Famous abolitionist John Brown contracted with blacksmith Charles Blair of Collinsville, Connecticut to make several hundred pikes at $1 each. Each pike was to have a 9.50-10.00 inch double edged blade, a 4.50 inch iron guard with a 3.25 inch tapering ferrule anchored by a screw to a six foot ash pole. After making 500 of these pikes Blair halted due to non-payment. Two years later in 1859 John Brown showed up with funds in hand and purchased 954 pikes and had them shipped to Chambersburg, PA where they were forwarded to the Kennedy farm near Harper’s Ferry in what was then Virginia.

This example meets the criteria listed above in every way. It has a 6 foot wood shaft in good condition with a nice dark surface. However, the shaft is not perfectly straight. Just before the ferrule the shaft bends ever so slightly to one side. The tapered iron ferrule is approx. 3.25 inches long and anchored by a screw. Above the ferrule is an iron counterguard which meas. approx. 4.50 inches long. Finally, at the top, is a 9.75 inch double edged iron blade with a broken tip. If the tip were present the blade would meas. 10.00 inches. Both the bottom of the counterguard and ferrule are stamped with a number “71.” All iron surfaces are dark with light surface pitting throughout. There is a little bit of a wiggle to the counterguard but everything else is tight.

With the pike is an interesting article by Frank Heywood Hodder discussing the contract between John Brown and Charles Blair and the events surrounding the construction and delivery of the pikes.

This is an exciting piece that played a part in one of the most important events of our history involving one of the country’s most famous personalities.

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