Original Item. Only One Available. This is an incredibly scarce piece of U.S. Naval History, a Model of 1800 Early Type III Naval Boarding Pike, utilized during the War of 1812, the Barbary Pirate Wars, and the American Civil War. These pikes were instrumental as defensive weapons against attacking boarders, be they British, Pirate, or Confederate.

This Type III Boarding pike is an earlier variant, likely dating to the 1810s. This is evident by the four-sided spike at the top and the lack of swelling or bulging of the wooden haft at the langets and any tapering handholds, which is associated with the evolution of the Type III found later in its service life. This example was never cut down, and measures a staggering 90”, or 7½ feet. The very tip of the pike is unfortunately bent as shown, but retains its shape otherwise. The length of the spike measures roughly 18” from the end of the two sides secured with rivets to its tip. With some work, the tip could likely be repositioned to appear straight, but it will display just fine in its current condition.

From officially-conducted reenactments, we know that in formation, 8-10 men armed with these would stand near the edge of the deck ready to repel attacking boarders. This is a phenomenal piece of U.S. Naval history from one of its earliest periods, dating from 1800-1820. These seldom ever come up for sale, and have usually been cut down from their original length. Here’s a chance to find one in its original configuration, ready for further research and display.

The Barbary Pirate Wars

The Barbary Wars were a series of two wars fought by the United States, Sweden, and the Kingdom of Sicily against the Barbary states (including Tunis, Algiers, and Tripoli) and Morocco of North Africa in the early 19th century. Sweden had been at war with the Tripolitans since 1800 and was joined by the newly independent US. The First Barbary War extended from 10 May 1801 to 10 June 1805, with the Second Barbary War lasting only three days, ending on 19 June 1815. The Barbary Wars were the first major American war fought entirely outside the New World, and in the Arab World.

The wars were largely a reaction to piracy by the Barbary states. Since the 16th century, North African pirates had captured ships and even raided cities across the Mediterranean Sea. By the 19th century, pirate activity had declined, but Barbary pirates continued to demand tribute from American merchant vessels in the Mediterranean. Refusal to pay would result in the capture of American ships and goods, and often the enslavement or ransoming of crew members.

After Thomas Jefferson became president of the US in March 1801, he sent a U.S. Navy fleet to the Mediterranean to combat the Barbary pirates. The fleet bombarded numerous fortified cities in present-day Libya, Tunisia, and Algeria, ultimately extracting concessions of safe conduct from the Barbary states and ending the first war.

During the War of 1812, with the encouragement of the United Kingdom, the Barbary corsairs resumed their attacks on American vessels. Following the conclusion of the War of 1812 and America's peace with Britain, James Madison, Jefferson's successor, directed military forces against the Barbary states in the Second Barbary War. Lasting only three days, the second conflict ended the need for further tribute from the United States, granted the U.S. full shipping rights in the Mediterranean Sea, and significantly reduced incidents of piracy in the region.