Need some help with a flea market find

[big_mike]

I am a novice to collecting ordnance and I stumbled over this piece at a flea market. I have no idea if this is a genuine munition, exploding harpoon, a folk art fake, or something else entirely. Hoping someone here might be able to set me on the right track. Thanks in advance.

 

[highlandotter]

lance head????

 

[SG500]

Hi could we see a photo of the end of it please, its a little obscured by the tape measure.
Thanks.
Dave.

 

[Gspragge]

more like a harpoon

 

[big_mike]

sorry for obscuring the end piece. I have attached a photo it had a screw cap end with the cavity inside smells of older powder/explosive. Hope this will help in making an identification.

 

[Slick]

I agree with Gordon, a harpoon. Exploding variety. Here's a similar example:
http://www.maritiques.com/detail.asp?id=11305

And this bit of info: http://www.coolantarctica.com/gallery/whales_whaling/0045.htm

 

[big_mike]

That does look very similar, in better shape of course. I knew it was unlikely any sort of military ordnance but I find this piece and its history fascinating anyway. I think it's a pretty cool trinket and/or piece of history depending on perspective. Thanks for all the assistance and the additional reference material.

 

[Slick]

Definitely a "cool trinket". I suspect the majority of folks onboard here would love to have this piece in their collection.
I know I would.

 

[big_mike]

I'm glad to have it in my fledgling collection as well. I didn't mean trinket in a derogatory manner, it's just a term I use for flea market finds which are outside my normal scope. Now, thanks in large part to the resources on this site, I am familiar with explosive harpoons and their grim history.