At the outbreak of the Revolution, American troops were desperately short of weapons. For the first two years of the war, many were armed only with spears produced by local blacksmiths. This is a French partisan (Neumann calls this form a halberd) C.1710-30 which has been adapted as an infantry spear for an American infantryman. See Swords and Blades of the American Revolution, Neumann, 59.PA. It was probably captured in the French and Indian War of 1754-63. It has been reduced in length to 57” total and provided with a hole near the butt for a wrist lanyard cord to avoid loss in combat. It has a wonderful overall historic age character and the condition of the butt verifies its use in this length.
