December 10-13, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/10/2024
A complete and rare US Navy boarding pike with early spike head of the form variously classified by William Gilkerson as Type II or Type III bearing an extremely complete set of original markings. The pike measures 95 inches long overall and both head and shaft bear most of its original whitewash or white lead paint. The forged head is 16.75 inches long overall, inclusive of 7 3/8 inch-long langets and a four-sided spike blade of 6.75 inches length. The ball finial is 1.5 in. L x 1 5/8 in. diameter. One face of the spike blade is stamped “N.Y.W” for Washington Navy Yard, while another face bears a “U.S” surcharge, and a third face bears the inspectors stamp of Captain Joseph Tarbell, being his initials “J.T”. An identical head with Tarbell and Washington Navy Yard markings was recovered from the U.S.S. Niagara, flagship of Commodore Perry’s squadron during the 1813 battle of Lake Erie. As noted previously, Tarbell died in 1815, so this pike was certainly manufactured, inspected and accepted into U. S. Navy arms stores prior to- or during the War of 1812. Accession 14.56.1 purchased from Richard Drake, 1 NOV 2014.