This harpoon is an example of the type used in the whale guns which evolved in Hull at the beginning of the 19th Century. The gun, itself, would be about 60cm long, made of wrought iron and working on a swivel. The harpoon has a double shank, ending in a knob which fits the bore of the gun - it is made from a soft iron, to enable rapid re-sharpening and straightening after each usage. This early 19th century type of whale gun was never entirely popular with the Whalers as it was only really effective at point-blank range and took several minutes to reload.
