AWL PIKE

Austro-German, ca. 1500.
Very long, awl-shaped square tip (L ca. 87 cm), which ends in a conical octagonal socket. Signs of corrosion. Slid-on iron-sheet hand guard is somewhat defective. Round shaft, significantly restored.
H 270 cm.

An exceptionally-rare pole weapon. The Hussite weapon combination of awl spike and targe from the 2nd quarter of the 15th century was adopted primarily by the municipal troops of Austria. Cf. Das Wiener Bürgerliche Zeughaus, Schallaburg catalogue 1977, p.77, No. 59, Ill. 55.