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Post by Sir Thorfinn on Feb 27, 2013 3:34:48 GMT
We have very limited choices if you want a good spear. The vast bulk seem to be of so-so quality. Who puts the effort in to make a Albion quality spear together? I figure it has to be custom....or well hidden.
Thoughts?
Edit for spelling...
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Post by demonskull on Feb 27, 2013 3:45:44 GMT
Have you checked out A&A : www.armor.com/polearms.htmlI havn't had any of their polearms. I have had some of their other products though and I can speak of their general quality.
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Post by William Swiger on Feb 27, 2013 4:20:10 GMT
I agree that A&A would be the spears of choice. I have been meaning to get a viking spear from them for a few years now.
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Post by Sir Thorfinn on Feb 27, 2013 14:22:18 GMT
Ok, I'll take a look. In the past, the spear/pole weapons I've had were terrible metal quality. One step up from recycled Pakistani beer cans. I'm not terribly concerned about the shaft, those are comparatively easy.
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Post by templar on Feb 27, 2013 15:18:14 GMT
I ordered the greek set (spearhead and buttcap) from MRL (cheaper from KOA however the buttcap is on backorder) and mounted them on a five foot ash dowl from home depot (about $7). It was difficult to sharpen because the steel is quite hard and thick. I am very pleased with it; very good spear for the price. Good luck.
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avery
Senior Forumite
Manufacturer/Vendor
Posts: 1,530
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Post by avery on Feb 27, 2013 23:40:02 GMT
I saw a post on Facebook in which Sam Salvati and Matt Stagmar at BKS, had made some great looking spear heads. I'd love to see someone get one and do a review. Not sure of the price, but they looked excellent. www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?f ... =1&theater
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Post by Voltan on Feb 28, 2013 0:19:43 GMT
I have the Zulu Iklwa Short Spear by Windlass, and I'm quite pleased with it. If I'm correct, it's their large leaf-blade head, just mounted on a shorter shaft. I had no problem at all sharpening it with my belt sander. viewtopic.php?f=22&t=15617
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Post by Sir Thorfinn on Feb 28, 2013 3:38:52 GMT
I took a look a A&A and they 'look' great. Theoretically a sculpey spear looks good too. I don't see anything about temper or the steel other than 'tool steel', so there may be little functional difference. Here is where my knowledge fails...spears are not swords, or axes, so have different mechanical needs. Edge retention is good, probably similar to axe, but how about the point? Shaft is important, so what is best, flex like rattan or stiff like hickory, truth is somewhere between. Now the discussion can go towards what makes a good spear, which should make shopping easier. I'm not sure this makes sense as written....
Edit for obvious spelling and PS
PS...Avery, Avery the link doesn't work, so I'm digging in their website...
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SanMarc
Senior Forumite
Posts: 3,193
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Post by SanMarc on Feb 28, 2013 4:18:09 GMT
I couldnt find a Big Viking Leaf blade spear for the life of me!! So I got Windlass's Hewing spear and cut it down in to a Leaf blade..... :twisted: Real Nice!!!!
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Post by Tristan on Feb 28, 2013 5:46:41 GMT
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Post by sam salvati on Feb 28, 2013 21:02:05 GMT
All one piece chrome-moly steel, tough as nails. Contact Matt or Kerry at BKS for more info. Can be made to any design or shape no problem.
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Post by Sir Thorfinn on Mar 1, 2013 0:11:20 GMT
That looks just like the old MRL winged spear head. No idea if the steel is decent, but I loved the design.. I wonder how we should test...cutting and stabbing? And into what.... Edit... Sam, now we're getting somewhere... I'm telling you guys...this is a path we may need to research .
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Post by Bigred on Mar 3, 2013 11:03:49 GMT
I actually bought a BKS spear head from KOA just two weeks ago. And its funny because by the looks of the stamp there, its the exact same one pictured on the far left above. I've owned quite a few spears in the past, I have 12 in my possession right now. Now I haven't used an A&A spear, but I have had their Nordland axe, so I think I got a feel for their heat treatment. I can say without a doubt that this BKS spear head is the best I have ever owned. Its a tiny bit asymmetrical, it has a lean of no more than a millimeter, and the socket is a little bulgey. But the heat treatment is the best I've seen. After an hour of throwing it into softwood logs and sand, there wasn't a single scuffle. I gave it a pretty fierce edge before I started throwing it, and the only thing that dulled it in the slightest was some galvanized steel sheet, which it sailed through. At one point I missed my target and it impacted a piece of plate steel, and... Nothing really happened. The damage was so minimal Im barely even able to identify it with the naked eye. Lol Sorry if Im going on a bit, Im really excited about my new purchase :-P
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Post by Sir Thorfinn on Mar 5, 2013 1:33:05 GMT
So whatever they did to heat treat...they did right. Gotcha. Someone has to know what traditional tests were done to decide if it's a good or bad one...but spears in Europe seem to be a cheap foot trooper weapon, so maybe they didn't bother.
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Post by sam salvati on Mar 7, 2013 3:07:33 GMT
I came in working with BKS and completely redesigned the spear line, I have no qualms in saying they are the best looking spear coupled with high performance on the market today.
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