Qing Golden dragon spear - 17th C., early qING Dynasty

Golden Dragon Spear is a beautiful spear, dated  late Ming or early Qing in the second half of the 17th Century. 

This spear features a golden dragon collar, where a sturdy, stiff spearhead with the diamond cross section emerges.

Creative and clever in its design this spear is more than a simple munition but an elite weapon.

Length:  20.5 cm (8")

Socket Inner Diameter: 21 mm

120 grams (4.2 oz)

Recommended for a 2.2 - 2.6 meter (7' 6" - 8' 6") long wax wood pole. 

The spear is made of carbon steel cast in one piece by lost wax method. Heat treatment after casting further stiffen the blade.

Heat treated 1045 carbon steel.

Element Percentage

Fe         98.7

C           0.45

Mn        0.8

S           0.05

P           0.04

The dragon collar is electroplated with bright brass.

Investment casting (also known as lost-wax casting in the art world), is the oldest known metal-forming technique.  The key benefits are versatility, accuracy, repeatability, and integrity, and the wax can be reused.  It is more expensive than other casting methods; however, it can incorporate intricate contours and the end components are near perfect, so they require little or no rework once cast.