Show your spline bats

[WWGjohn]

Matt,

That's a beauty. I have about 6 more to post but wanted to see what other folks had. They are actually fairly scarce and are often not recognized for what they are. Here are a couple: a torpedo style bat from the 1870's and a straight taper bat from the 1870's.

John

[WWGjohn]

Here are the others:

1) An unfinished 4 section spline, 37 inches. Possibly 1890's
2) A 4 section spline, 35 inches, poplar wood. 1890's.
3) A 2 section spline, 34 inches, ash wood. 1880-90.
4) A 2 section spline, 35 inches, ash wood. 1880's.

[ruth-gehrig]

Were these all presentational type bats? Wouldn't repeated contact with a baseball eventually cause separation of the layers?

[WWGjohn]

Michael,

Most of mine show definite signs of game usage, including cleat marks. If they were intended as presentation bats, they somehow wound up being used as game bats. Only two show no signs of game usage other than the unfinished bat.

John

[martindl]

John,
I'm interested in your use of the term 'spline'. I've had a few over the years, all long gone, but always referred to them as 'spliced'. Any background on the nomenclature?
Thanks

[WWGjohn]

I've heard them referred to by several different names, including spline, applique, and laminated. Spliced is a new one for me but would make sense. Spline is a term that, in this case, refers to a bat made from two or more pieces joined together. A spline is a long, thin, strip of wood. Ii can also mean a strip of material inserted into the edges of two boards to join them.

John

[ruth-gehrig]

What was the purpose or advantage of using a spline bat over a bat made from a solid piece of wood? It seems that making a spline bat would be much more time consuming than a typical bat!