Pike 15th/16h century
Pike. Recently obtained directly from the Luzern Zeughaus (arsenal), this pike has been in storage and periodic use there since the late 15th/early 16th Century. Shows hand forging and lamination, with square/diamond section point, round ferrule, and side straps xx inches long. It is mounted on a hand-hewn tapering round-section arsenal shaft of ash, which is old and original to the period of use. It was common for the arsenals to periodically replace polearm shafts as they showed signs of damage or rot, so it is virtually impossible to determine the age of a polearm shaft. This is certainly not a museum or collector replacement. Markings were also added at various times. Most of the shafts are marked on their lower end with a stamped “LUZERN” mark of varying forms. All show storage and handling marks and some have scattered worming, but all are fully sound and serviceable. Some shafts stamped “CL” on ends (likely an abbreviation for “Canton Luzern”) and some have painted inventory numbers. Pikes of this exact style and description are pictured and described in Katalog der Waffen-Sammlung im Zeughause zu Solothurn, by Dr. Rudolph Wegeli, published 1905. Some even bear the same star or boot-shaped maker’s marks, as well as a horseshoe mark with two points above. Pikes of this type are also described in “Katalog der Historischen Sammlungen im Rathause in Luzern”, a published inventory of weapons in the Luzern Zeughaus. It is extremely rare to find a group of historical weapons of this age from their original source with no alterations. While pikes were common in the 16th and 17th Centuries, very few now survive in their full length.Overall lengths vary between 14' 1"" to 15' 4"", most being just over 15 feet. Metal is forged iron and length varies between 20"" and 35"", with side straps set in hand cut dados in the shaft. Straps fastened with iron head nails from the period of the shafts, but some are later replacements. LZ-13, 14'101/2"", 5""blade, 6 1/2"" head, 22"" straps.
If you have any questions, please send them to Wade Allen
This site last updated Mon Mar 31 11:41:20 EDT 2025