Spear

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Illustrations

Period sources:

Zacharias Zacharias Bartsch Wappen Buch, 1567, Cross Wheels (?), Lances

Modern

Pictorial Dictionary of SCA Heraldry (3rd edition):

• Spear
• Spearhead

Sources:

Academy of St. Gabriel "Medieval Heraldry Archive" - http://www.s-gabriel.org/heraldry/

Laurel Armory Articles - http://heraldry.sca.org/laurel/armory_articles.html

Period Armorials

Precedents:

Precedents of the SCA College of Arms - http://heraldry.sca.org/laurel/precedents.html

Morsulus Heralds Website - http://www.morsulus.org/ (to search the LoARs and Precedents)

Use the above links to be sure any precedents listed below haven't been superseded by newer precedents.

Definition:

(includes defaults, proper tinctures, blazoning)

December 2020 CL - On Spears and Tinctures

Over the years we have been inconsistent in how we treat spears whose steels (heads) and hafts have different tinctures for purposes of conflict and contrast. In some cases they have been treated like axes, taking their main tincture from the steel. In other cases, they have been treated like arrows, taking their main tincture from the haft. The way they have been categorized in the O&A has also varied, with some categorized based on the tincture of the steel and others on the tincture of the haft.

To clarify the issue of tincture:

Long, skinny charges, such as arrows, spears, and javelins, take their tincture from the haft. The haft tincture should be blazoned first when it differs from the tincture of the steel or head. The steel needs some contrast, but not necessarily good contrast, with the field.

Charges with large or broad heads, such as axes, take their tincture from the blade. The blade or head tincture should be blazoned first when it differs from the tincture of the handle. The handle needs some contrast, but not necessarily good contrast, with the field.

A spear proper has a brown (wooden) haft and a sable steel. A spear proper steeled argent has a brown haft and an argent steel; it is considered color for contrast purposes. A spear argent steeled sable has an argent haft and a sable steel; it is considered metal for contrast purposes. Steeled is the period term used in period blazon for the head. For example, when granted William Shakespeare's arms were blazoned as "a Speare of the first [i.e., Or] steeled argent".

The seven instances of spears that do not meet these standards are reblazoned on this LoAR. We have not reblazoned armory where the only change would mutate headed to steeled; however, if submitters prefer the latter term they may request a reblazon.

We thank Jeanne Marie Palimpsest and Bruce Batonvert for their work in researching this matter. https://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2020/12/20-12cl.html

Registerability:

(Restricted, Reserved, SFPP, OOP)

Collected Precedents:

• 2nd Tenure of Elisabeth de Rossignol (April 2011 - August 2011) - Collected Armory Precedents
• 1st Tenure of Elisabeth de Rossignol (May 2005 - July 2008) - n/a
• The 2nd Tenure of François la Flamme (October 2004 - May 2005) - SWORDS and OTHER WEAPONS
• The Tenure of Shauna of Carrick Point (May 2004 - August 2004) - Collected Armory Precedents
• 1st Tenure of François la Flamme (August 2001 - April 2004) - Collected Armory Precedents
• The Tenure of Elsbeth Anne Roth (June 1999 - July 2001) - Collected Armory Precedents
• The Tenure of Jaelle of Armida (June 1996 - June 1999) - Single HTML Document
• 2nd Tenure of Da'ud ibn Auda (November 1993 - June 1996) -
  • the 1st part (Nov 1993 - June 1994) and
  • the 2nd part (July 1994 - June 1996)
• The Tenure of Bruce Draconarius of Mistholme (June 1992 - October 1993) - Collected precedents
• 1st Tenure of Da'ud ibn Auda (June 1990 - June 1992) -
  • the 1st year (June 1990 - June 1991) and
  • the 2nd year (July 1991 - June 1992)
• The Tenure of Alisoun MacCoul of Elphane (September 1986 - June 1990) - Collected Precedents
• The Tenure of Baldwin of Erebor (August 1984 - August 1986) - Single HTML Document
• The Tenure of Wilhelm von Schlüssel (August 1979 - August 1984) - Collected Precedents
• The Tenure of Karina of the Far West (December 1975 - June 1979) - Collected Precedents
• The Early Days (June 1971 - June 1975) - Collected Precedents

The Ordinary

(includes javelin, lance, naginata, partisan, pike, pike staff)

• Spear
• Spear head - see Pheon
• Spearhead - see Pheon] and Head - Weapon