Building a Spear (SCA)

[Pietro da San Tebaldo]

Is there a good article online about building an SCA combat spear?

Failing that, can folks offer their tips and advice for making a reasonable tip and catch-hook on a spear intended for this use?

Thanks in advance.

(I'm hoping to make one this summer - maybe even take raw materials to Pennsic and buy my fiberglas shaft there...)

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"Or, a pall inverted surmounted by an orle Azure counterchanged"
mka: Sam Pearce

[Alexander]

Servus!

I don't know of any articles on the net, sorry.

I did, however, make a speartip using some leftover suede that I had. The suede is pretty tough, meaning that after a few battles it isn't torn up like ones made out of tape. The tip is conical, which makes the "progressive resistance" required by Society regulation easier to achieve. The suede is infinitely more grippy than duct tape, therefore reducing the possibility of glancing shots. Finally, it looks great - I mean, it will never look like a real spear tip but it's alot better than flaky and peeling tape!

Two pieces of suede involved here - a round part (I used red for the "contrasting color") and a part for the cone. The cone was achieved by wrapping a piece of paper around the pre-taped foam tip and trimming it until I had a reasonable pattern. I added two "tabs" at the smaller end to help attach the cone to the spear shaft. Sew the disk (don't forget about seam allowances of at least 0.5 inch!!) to the long side of the cone. I reccomend double stitching and using a lock stitch awl. Once that is complete, turin inside out and pull over the tip (which should already be attached to the spear) Using an upholstery needle (the curved one) use double thread to make a whip stitch to join the two ends together. Make sure to pull the stitches tight again every two or three stitches. Once completed, tape up the tabs on the small end of the cone to the spear shaft (I use BIKE brand athletic tape, in black of course.)

Confused yet? I'm at work and haven't had much coffee yet...

I suppose that you could make a cylindrical version which would simplify the sewing phase but I find that the conical shape keeps the leather cover from being torn off and that it tends to fold over less.

Mind you, I'm a complete sewing goof - sewing usually involves lots of band-aids and swearing but I was able to pull this off magnificently.

Catch hooks - something I don't use. Master Terafan uses a two inch piece of rattan (usually cut off from the same spear) and with and wood rasp, files out one end so that it fits flush with the shaft. Tape in a "X" pattern and then tape the hook completely.

Drop me an e-mail if you want further details.

(ACHTUNG! Edited kuz Ah kant spel werth a schit...)

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Pax Vobiscum,

Herr Alexander



[This message has been edited by Alexander (edited 06-20-2002).]

[freiman the minstrel]

I was taught to make an sca spear as follows.

I was taught by an old school meridian duke, and will try to include his unique phrasing.

tools needed are a knife, a full beer, spray paint, and some newspaper.

Do this in a well ventilated space. Do not smoke while you do this or you may lose your eyebrows.

first, git yerself a foam Beer Coozie (keeps a single can of beer/coke cold), a small bit of leather (a one and a half inch by twelve inch strip should do it), some campin' foam, some spray adhesive, and some black athletic tape.

You also need a pultruded fiberglass spearshaft and a pair of endcaps. We used 1" PVC pipe endcaps, but I have been told they are illegal some places.

Put the endcaps on the spearshaft, and fasten them in place (we used tape). Cut camping foam discs exactly the right size to completely fill the circle created by the inside of the coozie. Figure out exactly how many beer can sized discs make half a coozie (in depth).

count out the correct number of discs on the newspaper. Remember you want to half fill the coozie. Spray these discs with spray adhesive.

slide the discs one at a time into the coosie. After each individual disc, press the full beer down into the coozie to seat the disc.

the next part is a little tricky. you need to take the remaining disks, and cut them so they form a ring around the end of the spear shaft (including the end cap).

treat these rings with the spray adhesive, and put them into place around the spearshaft (which should be in the end of the coozie).

when this is done, you should have a cylindrical head, about four or five inches around, on the end of a nine foot stick. It should be pretty stable.

make the spear more stable by taping it to the shaft. Run a piece of tape from the shaft, over the end of the head, and back to the shaft. work your way around the shaft, until the entire head is covered. the tighter the tape is, the firmer the head will be.

wrap a ring of tape around the base of the head of the spear.

Now for the leather. cut it into right Triangles about one and a half inches on a leg (not the hypotenuse) lay enough of these triangles together (on top of one another) to make a triangle a little more than an inch thick. tape these triangles together.

Tape the triangle so that one of the right legs lays against the shaft, with the hypotenuse sloping down toward the head of the spear. This is your sheild hook, and it will be your best friend.

Paint the spearshaft.

drink the beer, or better yet, get another one, that one's warm

hope this helps.