War spear, Germany, late 15th century

Used by footmen, the war spear was part of the pole weapon category. These offensive weapons were characterized by their long wooden handle (the shaft) at the top of which an imposing metal blade was attached. The other main types of pole weapons on trend in Western Europe in the 15th century were the voulge, the pike, the halberd, and the war hammer.
Boasting an impressive length 7.9 feet (2.42 m), the spear has a wooden shaft with trimmed sides along almost 6.5 feet (2 m) of its length. At the upper end, an iron blade is attached with rivets, intended to be used to pierce and tear chainmail. On the other end of the handle, the heel of the shaft is also sometimes covered with a metal cap, in order to enable the user to set down the piece without damaging it.
The metal tip, with an elongated spike, was designed for jabbing strikes. It is reinforced with a robust median edge, while its base has two wingtips perpendicular to its axis. These latter features could be elongated if the commissioner so wished. The spear we see here is the result of refined workmanship, as demonstrated by the elegantly-shaped and slightly curved wingtips, as well as the small recesses in the lower sections of the metal tip and the wingtips. It's not surprising to find a hallmark—in the Germanic style—on this piece.