A Good Spear is Hard to Find

Most old battlefield weapons don't make much sense in today's world, but the spear seems destined to make a comeback. Now that we're protecting predators instead of placing bounties on them, encounters with mountain lions and coyotes happen more frequently, and since most people travel unarmed we're making a poor impression on our new neighbors. Around here the most dangerous beast is the Doberman on the farm down the road, so I can't justify carrying a spear yet. I'm still hoping, though.

In other places a spear makes good sense, since the population of feral hogs is exploding and chances are improving that on a hike we'll see some really interesting wildlife up close. The common advice -- if for instance you're out trail running and a puma shows up -- is to brandish a rock or a stick. I've not met a mountain lion in the wild but I don't consider them stupid. Animals I have met know the difference between a threat and a bluff. I've known plenty of chicken hawks who knew if you were any good with a rock, and it's amazing to watch a forest filled with game completely empty out the day you visit with a rifle. I'm sure a hungry puma is also an excellent judge of human character.

I'm not in favor of lethal response, but a real threat is much better than an empty one. A spear aimed in the right direction presents a very clear argument for moving along peacefully. The problem is that there's very little on the market which is practical. Go to any outdoor camping supplier and ask for a good trail spear and they'll just look at you funny. Odd that you can still find a Viking battle spear but you can't get something built for today's problems.

Possibly it's because most people now live in cities and haven't interacted with animals very often. They never had to deal with the Hereford bull that was normally the most peaceful creature on the farm but turned into a massive battering ram when the neighbor's cows were in season. They never tipped over the fence headfirst into the feed trough, alongside the Hampshire boar who didn't care for competitors at meals (something that happened to me when I was ten and weighed a little less than the slop bucket). There are times you need to defend yourself -- not with deadly force but pointedly.

I dated a Park Ranger for awhile who had the blissful non-confrontational modern point of view. Once we discussed what would happen if we were in a tent at night and a mountain lion blundered in and started chewing on me -- something that did happen to a couple of people only a few years ago in a National Park. I was just curious and assumed I knew her answer. She thought for a moment and then said that she usually votes in favor of the animal. That seems to be a common attitude, but mysterious to me, and it was a crucial turning point in our relationship.

I'm still looking for the perfect spear. I do, however, write about all types of knives for OnlyKnives.com. You can read a recent rambling here and a review of the Fallkniven A1 here.