Bohemian earspoon

The head of an earspoon, showing the spearhead and the ears.

The Bohemian earspoon (German Böhmischer Ohrlöffel^[1] or Knebelspiess, Czech ušatá sudlice^[2]) is a polearm featuring a long, broad, socketed spearhead with two out-turned lugs (sharply bent hooks, straight spikes, or triangular guards)^[1] at the base of the head, forming a guard similar to that of a boar spear.^[3] The guard prevented the weapon from penetrating too deeply into a target, so that it could quickly and easily be removed and used to attack another target.^[2]

Derived ultimately from the early Medieval lugged spear, the earspoon developed in the 14th century. Its use was probably not confined to Central Europe.^[3] It was used for both hunting and military purposes.

References

1. 1 2 Wagner, Eduard (2014). Medieval Costume, Armour and Weapons. p. xxi. ISBN 0486320251. 
2. 1 2 Ramsey, Syed (2003). Tools of War: History of Weapons in Medieval Times. ISBN 9386019817. 
3. 1 2 Blackmore, Howard (2003). Hunting Weapons from the Middle Ages to the Twentieth Century. Dover. p. 86. ISBN 0-486-40961-9.