Making a new spear – suggestions?

[squirrelpotato]

Hey all!



I’m looking to build a new one-handed, double headed spear/javelin but I’m not sure where to start regarding what height, weight, etc. the weapon should be.



- The two heads will allow me to use it as an underhanded spear while being able to quickly flip it to overhand and throw it like a javelin

- Should one head be heavier than the other (spear head vs javelin head)? If so, any ideas on a rough weight distribution of those compared to each other and the weight of the entire weapon?

- I’m assuming the height should be 6+ feet as I’m 5’7’’, but I’m not sure how to narrow down beyond that



As for the building materials themselves, I’m thinking what’s shown in the picture below.

Any ideas on those weight/length questions, general thoughts, recommendations, or tools/resources to figure out the best weight/length would be super helpful!

[Basil Gavras]

It should either be a spear or a javelin, not both. Besides, they do two different jobs.

For a javelin: this is something you can throw, and as such is much more dangerous than normal weapons. Once you release it, the javelin is out of your control. They need to be created with that in mind and maximized for safety.

If you want a long javelin, even up to 6 feet, a kitespar core is the best material. It's light and it's durable.

For haft padding, the old staple is pipe insulation. Easy to put on and light, it's not the most durable but it'll work for LH. A spiral wrap of camp pad or some thinner foam could work too.

For a pommel, spiral wrap it to width and cap it with a couple layers of foam.

For a spear: A spear should be long, 7 feet plus. It's a stand off weapon for line fighting. The best core is carbon fiber as it's strong and light. It's also really expensive. Bamboo is a good substitute if you can find a straight piece. Since you're not throwing it you don't need half padding, and can do the pommel as above.