Lance and spear
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Spears and lances are among the oldest and most widespread weapons in human history – from Stone Age hunting tools to the primary weapons of medieval infantry and cavalry. Whether you’re looking for a hand-forged spearhead for your re-enactment, a lancehead for a display fight, or a complete weapon as a historical decorative piece: Here you will find spearheads, lanceheads, spear shafts and complete pole weapons for various periods and purposes – from the Germanic framea to the late medieval halberd.
From hunting tool to weapon of war: the history of the spear and lance
Stone Age: Mankind’s oldest weapon
Spears are among the oldest known tools and weapons of all. Stone Age finds – simple wooden sticks with hardened tips or attached stone heads – provide evidence of their use as hunting implements for hundreds of thousands of years. The fundamental distinction between throwing spears (light, ballistically balanced) and thrusting spears (heavier, longer shafts) emerged as early as this phase.
Bronze and Iron Ages: Cast and forged tips
With the advent of metalworking, cast bronze tips with a ferrule for shaft attachment were developed. In the Iron Age, wrought-iron blades replaced bronze – slimmer, sturdier, sharper. The Greek doru of the hoplites and the iron Celtic spear defined the image of the ancient warrior. The Roman pilum, a specialised throwing spear used by the legionaries, represented a further development: upon impact, the soft iron shaft bent, rendering the spear unusable to the enemy.
Early Middle Ages: Winged lance and framea
The Germanic tribes and Vikings relied on broad blade tips with a slotted ferrule. The Carolingian winged lance – recognisable by the characteristic cross-wing beneath the blade – prevented it from penetrating too deeply into humans or animals and allowed it to be quickly withdrawn in battle. It is regarded as a typical weapon of early European knighthood.
High Middle Ages: The Cavalry Lance
In the High Middle Ages, the lance developed into a specialised mounted weapon. In jousting – the art of spear-fighting on horseback – a sturdy, long lance with a conical tip was crucial. Foot soldiers, on the other hand, continued to rely on shorter thrusting spears or began to use longer pikes to hold their own against cavalry.
Late Middle Ages and Renaissance: Pikes, Halberds, Gleves
The Late Middle Ages gave rise to combined pole weapons: halberds, gleves and corseques combined stabbing, slashing and hooking functions in a single instrument. Swiss and Burgundian infantry made the halberd synonymous with their military strength. At the same time, extra-long pikes – deployed in formation – enabled the famous phalanx-like pike squares of Renaissance battlefields.
Spear, lance, pike, halberd – which pole weapon is which?
Spear
The spear is the most versatile pole weapon of all: it can be thrown or thrust, has a broad blade or slender point, and was used by cultures worldwide. Spearheads come in a broad blade shape (for throwing) or a narrow thrusting shape for close combat.
Lance & winged lance
The lance is designed specifically for mounted combat – featuring a longer shaft, a more stable ferrule and often a conical tip. The winged lance (also known as a boar spear) features a characteristic cross-wing beneath the blade, which acts as a depth limiter – indispensable for hunting wild boar and in early medieval battles.
Halberd & Glefe
Halberds and gleves combine a thrusting blade, a battle axe and a rear hook into a multi-purpose weapon. The awl-spear (chainbreaker), by contrast, has a square-shaped tip without cutting edges – optimised for piercing chain mail. Typical of the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance, today they are popular collector’s items and re-enactment props.
Periods and cultures: Spears from antiquity to the Renaissance
The Framea (also known as Frame or Ger) was the typical pole weapon of the early medieval Germanic peoples – featuring a narrow, lancet-shaped blade tip and a comparatively short shaft. It was suitable for both throwing and thrusting. For Germanic re-enactments, the hand-forged carbon steel replica is the most historically accurate choice. Our Germanic spearheads (approx. 24 cm) are specially designed for this purpose.
Viking-era spearheads are characterised by a broad, often symmetrical blade shape and a distinctive slotted ferrule for shaft attachment. They were used as the primary weapon of Scandinavian warriors – swords were status symbols, spears the actual standard weapon. The spear is simply an essential part of a complete Viking armament. Available as a hand-forged replica with a blackened or natural finish.
The early medieval spearhead (5th–10th century) is a ranged and melee weapon with a long, narrow body. It was used both for throwing and thrusting. The ferrule for attaching the shaft is solidly forged; the blade is narrow and optimised for penetration. Ideal for Carolingian and Frankish re-enactments in early medieval re-enactment.
The winged lance is immediately recognisable by its distinctive cross-wing beneath the lancehead. This cross-wing prevents the weapon from penetrating too deeply into the opponent and makes it more difficult to withdraw. From the Carolingian period (8th/9th century) through to the High Middle Ages, it was a weapon of choice for mounted warriors and for hunting large game – hence the name ‘Saufeder’. Available in a display combat version with a blunt edge.
The 14th to 16th centuries produced the most complex polearms: the corseque, glefe and halberd combine multi-part blade geometries for thrusting, cutting and hooking manoeuvres. The late medieval halberd (Helmbarte) was widespread throughout Europe and remains one of the most intricate weapon replicas today. Our carbon steel halberds are modelled on finds from the 14th–16th centuries. These can be complemented by knight’s weapons to create a complete late medieval set.
Spearheads and lanceheads: an overview of materials and workmanship
| Material | Suitability | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon steel | Reenactment | High hardness, sharpens well, typical of historical replicas; exhibits individual hammer marks on hand-forged pieces |
| Steel (industrial) | LARP / Stage combat | Uniform surface, robust finish; blunt exhibition combat variants are often made from this material |
| Blackened steel | Reenactment | Surface protection through blackening (burnishing or temper blackening); authentic antique look, reduces reflection |
| Brass | Decoration / Antique | Special case for decorative variants (e.g. Roman spearheads); solid cast, high decorative value, not intended for combat use |
| Wood (ash) | LARP / Decoration | Solid wood shaft for full-size throwing spear replicas; available separately or as a complete set with tip |
Legendary spears from history and mythology
No other weapon concept has permeated mythology and history as much as the spear. In Norse tradition, Gungnir is Odin’s spear – fashioned from the wood of the world-ash Yggdrasil, always accurate and infallible. It symbolises divine authority and appears in numerous Edda texts. Anyone interested in Viking depictions will inevitably come across this spear.
The Holy Lance – also known as the Lance of Longinus or the Lance of Destiny – is said to have been the spear of the Roman soldier Longinus, who pierced Christ during the crucifixion. As one of the most significant Christian relics, it was in the possession of various European rulers for centuries, including Charlemagne and the German emperors. Today, an artefact described as such is housed in the Vienna Treasury.
From Celtic-Irish mythology comes the Gáe Bulg – the weapon of the hero Cú Chulainn, said to have been fashioned from the bone of a sea creature and to have unfurled many barbs upon penetrating the enemy’s body. Also of historical significance are the Greek doru of the hoplites, used by a common infantryman in the phalanx formation; the Roman pilum, a throwing spear of the legionaries with its deliberately soft iron shaft; and the Germanic framea, a typical tribal weapon described in detail by the Roman writer Tacitus in his Germania.
For what purpose – sharpened to a cutting edge, exhibition combat or decoration?
- True-to-life sharpness, historically accurate geometry
- Carbon steel, hand-forged or precision-machined
- Suitable for static displays, exhibitions, collectors
- Active combat training with sharp blades is not recommended
- Sale restricted to those aged 18 and over; restricted carrying in public
- Can be combined with a matching medieval sword for a complete armament
- Blunt striking edge, rounded or thickened tip
- Designed for safe handling during exhibition fights and performances
- Also decorative full-length spears with wooden shafts for market re-enactments
- Spear bases / lance bases as end pieces: secure standing, shaft protection
- Combination of spearhead + spear base for self-made pole weapons
- No age restriction; ideal for LARP use and re-enactment groups
With spearheads for Germanic tribes, Vikings and medieval knights, exhibition combat lances, halberds and matching accessories such as spear bases, you’ll find everything you need for your historical re-enactment here – from a simple spearhead starting at around €10 to a complete Renaissance pole weapon.
Frequently asked questions
Among the best-known historical spears are the Greek doru of the hoplites, the Roman pilum (the legionaries’ throwing spear), the Germanic framea and the medieval winged lance. From mythology come Odin’s Gungnir from Norse lore and the Gáe Bulg of the Irish hero Cú Chulainn. Each of these weapons represents a specific era of combat and culture.
The best-known legendary spears are Gungnir (Odin’s infallible spear from Norse mythology), the Holy Lance (the Spear of Longinus, said to be the spear used in the crucifixion of Christ) and the Gáe Bulg from Celtic-Irish mythology. All three are said to possess supernatural properties in their respective traditions and remain culturally significant to this day.
Depending on the era and function, there are various terms: the general pole weapon is called a spear or lance. Specialised forms include the winged lance (or boar’s quill, with its characteristic cross-wing), the ahle (also known as a chainbreaker, with a square tip), the glefe, and the halberd, which combines stabbing, slashing and hooking functions. In the early Middle Ages, the framea was the typical weapon of the Germanic tribes.
The oldest known spears come from Schöningen in Lower Saxony and are around 300,000 to 400,000 years old – they were made from spruce wood. Even older finds of stone spearheads are dated back as far as 500,000 years. Spears are therefore considered one of the oldest known types of tools and weapons in human history.
Sharp spearheads are historically accurate in their finish and are intended for collectors or static re-enactment displays – not for active combat training. Reenactment variants have a blunt striking edge and a rounded or thickened tip to ensure safe handling during reenactments. Sharp specimens are only sold in Germany to persons aged 18 and over; reenactment versions are not subject to any age restriction.