a specific ratio that some people use in flint knapping. Maybe at stickbow.com someone can help if one doesn't chime in here.

[c_yeager]

cute

it depends on how fast you can throw it :neener:

[hso]

H2L,

There are many types of spear (surprise!:D ) and their shape depends upon their purpose.

Is this a throwing spear (javeline) or a thrusting spear or a thrusting/slashing spear?

[Brian Williams]

Are you looking for penetration or a bigger hole?
Are you going to use traditional wood and metal or polymers

[JShirley]

What HSO said- form follows function.

John

[Skofnung]

Yhea, what are you using it for?

If for throwing, go ahead and make an atlatl. It is the only way to "fly." Even then, the size of the points depend on quarry, your strength, desired range, and material used.

I don't care much for throwing spears, as I find the bow or a sling to be much easier to use and more effective.

I have a few old chirt points from around here that were use as atlatl points 3000-4000 years ago, or so I have been told by a local "expert" AKA a State archaeologist. These points are as wide as they are long, and are between 1 1/2" - 2" long. That may give you some idea if this is the direction you intend to go...

Hand thrown spears need to have long, narrow heads. It has been argued that javeins (other than the weighted Roman pilum) were not too effective, except to harass. Research I have read (over at www.swordforum.com ) indicates that casualties from hand thrown spears were fairly low. The few times that I have played with a javelin (not the track & field type) I did not come away thinking that it was a good weapon. I am not a Greek "Hero" type though. Perhaps it takes alot of training.

Now foot spears, there is the ticket! I like a 8-14" head, 2-3" wide with lugs under the head on the socket. That makes a mean weapon. Shaft length can vary by use.

[Kaylee]

I don't think there's been any reason to have .355 spears for the last ten years, since thanks to the Assault Spear Laws To Stop Drive-by Bayonettings you can only carry ten pilums anyhow.. might as well carry the big ones, eh?

Hopefully that will change when the ban expires this September.. I've had my eye on this really nice .355 atlatl for ages now..


:)

[bogie]

"Hello? Grand Prairie Knives? You know those Cold Steel spears? I want one..."

[MrMurphy]

www.museumreplicas.com

If nothing else, you can check their measurements for javelins, lances and spears. :)

Flint, wood, steel? Thrusting, throwing? need to know that first.

[Sunray]

Go here. http://www.arador.com/discforums/index.php
.355 is almost the same diameter as a 9mm bullet. That's not a spear. That's a nail. So is .45". Think of a double edged knife on a stick.

[P-35/53]

i heard them there Romans used to use a 355 spear but moved on to 45 spear because it stopped 19 out of 20 times . I think it was Flavius Jefficus Cooperinium that wrote that doctrine.

[Warren]

:D

[musher]

hey man, you really oughtn't poke sticks in the cages!

[Don Gwinn]

By my count, about eight or nine of you gave dead-serious replies. One person even pointed out that .355 and .451 are kinda, you know, sort of close to the diameter of two popular handgun calibers--and then proceeded to miss the joke anyway.

:D

The mark of a fine goof!

[tiberius]

you can only carry ten pilums

hhurumph.....That's "pila" :)

[4v50 Gary]

From long guns to pikemen. THR. :)

[Skofnung]

Well, I thought he might be talking about the "thickness" of the midrib. I have seen spears with midribs that thick.

Reckon I got...

http://www.firekite.com/store/misc/pics/owned4/owned-cat_shaved.jpg
:o :D