Spears? No one talks about spears here?

[H&Hhunter]

I can say this without the slightest hesitation, a boar spear applied to the thoracic region of even the largest wild boar is one of the quickest killers I’ve ever seen. After having a dog shot by an over eager, moron while it was baying a boar, I started carrying a cold steel boar spear and later one of the assegai spears for finishing off wounded boar or boars that were being held or bayed by one of my dogs.

When you slide that blade into the thoracic cavity of a big boar it is almost instantly incapacitated and dead soon after. The massive size of the wound is instant and unrecoverable. The chest when opened with a cut that large creates a total release of negative pressure instantly stopping the ability to breath. Added in is a huge cut that causes a hemorrhage such that total blood pressure drops to zero very quickly.

The first couple of times that I speared a boar I was amazed at how easily the blade penetrated through the chest even when cutting ribs. I have the utmost respect for a wide bladed spear and it’s lethality. The only good news is, if you were to get stuck with one on the chest, your suffering would be short.

Edited to add;

I have zero training with a spear, I simply bought one and the first time I ever used it I walked up to a boar that was engaged with several dogs. I gave it a firm thrust and the blade easily penetrated through the chest of the hog, game over. I’ve never thrown a spear, I’ve always used it as a thrusting weapon.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

I’ve never thrown a spear, I’ve always used it as a thrusting weapon.

Once you throw a spear, you don't have it anymore. As far as throwing one at a person, they can be easily dodged (try it with eye protection and a blunt padded spear) so not only is your weapon gone, but now your adversary has it. !!!

I sometimes carry a spear in a grizzly recovery area. (see avatar) Although I also pair it with/carry a SBH in .44 mag, I feel quite confident with the spear as my primary weapon.

 

[CapnMac]

I meant the post as tongue in cheek in answer to what I assumed your post was.

Well, in fairness (and in the spirit of the posting) that's a caltrop, not a spear. A lego piece on the floor for AFV []

 

[H&Hhunter]

Once you throw a spear, you don't have it anymore. As far as throwing one at a person, they can be easily dodged (try it with eye protection and a blunt padded spear) so not only is your weapon gone, but now your adversary has it. !!!

I get that 100% and with the whole human adversary thing in mind. The reason I mentioned it is…

There is a contingent of spear hunters who use a thrown spear for hunting. I’ve not ever tried or been interested in that. I’ve only used one for killing with a thrust for the care and protection of my dogs. It’s safer for the dogs than using a gun and it’s safer for me than using a knife. I think it’s the perfect finishing weapon when using bay and stop dogs on boar.

 

[Sav .250]

I`ve never run into anyone with a spear in the woods. Anyplace else for that matter.
other parts of the world, a different story.

 

[JShirley]

I can say this without the slightest hesitation, a boar spear applied to the thoracic region of even the largest wild boar is one of the quickest killers I’ve ever seen. After having a dog shot by an over eager, moron while it was baying a boar, I started carrying a cold steel boar spear and later one of the assegai spears for finishing off wounded boar or boars that were being held or bayed by one of my dogs.

When you slide that blade into the thoracic cavity of a big boar it is almost instantly incapacitated and dead soon after. The massive size of the wound is instant and unrecoverable. The chest when opened with a cut that large creates a total release of negative pressure instantly stopping the ability to breath. Added in is a huge cut that causes a hemorrhage such that total blood pressure drops to zero very quickly.

The first couple of times that I speared a boar I was amazed at how easily the blade penetrated through the chest even when cutting ribs. I have the utmost respect for a wide bladed spear and it’s lethality. The only good news is, if you were to get stuck with one on the chest, your suffering would be short.

Edited to add;

I have zero training with a spear, I simply bought one and the first time I ever used it I walked up to a boar that was engaged with several dogs. I gave it a firm thrust and the blade easily penetrated through the chest of the hog, game over. I’ve never thrown a spear, I’ve always used it as a thrusting weapon.

Some of that is my point: it takes very little training to be reliably dangerous with a spear, and it outranges weapons like swords and axes.

John

 

[Ugly Sauce]

I get that 100% and with the whole human adversary thing in mind. The reason I mentioned it is…

There is a contingent of spear hunters who use a thrown spear for hunting. I’ve not ever tried or been interested in that. I’ve only used one for killing with a thrust for the care and protection of my dogs. It’s safer for the dogs than using a gun and it’s safer for me than using a knife. I think it’s the perfect finishing weapon when using bay and stop dogs on boar.

Yes there are such things as throwing spears. Natives in far away places that used them usually carried several of them. The ones I have seen have a long thin shank for a couple of feet (or three) from the head, and then goes into a bigger shaft. Those don't look good for thrusting. !

I have seen videos of modern hunters up in tree stands with a big long heavy "thing" they call a spear, and I suppose it is in a technical sense, maybe, and they throw it straight down at their prey as it walks under them.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

I`ve never run into anyone with a spear in the woods. Anyplace else for that matter.
other parts of the world, a different story.

About half a dozen people have run into me in the woods or on a trail with my spear. Probably still talking about it.

 

[JShirley]

Yes there are such things as throwing spears. Natives in far away places that used them usually carried several of them. The ones I have seen have a long thin shank for a couple of feet (or three) from the head, and then goes into a bigger shaft. Those don't look good for thrusting. !

I have seen videos of modern hunters up in tree stands with a big long heavy "thing" they call a spear, and I suppose it is in a technical sense, maybe, and they throw it straight down at their prey as it walks under them.

Some spears with long, thin spikes are made to deform on impact. These could weigh down and incumber a warrior with shield, or wedge in and slow an animal. They also would be ineffectual weapons until restored.

 

[rust collector]

Usually throwing spears are used with an atlatl, woomera, or other device to improve velocity and energy. They are lighter in weight, and accurate at surprising distances. Thrusting spears are more like pikes and lances. Differing materials, purposes and cultures produce an amazing array of weapons.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Usually throwing spears are used with an atlatl, woomera, or other device to improve velocity and energy. They are lighter in weight, and accurate at surprising distances. Thrusting spears are more like pikes and lances. Differing materials, purposes and cultures produce an amazing array of weapons.

True, although I think the projectile thrown from a Atlatl is known as/considered/called a "dart".

 

[Gordon]

I hunted in the 70 s into the 90 s large European wild boar with a .44 Magnum in a shoulder holster and at least a 8" sticker. I went with guys who had dogs; trailing hounds and pits to stretch the pig out. The guys I went with stuck them with big long knives. After a couple years it was my turn to do it with a ️knife .They had trained me to attempt to lift the front leg and stab the heart, but that doesn't always work as planned. Before I quit going with those guys in early 2000 s I got a Boar Spear head from the Old Cold Steel guy and stuck it on a new hickory shovel handle. I killed a lot of boar with that we caught in large cage traps. The blade was just narrow enough to go through the wide heavy wire mesh we made the traps out of. Yes a 18" boar Spear in the chest goes in surprisingly good and the death is Swift , but really bloody It keeps you away from the tusks also.

 

[theotherwaldo]

In SCA demonstrations I've used two types of throwing spears.
The pilum is a throwing spear with a very sharp head that is attached to a 2 or 3 foot length of thin, soft iron rod and then fitted to a fairly heavy wood shaft.

Its primary purpose was to get embedded in the shields of attacking warriors and make the shields too ponderous and awkward to use. Thrown overhand at foes that are advancing with raised shields.

The plumbata is a particularly nasty short throwing spear or dart. It had a barbed head on a short iron rod that fitted into a short fletched shaft with a blob of lead that joined the two pieces. Usually thrown underhand at short range.

Lawn darts for men... .

 

[Officers'Wife]

Here I was taught that if you threw it away it was a javelin not a spear. But that's probably an older version of the "rifle/gun" argument.

 

[Officers'Wife]

Well, in fairness (and in the spirit of the posting) that's a caltrop, not a spear. A lego piece on the floor for AFV []

You say potato and I say potahto
You say tomato and I say tomahto
Potato, potahto, Tomato, tomahto.
Let's call the whole thing off

 

[C0untZer0]

Texas homeowner stabs accused intruder with spear

 

[hso]

Texas homeowner stabs accused intruder with spear

Stabbed. 2014

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Amazing he didn't die. Must have just given him a quick "poke". If he had ran him through, he'd still be laying on floor. (well, you know what I mean)

 

[Speedo66]

"I don't have a firearm..."

Not to be judgemental, but I have a feeling I know why. May have something to do with the Maltese cross "biker" lifestyle flag he was flying.

Amazing he didn't die. Must have just given him a quick "poke". If he had ran him through, he'd still be laying on floor. (well, you know what I mean)

Just like with a bullet, placement is everything.

 

[hso]

Must have just given him a quick "poke"

The articles indicate a hand/shoulder injury due to the intruder partially deflecting the thrust.

I have a feeling I know why.

You are being a bit judgemental. Consider he's an SCA member and SCA members aren't likely to be part of the "biker" lifestyle (SCA is a lifestyle). Check the flag carefully and then look at the Crusades symbols. You should be able to relate it to a Crusader persona.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Nothing to do with being a biker, but having a conviction would most likely be his reason for not having a firearm. Why don't he have a cross-bow, now that is the question. !!!!

 

[hso]

I hung out with SCA members. They would typically choose a melee weapon over a firearm. The 2 intruder incidents pals in the SCA experienced were met with a short sword in the first case and a mace in the other. The two street attacks were both met with large seaxes. All 4 SCA members had no criminal history and all 4 successfully defended themselves and property without legal consequence.

Ya gotta hang out with these folks to recognize them when you see them on the news.

 

[theotherwaldo]

-I was partial to a short sword in my left hand and a main gauche in my right when facing a right handed opponent.

 

[hso]

-I was partial to a short sword in my left hand and a main gauche in my right w

Ambidextrous or left handed?

I've used Espada daga before.

 

[theotherwaldo]

More ambihelical - I screw up with either hand.
I was never much of a fighter, more a trainer (read ambulatory pell) and marshal.
I got pretty good at yelling "HOLD!"
Knocking down people with padded sticks, not so much.