The lance is another weapon difficult to define as a single design. Generally, the lance was a horseman’s spear which
occasionally had a handguard built in. Some could be thrown as well as thrust (Indian, Asian, and American Indian lances were
like this). A lance usually consisted of a wooden shaft with a socketed metal head attached. Broader, spear-like heads were
used for war while narrower heads were used for tournaments and training. The lance is most commonly thought of as a weapon
used during jousting contests in medieval Europe. The jousting lance was used exclusively for thrusting rather than throwing.
These lances were broader at the base than the tip in order to help the knight counter balance the long length of the lance as he
held it with one hand. Jousting lances were constructed of wood with metal reinforcements at the breaking points; a metal
jousting lance would be far too heavy for anyone to pick up, let alone manage while riding. The lance at left is an example of a
jousting lance; the wider, fluted section of the lance is the handguard. Any other type of lance is essentially a spear.