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I have put this guide together in order to show one way of fitting a spear headto a spear shaft. In Regia we talk about fitting spear heads as though it is asimple enough task, however if someone has never done it before it may bequite a daunting prospect. Hopefully this step by step guide will help toinstruct and reassure people as they fit their own spear heads.<br>It is not a compulsory method enforced by Regia Anglorum nor is it the onlyacceptable way to fit a spear head, it is merely the way I choose to do so. Ihave tried to replicate the process using tools most people will have easyaccess to. I have also tried to make the process as simple as possiblehowever I have had to make the assumption that anyone embarking on fittingtheir own spear head will have some grasp of how to use the tools involved.<br><br>

 * Spoke shave or draw knife * Ball peen hammer * Lump hammer * Vice * Hacksaw * Drill * Drill bit (0.5mm bigger thanrivet) * 2 part epoxy glue * Marker pen

 * Spear head * Spear shaft * Rivet (100mm long nail)<br>:1. Mark the length of the spear socket onone end of the spear shaft (Fig 1). Alsomark the centre of the end of the shaftwith a cross (Fig 2).:2. Fix the shaft in the vice. Take the drawknife and cut from the marked ring tothe end of the shaft using thecross as a centre guide (Fig 3).:3. Repeat on the three remaining sides(Fig 4).:4. Shave the corners off the spike until itis completely round. Try the spearhead to see if it fits well, if it does not,twist the head and any high points thatneed to be shaved off will be scuffedby the inside of the socket. :5. You may find that your spearsocket is too wide to fit ontoyour spear shaft (Fig 5).:6. Fix the lump hammer in thevice, we will use this as an anvil(Fig 6).:7. Using light blows with the ballpeen hammer squash thesocket until it fits the spearshaft snugly NOTE: if yourspear is made from spring steelyou will probably not be able todo this.When hammering like thisalways make sure that youhammer straight down to stopthe spear head from skippingkippingoff. If you need to hammer adifferent side turn the spearhead (Fig 7). :8. Fix the shaft into the vice.:9. Drill through the rivet hole inthe spear socket. If the drill bitdoes not pass perfectlythrough the hole on the otherside turn the spear over in thevice and drill through the otherside, this usually causes theholes to line up (Fig 8).Your rivet should fit snugly inthe rivet hole in the spearsocket. The hole in this spear is5mm diameter and the rivet is a100mm nail which has adiameter of 4.5mm. The holeyou drill should be 0.5mmbigger than the rivet you areusing to ensure it fits as tightlyas possible.:10. Put the rivet through the rivethole and mark the bit stickingout with the marker pen (Fig 9& 10).:11. Place the rivet in the vice and,using the hacksaw, cut it downalong the outside of the penmark (Fig 10 & 11). There are formulas for workingout the proper length ofmetal needed for a rivet h e a d head,however I have always f o u n dfound that the width of a marker pentip is sufficient metal forriveting a spear (Fig 12).:12. Take the spear head off theshaft. Remember which way itwent on to make sure yourholes all line up.:13. Mix some of your favourite 2part epoxy resin and paste it allover the shaved part of theshaft (Fig 13). The epoxystrengthens the join and helpsprevent the spear head fromrattling as the wood dries out.:14. Replace the spear head andput the rivet through the rivethole (Fig 14). :15. Put the lump hammer in the vice.:16. Place the rivet head onto the lump hammer. Using light blows withthe ball peen hammer squash the rivet down until it mushrooms overand covers the rivet hole (Fig 15 & 16).<br>Here ends the lesson<br>