European Partizan, Early 18th C, Probably German

Carried by officers and NCO's (non-commissioned officers) in the time of early standing armies, as well as by palace guards, the partizan and spontoon were largely symbols of rank and used as a guide to form troops on. However, they were sometimes used in combat as a last ditch weapon, often while protecting the regiment's colors. This example with symmetrical forged steel head, featuring broad 7 1/2” blade with pronounced medial ridge, a pair of upturned lugs, a pair of down-turned lugs, and central flamboyant lugs. There is also a pair of smaller upturned lugs. Base turned with two round knobs and octagonal ferrule with two short langets; attached to later black-painted round-section shaft. Later textile tassel of red silk and gold metallic thread. Length of metal 15 1/2” (39.4 cm), overall 85 3/8” (212 cm). Price includes shipping in the contiguous USA, the cost of which has doubled since Covid!