Rare Antique Charles Randall Whaling Harpoon

Antique whaling harpoon designed and patented by Charles Randall of Palmyra, Ga. Dec. 3, 1846 (Patent No. 4872) circa 1850. Listed on the Robert Hellman Whaling & Whalecraft reference website (REH076).  Description and collectors notes from the website are as follows:

Consists of a detachable head and socket with two moveable flukes which fits onto a standard harpoon shank and socket. The detachable head is 9-11/16" long. The movable flukes are 6-15/16" apart when fully opened, and 2-7/8" when closed. Ahead of the flukes the point is a triangle with 2-1/8" long sharpened sides and a strong central keel on each side.

The socket part of the head assembly has a through-slot about 7/16" wide x 9/16" long through which would pass the bight of the iron strap. On each side of the opening there is a channel in the head casting in which is trained the lines of the strap which are then spliced together to continue along the iron’s shank. The principle is similar to that of the standard swordfish lily head which comes free from the shank after being darted.

The shank and socket piece are from an early sword fishing harpoon which was “married” to the Randall head by having the end machined to fit the head’s socket perfectly. The socket is 1/2" deep and 5/16" dia. with perfectly parallel sides. The shank and socket is 24 -3/4" long and the shank is 3/8" dia. There are two mounting holes in the socket 180 degrees apart.

While actual Randall irons may have not been fixed with pins to the wooden pole – for a releasing head design of this type, that method would probably work very well to save both pole and shank.

The tip is blunted – possibly slightly broken away and one barb is bent slightly and also minimally broken at its pointed end. The head is moderately pitted overall, as is the shank and socket, and both pieces have a deep brown patina and match each other perfectly. Overall length: 34".