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VERY RARE – Revolutionary War 17th century Awl Pike, from 1778 Battle of Cherry Valley (ON HOLD,M)

Out of Stock

$465.00

Product Description

Being offered is a rare, excavated Awl Pike (Ahlspiess). It measures 14 ½” with a 4-sided ½” blade, narrowing to a point. There are remnants of the iron side straps which were used for attaching to the wooden pole. It was recovered from the 1778 Battle of Cherry Valley, NY.

The ahlspiess (or awl pike) was a thrusting spear developed and originally used in Germany and Austria from the 15th to 16th centuries. The ahlspiess was used in other countries as well, including England, and was a popular weapon along with the poll axe in foot combat among armored knights. Large numbers of these weapons have survived and are kept in the arsenal and museums of Vienna as well as the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The Battle of Cherry Valley, also known as the Cherry Valley Massacre, occurred on November 11, 1778, during the Revolutionary War. A force of British soldiers and Iroquois warriors attacked the settlement of Cherry Valley in central New York.

The attack resulted in significant loss of life and was one of the most brutal frontier massacres of the war. The attack was a response to the earlier destruction of Native American towns by American forces. One of these pikes can be seen in the painting being carried by an Iroquois warrior (see pictures).

These pikes were brought to America by Europeans and many were used in trading with the indians. I have had several pikes in the past, but this is by far the earliest example. Amazingly, it is in very solid condition – no chipping or flaking. I am pretty confident that this weapon was used during the brutal fighting. 

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Quantity:
SKU:
0728251
Shipping:
$9.50 (Fixed shipping cost)