Are spearheads supposed to have sharp edges?

Vonderek · Nov 12, 2022

I didn't have any spears so I bought a spearhead as a project to haft and also bought an Iklwa just to have. Both have good tips but neither has sharp edges. The edges are so thick that both would probably need to be reprofiled to get to sharpened edges.

Are spears, like bayonets, designed that way with dull edges just to stab and not to cut?

IlikeSA · Nov 12, 2022

No, a good spear should be able to cut like a good arrowhead. Watch some of the Forged in Fire episodes involving spears; they will stab it into a carcass, then swing it to see what kinds of cuts it will do on a carcass as well (boar spear episode). Some martial arts that teach spears will also swing it like a long handled sword to get cuts.

CapnMac · Nov 12, 2022

As above, will depend on point profile. Yari or assagai and similar shapes will have sharp edges, but, that's part of the design.

Lance or javelin points are all "point."

Jim Watson · Nov 12, 2022

The iklwas made on FIF were fully sharpened and cut like a sword.
A Vatican Swiss Guard reportedly could cut a running cat in half with his halberd.

hso · Nov 13, 2022

Vonderek said:
Are spears supposed to have sharp edges?

It depends upon the spear design based on purpose. Some do, some don't. The shape of the head will dictate whether it is intended to be sharp on the edges or just a point.

JShirley · Nov 13, 2022

Also, as alluded to, some "spears" (like yari, naginata, and brush hooks*) were designed to be held, while other "spears" (like javelins and pilum) were made to be thrown.

*more properly, these are all pole arms. The brush hook in particular being a tool peasants often pressed into service in times of conflict.

John

Speedo66 · Nov 13, 2022

Never heard the term iklwa, so looked it up, short Zulu spear.

Interestingly, the name supposedly comes from the sound it makes when removed from a wound.

jahwarrior · Nov 13, 2022

An iklwa should be as sharp as any knife you'd carry, on both edges.

Carl N. Brown · Nov 13, 2022

The Zulu Iklwa with their cowhide shields were used used in the same manner as the Roman legions used their short Gladius swords and shields. The Iklwa was used as a stabbing and cutting sword, not as a projectile or thrown penetrating spear.

MEHavey · Nov 14, 2022

Vonderek said:
Iklwa

...should be a sharp as a razor....

.

Vonderek · Nov 14, 2022

jahwarrior said:
An iklwa should be as sharp as any knife you'd carry, on both edges.

I better get to work then!

borrowedtime69 · Nov 15, 2022

I have a full length hafted Cold Steel Aggasi Spear that I keep sharp.

My "fighting style" has me holding the spear at the end (I drilled it out an have a large bolt sunk in and cemented with liquid nails) and in the middle. I can stab at a distance but I also use the sharp edges to cut femur, crotch, achillies tendons, slice open neck or throat. And no, I'm not a tactical ninja Uber warrior, I just like to monkey around with it.

trekker73 · Nov 17, 2022

JShirley said:
The brush hook in particular being a tool peasants often pressed into service in times of conflict.

John

Very common implement still in some parts of the world.

JShirley · Nov 17, 2022

If anyone is interested in how Kukishin Ryu, the most famous Japanese staff and spear school, moved, there's about a year's worth of stuff to practice here. Kukishin uses a characteristic sliding or gliding over hafts and shafts. There's also characteristic spinning of staves (bo furi). Looking at how the spears are slid through the support hand, everyone should be able to understand my preference for uniformly uneven textures. Too smooth or slick a surface will cause the skin to stick to it, causing a friction burn (best case), or death (worst). This is just one of the several reasons why canvas micarta is my preferred impact and spear shaft material.

John

Are spearheads supposed to have sharp edges?

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