Viking sword
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Viking sword | |
|---|---|
 Viking swords displayed at the Wikingermuseum in Haithabu. |
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| Type | Sword |
| Service history | |
| In service | ca. 700 - 1000 |
| Used by | various Europeans |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | avg. 2.5 lbs. (1.1 kg) |
| Length | 93 - 100 cm |
| Blade length | avg. 21" (73.9 cm) |
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| Blade type | Double-edged, straight bladed |
| Hilt type | One-handed, with pommel |
The Viking sword is a form of spatha, evolving out of the Migration Period sword in the 8th century, and evolving into the classical knightly sword in the 11th century with the emergence of larger crossguards.
Contents |
[edit] History
During the Viking age, swords grew slightly in length to 930 mm (37") and took on a slightly more acute distal taper and point. These blades had deep fullers running their length, yet still had single-handed hilts which often sported a lobed or cocked-hat style pommel. The fuller was used to increase the strength and flexibility of the sword while reducing the weight of the sword at the same time. This weight reduction and flexibility would allow the wielder to swing faster and harder strokes while, at the same time, allowing the sword to bend but not break when it would hit bone. While the pattern of hilt and blade design of this time might readily be called "the Viking sword" to do so would be to disregard the widespread popularity swords of this sort enjoyed. All over continental Europe between 700-1000 AD this design and its small variations could be found. While the sword was the most popular weapon of the Viking age, it must be remembered that the battle-axe was the preferred weapon among most Vikings because it was a cheaper weapon to buy than were swords. Only the wealthier Viking goðar, jarls, and sometimes freemen wielded swords, while the more ordinary freeman tended to carry axes or spears.
During Norman times the blades increased some to 1000 mm (40") in overall length, and the hilt changed significantly. The Brazil-nut pommel became popular only to be replaced by a thick disc-shaped pommel was attached 'on-edge' to the bottom of the iron hilt. In addition the upper guard grew substantially from the near-absent design predating it. Also the blades tended to taper slightly less than those found during the times of the Vikings.
[edit] Description and classification
Jan Petersen in De Norske Vikingsverd ("The Norwegian Viking Swords", 1919) introduced the most widely-used classification of swords of the Viking Age, discriminating 26 types labelled A – Z. In 1927 R. E. M. Wheeler condensed Petersen's typology into a simplified typology of nine groups, numbered I – IX.
Viking swords average about 37 inches in length overall and will, especially toward the later part of the period, show increasing taper towards the point and a deeper central fuller in the center of each blade face. Pattern welding diminishes during the middle of this epoch to be replaced by iron inlaid names and designs usually formed with twisted rods, such as were used in pattern-welding, hot-forged into the surface of the blade. An example of this would be an iron sword with silver letters inlaid into it reading “BIORTEL- MEPORTE” which means “Bjortelm carries me” (Oakeshott 145). The pommels and guards generally have a base of iron sometimes covered by non-ferrous metals often in geometric designs. These metals include silver, bronze, tin, copper, and sometimes brass. The phrase "Viking sword" may be somewhat of a misnomer as similar swords are seen throughout Europe at this time, even in central western Europe (an ULFBERHT from the Rhine near Mannheim and another sword from the Danube in Bavaria are illustrated in Menghin (1983, fig. 107, p. 201), and with only a few exceptions, even if a design were made in only one area, trade scattered it widely. Indeed Jakobsson (1992, p. 178 - 179) concluded in his dissertation that the various basic design patterns of hilt shared the same geographic distributions contemporaneously.
[edit] References
- Jan Petersen, De Norske Vikingsverd (1919) [1]
- Ewart Oakeshott. The Archaeology of Weapons [computer file]: arms and armour from prehistory to the age of chivalry. (Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK : Boydell Press, 1994).
