"Where to Grip a Spear?" Topic

If you're throwing a spear – about a third of the way from the tip???

From a chariot, using the spear for thrusting – near the end??? (It's in an Osprey, it might be true…)

Based on spear-fighting in practice and recreation:

Throwing: somewhere around the middle/slightly aft of middle

Thrusting: 1 hand at the base pushing the spear, one hand up the shaft to steer the point.

If one-handed, somewhere around the middle OR maybe tucking the haft under/along the inside of the forearm and holding 1/3 from base.

Editor, you want to hold it at the point of balance. Assyrians had a ball weight at the butt end to give you more to the fore for thrusting.

you grip it by the husk….err, no, that's how sparrows carry cocoanuts. Umm, African sparrows, I believe…or would that be European? Now I'm confused.

John is perfectly correct about the balance point which varies from spear to spear. Throwing a spear , javelin style, is much like throwing a baseball. Once you found the balance point you hold it down at hip level, pointing up at a 45 degree angle, with your hand cupping the spear at the balance point, When throwing it is brought up and over the shoulder like a baseball -flicking your wrist can put some spin on it, This technique would have been used by skirmishers firing at a distance and by Romans using their pilae,

Throwing a spear say from a chariot is like throwing a foot ball- holding it, again at the balance point above the shoulder parallel to the ground and using the other hand to aim. you throw it at the target. Of course the closer you are the better the chance.

Fron re-enactment, a spear used single handed with a shield is tucked under the notch of the elbow with as little as possible protruding behind you. Not only does it give you maximum reach but it reduces the chance of hammering the guy in the second rank with the butt end! I have regularly used an 8' spear this way with no difficulty at all.

Colin

If you look at the Bayeux Tapestry, you'll see that the Normans on horseback carried their spears overhand – this was for thrusting as well as throwing. IIRC, the "average" Norman knight had 3 spears – two short "darts" of about 3 feet in length which he threw and a longer 5 footer which is what he held onto, thrusting overhand. The Normans had stirrups which helped them stay in the saddle during all this.

From personal experience, I will agree that you hold a spear generally about the center of gravity. I have two spears – one with a boar head, the other with a metal butt. The boar spear is held towards the rear with two hands, the other one has its c/g a little more forward, but I can throw it as well. Last time I did it for real, I was holding it about 75" back from the head using my left arm to guide it. I hit the racoon, so I must've done something right.

For ancients, some of the Greeks wrapped cord around the spear which caused it to spin when thrown. I think the person I saw doing it (rather effectively) was holding it a little behind midpoint.

Wyatt

The nearest I've ever come to spear chucking was throwing a javelin when I was on the athletics team at grammar school.

Almost nailed the PE teacher with one too, shame I missed, he was a very unpleasant man…

For a 2-handed thrust with a long spear (7+ ft), dominant hand a few inches from the end, other hand about 2 ft in front. Off hand for balance, dominant hand for direction and power. Stand with dominant side ( usually right ) back, so you are almost side on to enemy, front foot forward, back foot at 45' angle, similar to backstance in several martial arts styles. This allows you to "push forwards " easily, and to get your front ( Usually left) leg out of the way, as it is an easy taget when in back stance.

K

Um … not by the sharp part? :-)

Seriously, it's all been said already. One handed, hold it roughly at the C.G. Two handed, one hand back, one hand forward, precise location and spacing dependent on the weapon and the style of use.

Doug

"…African sparrows…"

Go directly to the Keeper of the Bridge of Death. Do not pass Go; do not collect $200. USD

It is "swallows", African swallows.

@ KeithJohnson (above) : "It's not a question of where 'e GRIPS it! It's a simple matter of weight ratios…"

Sorry, it had to be said… ;-)

If it were a modern military weapon, there would be wording on it with an arrow that says "This end towards target"

I used to be in Wulfingas 500 AD re-enactment group, and I agree with the above comments. One handed the tip of the spear touches the elbow and then levers up against the forearm itself. Overarm is different- you can't use much force but can dart jabs into the enemy's face.

I know where I grip My spear….

@ badmash sean : Oh, well now you're just bragging!! ;-)

Steve – Wulfingas – when were you a member?

c. 1995-1999. Very happy memory. I was Baedugar, and did a mean line in composing poems in the Anglo-Saxon vein. Cracking group.

stands corrected. :oP

Its not a question of where he grips it. Its a simple question of weight ratios.

8^)

Just wondered – I was in the 'Ravens' 84-87, when Bill went off to University and started a second group up there… we visited the Wulfingas in Leicester at some point later on.

One of the last feasts I attended, we had this middle-aged guy show up who'd founded the original group decades before. I think only Bill Hubbard had met him! One guy commented it must be like meeting your descendants!

"Wulfingas, from the Angle shores,
Sailing to Britannia and taking what is yours!
Wulfingas, the fearsome Angle band,
No-one can match us when fighting hand to hand."

Chorus:

"There are militia coming through the woods, through the woods, through the woods,
militia coming through the woods and forming into line…"

Oh happy happy days…