A spetum is a

polearm A polearm or pole weapon is a close combat weapon in which the main fighting part of the weapon is fitted to the end of a long shaft, typically of wood, extending the user's effective range and striking power. Polearms are predominantly melee we ...

that was used in

Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...

during the 13th century. Other names include chauve souris, corseca, corsèsque, korseke, runka, and rawcon. It consists of a pole, some long, on which is mounted a

spear A spear is a polearm consisting of a shaft, usually of wood, with a pointed head. The head may be simply the sharpened end of the shaft itself, as is the case with Fire hardening, fire hardened spears, or it may be made of a more durable materia ...

head with two projections at its base. Many variations of this design flourished over time; some feel that the

ranseur A ranseur, also called roncone, was a polearm similar to the Partisan (weapon), partisan used in Europe up to the 15th century. It was still seen in court as a ceremonial weapon through the 17th century. Often thought to be a derivation of the e ...

is a variation of the spetum. According to antiquarian

John Hewitt John Hewitt may refer to: * John Hewitt (priest) (died 1588), English Roman Catholic priest and Catholic martyr, beatified in 1929 * John Hewitt (antiquary) (1807–1878), English official * John Hill Hewitt (1801–1890), newspaper editor * John ...

, the spetum is a variation of the

partisan Partisan(s) or The Partisan(s) may refer to: Military * Partisan (military), paramilitary forces engaged behind the front line ** Francs-tireurs et partisans, communist-led French anti-fascist resistance against Nazi Germany during WWII ** Ital ...

. The spetum is usually distinguished from the

and

by its "prongs" being single edged and used for slashing. The main blade is long have not found any sources supporting this measurement, the spetum shown in the image's head is measured at 46 in (118.1 cm) meaning the blade is only marginally shorter than 46 inches and the side blades are only about half that length and are set at acute angles. The design of a spetum is for combat. The main blade is long enough to destroy any significant organ in the human body with a thrust. The side blades could bind weapons, similar to a

jitte A is a blunt melee weapon that was used by police in Edo-period Japan (1603–1868). In English-language sources, it is sometimes incorrectly spelled jutte, such as in Ikkaku-ryū juttejutsu. History In feudal Japan, it was a crime punishable ...

or sai. The blunt backs of the side blades give the spetum a variety of uses such as tripping and knocking aside shields while providing far more strength to the sharpened side and points than is possible with a dual-edged construction. The word ''spetum'' comes meaning "spit".

References

External links

* Polearms {{Polearm-stub