May 17, 2022 Early Arms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/17/2022
The term “boarding pike” is somewhat a misnomer, as they were generally considered too unwieldy for boarding ships and were instead used to repel boarders. The iron butt caps tended to scar the wooden decks and were frequently cut off, but the Royal Navy introduced a new form in the 19th century, as seen on this fine example, that had a 3/4" diameter hole in its based, allowing a "shoe" of wood to jut-out approximately 1/2" beyond, thereby preventing both splitting of the shaft or deck scarring. The tapering wooden haft appears to be of ash and retains its original fabrication length of 91 - 1/4", while its triangular head (inclusive of side-straps or langets) is 14 - 3/4". One side strap of the head is stamped with various Royal Navy and Crown ownership marks, including an 'N', [broad arrow] / EFD/[crown]/30/E", and "66", while stamped into the shaft just above buttcap is "(Crown) / M". CONDITION: Very good and complete overall condition, traces of black japanning remain visible on the shaft; the buttcap with moderate pitting and the head with spots of light surface oxidation. A handsome example of the classic boarding pike form used by the Royal Navy from Napoleonic era to the close of the Victorian era. This pike was fabricated at the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield, which began producing firearms, swords, and other edged weapons for the Crown in 1816, as indicated by the ‘EFD” stamp used at Enfield, previously noted. CONDITION: The metal of head (blade and side-straps) is a dark, gunmetal grey and the haft is a mellow wood tone, showing the grain under a very old (original?) varnish. JLK