French & Indian War Spontoon or “Trench Spear”, from the ruins of Fort Saint-Frédéric, NY (ON HOLD,MR))

Being offered is a French & Indian War Spontoon or “Trench Spear”. The overall measurement is 11” with the blade being 1 ½” wide. It would have taken a 1” wooden pole (haft). This piece was recovered many years ago from the ruins of Fort Saint-Frédéric, NY.

Fort Saint-Frédéric was a French fort built on Lake Champlain to secure the region against British colonization and control the lake. Construction was started in 1734 by Gaspard-Joseph Chaussegros de Léry. When complete, Fort Saint-Frédéric walls were twelve feet thick and four stories high, with cannons on each level.

It was manned by hundreds of French officers and troops. The fort gave the French control of the frontier between New France and the British colonies to the south. Many French raids originated there, and it was a target of British operations in the French and Indian War.

Constructed on the tip of a strategic peninsula at a narrows in the lake, the cannons of Fort Saint-Frédéric were capable of halting all north-south travel on the lake. In 1759 when British forces moved against Fort Saint-Frédéric during the war, the retreating French destroyed it.

This spear head is in nice condition, having a rounded point from hard use, but very solid with no rust or flaking, indicative of an early find. There are examples of this piece in “Collector’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of the American Revolution” by Neumann & Kravic (see pictures). it is truly a great piece of early American History.

Revolutionary War and French & Indian War artifacts have always been difficult to find. With the upcoming of the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding next year, there will be a revitalized interest. Just about all Revolutionary War relics and artifacts will be in demand, which will only add to their scarcity and price. I am already seeing a substantial surge in sales.