The pheon is a distinctive heraldic charge shaped like the barbed iron head of an arrow, dart, or javelin, usually shown with its inner edge engrailed or notched. It is traditionally associated with readiness for battle, martial skill, swiftness, and decisive action. Because it represents the striking point of a missile weapon rather than the whole arrow, the pheon can suggest precision, penetration, and the force needed to overcome opposition. In coats of arms, it may symbolize military service, courage, hunting ability, or a family’s reputation for directness and resolve.

The pheon is especially important in English heraldry, where it appears in several well-known armorial traditions. One of the most famous examples is the arms of the Sidney family, Earls of Leicester, which include pheons and helped make the charge recognizable in noble heraldry. Pheons also appear in the arms of the Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers, where weapon imagery naturally reflects the guild’s historic craft and association with arms and metalwork. Depending on the design, a pheon may be shown singly, in groups of three, arranged in pale or fess, or combined with bows, arrows, spears, shields, or hunting symbols.

Although the pheon resembles an arrowhead, heraldic artists usually give it a more formal and ornamental shape, often with pronounced barbs and a scalloped inner edge. It can function as a bold primary charge, a secondary charge on an ordinary, or a useful mark of difference between related arms. Its meaning may vary from martial valor to skilled craftsmanship, particularly when connected with armorers, soldiers, archers, or hunters. For reference and visual examples, see Parker’s Heraldic Glossary, The Heraldry Society, Heraldry of the World, and the Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers.