Lajinaa

A Lajinaa was a small spear used mostly by Spaniard pirates who raided trade ships in the gulf coast. Its shape allowed it to be used in close range battles or thrown as a long range weapon. In the early 1800s they were made with clips on the side under the blade so they could be shot as arrows.

Geography

Lajinaas can be recovered in the gulf coast, especially around the Florida peninsula. This is an area where pirates attacked many trade ships. They can also be found along the eastern Mexico border and rarely across the coast of South Carolina and Georgia. They can also be found around the coast of Spain. They are believed to have been made in Spain and Mexico, making them most common to recover in those areas.

History

Although many spears and knives were made similar to the Lajinaa before, they were first made in the late 1500s as a small light blade that could easily be thrown but also long enough to be usable in close range battle. Lajinaas were made with very fine sharp edges and tips along with thin grips that get even smaller in place of the pommel so they could easily spin through the air when thrown. In the 1700s it began to be noticed that they could be thrown like darts but it was hard to forcefully throw it like that with its small grip, This eventually in the early 1800s lead to the clip used so it could be shot as an arrow. All through the history of the Lajinaa it was widely excepted and sometimes referred to as a pirate spear.