Steel substitute?

[Prarie Bowyer]

I had this crazy idea to make a pole spear for fishing in the "primitive style" with a knapped head and a wood shaft.

Problem is I like to have a think bodkin type tip on it then the toggle tip.  When I make them from fiberglass carbon fiber and such I use stainless.  Think a piece of some kind of bone could be shaved down to a straight, strong narrow spike or prod?  around 6/16 in dia or so?

something I'm not thinking of?

[Pat B]

A few years ago I was interested in making a primitive set for shooting alligator gars. Because of the razor sharp scales surrounding the gars body my weak link in the chain was cordage that would withstand the abuse. I found lots of primitive toggle type heads in my research, mostly from the seal and whale hunters. Their soft bodies weren't abrasive to the cordages, only brute strength.
 A wooden toggle with a bone tip or a sharpened bone toggle will work with most fish.

[Prarie Bowyer]

Like this.  the foreward thin section is 5/16 Stainless then the toggle fits on.  I made that top photo one.  Purchased the toggle.

The bottom one is my first one that I purchased.  Basicaly a hollo aluminum pool que with a 5/16 threaded rod sticking out the end.  I put the wrong kind of tip on it and then hit a big asian carp right in the head on trip #1 bent the end of the shaft 30*. 

I'm wondering if a piece of moose bone, maybee a shin bone would be good?  Split it into three pieces and reglue them. shave or turn down to a rod.  Or horse.  something that takes a beating and has high density.

[Sparrow]

How long does that shaft need to be ?  '  Frank

[Prarie Bowyer]

The pole is usualy 6-7 feet.  The bodkin foreshaft is a little more than the thickness of a carp.  Say 8" or so?