The "tiger spear" was a large hunting spear in use by the Qing dynasty Tiger spear division.

Chinese: Hǔqiāng (虎槍
Manchu: Tashi gida

Source

It appears in the 1766 Huángcháo lǐqì túshì (皇朝禮器圖式) or "Illustrated Regulations of the Ceremonial Paraphernalia of the Dynasty" which in turn was based on a 1759 manuscript. See below the original page and my translations:

Qing Tiger Spear

"According to the design of the 14th year of Qianlong.

Regulations of the dynasty; Tiger Spear Division's Tiger Spear: Spearhead made of forged steel. Overall 8 chi 3 cun long. Spearhead is 9 cun long, with triangular tip and center ridge. Shaft is 7 chi 4 cun long, made of white waxwood. At the top of the shaft are tied two transverse pieces of deer antler, 1 cun long. There is a horn ferrule at the end of the shaft. The spearhead is covered with a leather bag, wrapped with birch bark. It is carried by tying it to a leather belt."


Converted to cm:
Overall: 290.5 cm
Head: 35 cm
Shaft: 259 cm

 

Some examples

tiger spears in artwork and museum collections

Top left: Left a member of a Qing imperial hunting party with a tiger spear worn through his belt.

Top right: the Qianlong emperor and his tiger spearmen hunting tiger.

Bottom left: Left a magnificent antique tiger spear I photographed in the Palace Museum in Beijing, with sunken panels inspired by Indian push daggers.

Bottom right: A more standard antique tiger spear I photographed in the Beijing military museum in 2008.

Do you have anything for sale?

I might be interested in buying it.

Contact me

With fine twist-core pamor and carved wooden scabbard.

€1800,-

Of classic shape, with a leaf-shaped blade on a socket, connected by a cast bronze base.

€375,-

A very rare Chinese saber guard dating from the height of the Qing dynasty.

€1500,-

With markings attributing it to the Tongzhou incident and a Japanese surrender tag.

€6500,-