Revolutionary War 1812 Era 1700s 18th Early 19th Century Belt Knife From Pike For Sale

Belt knife is in original condition with signs of corrosion and open cracking on turned oak hilt with classic wrought iron flat counter guard with cut down tips. measuring approximately 9 7/8” inches long With a 6” double sided dagger type blade with a Full tang see pics for more details.

Knife came from a well known sale house in Austin sale house listing is included

sale house description

This American Revolutionary War era war pike or spear head is mounted on what appears to be its original wooden shaft, later cut down into a shorter handle, to serve as a Belt Knife. The piece was likely once part of a longer pike or spear that suffered a broken shaft, after which the remaining wood was reduced and retained in knife-like form. The survival of the original wood is a major point of interest, as polearm shafts were often lost, replaced, broken, or discarded over time. This example preserves both the iron head and a meaningful section of its original working mount.

Pikes, spears, spontoons, halberds, and related polearms remained important in the Colonial America and Revolutionary War era, serving both practical and symbolic roles. Longer polearms could be used to defend lines, protect officers or colors, and provide close-quarters reach in camp, militia, or battlefield settings. Even as firearms dominated 18th-century warfare, polearms continued to appear in military use, especially among officers, sergeants, guards, and militia formations where rank, command, and utility overlapped.

This is a fascinating Revolutionary War era polearm relic with strong visual and historical character. The cut-down shaft tells a story of field use, breakage, adaptation, and preservation, making it more evocative than a loose spear head alone. It is an excellent small-format artifact for collectors of Colonial American arms, Revolutionary War polearms, early militia weapons, and 18th-century battlefield material.

I’ve referenced similar ones in encyclopedia of the American Revolution by George C Neuman

Lot 487h04