Over the past-few years we’ve seen the introduction of stab-safe spears into the NZ larp community. These have been built according to UK specifications, with a collapsible, open-cell foam head which dissipates the impact, along with leather to prevent the core punching through. We’ve had a bunch of these imported via Saxon Violence, and Michael B-T has been making them for Saga.
I learned of another type over facebook today, from Germany, which simply has a flexible head, with a core that stops a lot further back (and, as best I can tell, the usual protections to stop punch-through). There’s a short video here (in German):
Interestingly, you can also get these as part of a modular polearm set, which allows you to switch heads and turn your spear into a halbard or glaive. It works by having a metal screw and socket arrangement halfway down the shaft, which looks to be well-protected by foam when assembled. There’s a picture here.
It looks like an interesting design, and I’d love to hear if anyone has encountered them (@Reanna?)