What the heck is a Bohemian Ear Spoon?

[Epametheus]

I was looking through a 1st Edition PHB (didya know that 1st edition fighter/mages could cast in armor without penalty?), and I saw in the weapons list "Bohemian Ear Spoon."

Seriously. What the hell is that? The 1E PHB doesn't describe any of the weapons beyond their stats.

Sorry if this isn't the correct sub-forum for this, but I'm really curious.

 

[Piratecat]

No, this is the perfect forum. It's a type of pole arm. Cool, eh?

 

[Bohemian Earspoon]

I thought you'd never ask.

 

[Bloodsparrow]

Seriously. What the hell is that?

I remember being amused by that as well.

I believe the 2e Arms and Equipment Guide pictured it as being some sort of pole arm type weapon. But don't quote me on that.

I guess they grow 'em tall in Bohemia. (And waxy... )

 

[Epametheus]

Okay, cool.

I'd guessed it was a pole-arm due to where it is in the weapon list (specifically, in the 1E book it was alternate to one of the other pole-arms -- probably looked different, had a different name, but was identical to the pole-arm in stats).

But Ear Spoon?! What does that mean? Why the heck was this thing called an Ear Spoon? That's a terrible name for a weapon!

Edit: Was replying to Piratecat.

The "terrible name" bit still stands, though.

 

[Olive]

It's not in my 1e Unearthed Arcana, therefore it doesn't exist!

 

[Bregh]

It's not in my 1e Unearthed Arcana, therefore it doesn't exist!

Its included under the description of the partisan on pg. 124.

 

[Olive]

Its included under the description of the partisan on pg. 124.

I take it back! I believe, I believe!

 

[Kichwas]

If it's not a weapon it might be the same as the 'real world item' of the same name - used to clean out ear wax. When I lived in Asia everyone had one, rather than using q-tips like we do in the states.

The first time I saw one I thought "I didn't know she was a crack addict", because it looks like one of those really tiny spoons drug addicts use. But then I started seeing them for sale in supermarkets next to things like fingernail clippers, so I got an explaination from a confused person who was probably thinking "no wonder those Americans smell so bad, what with 20+ years of ear wax in there..."

 

[Turjan]

If it's not a weapon it might be the same as the 'real world item' of the same name - used to clean out ear wax.

That's definitely where the name comes from. This partisan had a similar appearance to an earspoon. Euphemistic names for nasty items were quite common during those times; just think of the "Swedish Drink" .