"Bores have succeeded to dragons, and I have shivered too many ____s in vain ever to hope for their extirpation” (Disraeli) (5)
I believe the answer is:
lance
(Other definitions for lance that I've seen before include "Cut open" , "Clean (anag) -- weapon" , "A horse soldier's spear" , "Weapon of knights of old" , "Incise" .)