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A quick question

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  • Member since
    February 2006
  • From: Norfolk, UK
Posted by RickF on Thursday, October 15, 2009 3:48 AM

Not my period, Wayne, but the pike remained in use on land until eventually replaced by the musket and bayonet. Even in the 19th century sergeants still carried a shorter version (a half-pike or "spontoon") primarily as a mark of rank. It was used to defend the colours against cavalry and also came in useful for pushing the rank and file into line!

I would guess that all navies used something similar up until at least the middle of the 19th century and maybe even later.

Rick

  • Member since
    September 2009
Posted by waynec9436 on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 6:39 PM

Thank you Rick......now that I know the term for these, I did a search and that is exactly what they are.  I assume that they were used on the Soleil Royal during the 17th Century.

 

Wayne

  • Member since
    February 2006
  • From: Norfolk, UK
Posted by RickF on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 5:46 PM

If the "hook" also had a spike, it may be a rack of boarding pikes.

Rick

  • Member since
    September 2009
A quick question
Posted by waynec9436 on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 2:45 PM

I have been reading and learning as much as I can about the old 17th century warships and came across a picture of an old sailing warship which had a set of poles with hooks on them standing at the base of the mast....arranged around the entire base of the mast.  I am not sure if it was the main mast only or all of them.  Could someone tell me what these were called and what they were used for.  I have been searching for an answer but to no avail.  Would they have been on the Soleil Royal?  I believe I saw them on a picture of the HMS Victory.

 

Wayne

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