Spear shafts

[Tengu]

You know, just in case anyone tries to invade my Lochside des res...

Do I debark the shafts or not? Or doesnt it matter?

 

[Toddy]

If you don't de-bark, then the insects get a nice snug home and one day you go to pick up your spear and it crumbles to dust.

 

[Tengu]

Thanks Toddy; thought so.

 

[Toddy]

If you want to really do it right, then fire harden it. Almost like the shugi-ban ? something like that; the way the Japanese scorch wood to strengthen and rot proof it.

Anyway, you can, with care, you can make a narrow stick bend if you don't do it evenly, roast a shaft and it'll strengthen it and make it more insect proof too.
It sort of sweats out and shrinks down tight and hard.
Works for arrow shafts as well.

It's a great public activity, just don't let them touch the hot wood

M

 

[Kav]

Is this a thrusting or throwing spear? Britain was/ is home to
A tradition of fighting. Errol Flynn aside; you want a very straight, stable and sanded SMOOTH
‘Wee Stick’ for close in parrying and shifting grips.

 

[Herman30]

And ash wood is the traditional wood for spear shafts.

 

[TLM]

According to legend Spartans used cornelian cherry, a very dense and hard wood

 

[Seagull]

Slightly off topic, 'sure I read somewhere that, 'Acer' referred to spear shaft material. I've no idea of just how it was prepared.
Perhaps some History Buffs might step in on this one.
Regards All

Ceeg

 

[TLM]

'sure I read somewhere that, 'Acer' referred to spear shaft material.

Being born curious and not being dead yet I looked at the etymology of the word: basically uncertain and even meaning beyond "maple" not clear. Close variants seem to be pointy and sharp, no shaft mentioned. So maybe but uncertain.

I guess I would make a lousy fact checker.

 

[Toddy]

We're taught in Archaeology that Ash is by far the most widely used in the remains that have been found in W. Europe, this includes the British Isles and Scandinavia. Hazel is next, but it's at something like 10% of the Ash, which comes in at over 70% by itself.

Ash grows lots and lots of nice straight saplings....just the right size. Nice timber too.

M

 

[Minotaur]

One of the things that surprised me in British Woodland was how many woods are used for different things.
If you want to go really early, yew as it the oldest used so far.
Apparently Rowan is to be avoided as it does not last.