A Spontoon is type of Europeanlance that came into being after the pike-man craze, coming into play in the middle of the 17th century. Also called the European half pike, this very much resembled a pike that had a much shorter staff; usually no more than 7 feet long. The spontoon is remembered for being more of a signaling weapon than a polearm of war. This has the honor of being one of the only pole weapons which stayed in use long enough to make it into American history. As late as the 1890's the spontoon could still be seen accompanying marching soldiers. This article is about the continent. ... The term lance has become a catchall for a variety of different pole weapons based on the spear. ... The steel tip was fairly long compared to the shaft, making the weapon most unwieldy in close combat. ... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... A pole weapon or polearm is a close combat weapon with the main fighting part of the weapon placed on the end of a long shaft, typically of wood. ...
A spontoon, formally called an espontoon, was a spear carried by European and American army officers in the 18th century.
Lewis and Clark sometimes carried a spontoon when walking on shore during the river journey, using the spontoon as a kind of walking stick in rough and slippery terrain, as a gun rest, and rarely for defense against dangerous animals.
Spontoons have long metal straps extending from the blade to strenghten the spontoon against breakage, and small crossbar at the bottom of the point.
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