Head spade

A head spade is an instrument used in whaling. Its name comes from being a spade specialized for cutting off the head of a whale by chopping through the vertebrae at the base of the skull, though it is also used for cutting up other parts of the whale.

It is the heaviest spade used in the process of taking apart the whale. Its full length, including the pole, is approximately 1 metre or 3.5 feet.^[1]

A head spade can be used for either thrusting (like a spear) or cutting (like an axe).

References

^ "Head spade". Archived from the original on 2009-12-23. Retrieved 2010-03-09.

[1] "Head spade". Archived from the original on 2009-12-23. Retrieved 2010-03-09.

[1]

v t e Whaling
History of whaling
By country	Argentina Australia Western Australia Basque Country Brazil Canada Pacific Northwest Chile Faroe Islands Germany Greenland Iceland Japan Madagascar Netherlands New Zealand Norway Philippines Russia Scotland Seychelles South Africa United Kingdom United States
Harpoons	Explosive harpoon Jarmann harpoon rifle One-flue harpoon Toggling harpoon Two-flue harpoon
Hunting type	Aboriginal whaling Dolphin drive hunting Drift whale Sperm whaling Subsistence hunting of the bowhead whale
Implements	Whaling ship Whaleboat Grindaknívur Harpoon cannon Head spade Paledang Try-pot Try-works
Products	Ambergris Ambrein Baleen Blubber Cetyl alcohol Muktuk Scrimshaw Spermaceti Sperm oil Tabua Whale feces, meat, oil
Regulations	Blue Whale Unit International Whaling Commission International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling Institute of Cetacean Research Whale conservation
Sanctuaries	Australian Whale Sanctuary Uruguayan Whale and Dolphin Sanctuary Ligurian Sea Cetacean Sanctuary Indian Ocean Whale Sanctuary South Pacific Whale Sanctuary Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary