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- Jan 10, 2010
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This Viking age sword project started as a commission but a stupid accident while forge welding on the edges caused it to become a single edged sword. I could have welded the other edge on separately.... but I figured providence was speaking to me so I took it as an opportunity to explore some new creative avenues. Single edge swords of this nature were very commonly found in Norway during the early Viking age and were quite long, massive and.. brutal. Dedicated hacking implements.
For mine I wanted to capture the spirit of what a blade like this would look like. The blades themselves were not made by the skilled Frankish smiths and imported.. but more likely by local smiths who did not have capabilities for complex pattern welding. So.. I wanted it more to reflect the idea that swords were not usually made from a single piece of high quality steel.. but pieced together with what was available..and using iron to the furthest extent possible. And I'm now running with the concept of 'ancient heirloom' that you see frequently in the sagas.. a kenning for sword. From Beowulf: "And the ancient heirloom Unferth permit thou, The famed one to have, the heavy-sword splendid. The hard-edgèd weapon; with Hrunting to aid me, I shall gain me glory, or grim-death shall take me. So.. as is typical for me.. I'd like this sword to look ancient.
The blade is composed of 4 bars.. 2 of old phosphoric wrought iron gently twisted and 'piled' straight laminate of 1095/1045 in between. The edge is straight laminate 1095/1045. I wanted low contrast in the elements and lower carbon over-all... reflecting a more accurate look and feel of a blade from this period.
Here it is after I failed to weld on one of the edges (for the original commission):
Here it is during pre-heat treat grinding. This swords had thick spines and therefore many had a subtle, wide 'fuller' that was really just a hollow grind to the spine and then flat ground to the edge. It is 31.5" long with a 1/4" spine.
A close-up after post heat treat grinding:
The hilt will be wrought iron with nickel silver wire inlay and bog oak grip. The hilt type (type C) was commonly found on single edged swords. Here is some conceptual sketching.. please ignore the proportions in my sketches! I've since learned that my inspiration for the wire inlay was based on a very detailed counterfeit from Hungary.
Oh well.. it is generic enough and within my capabilities.
For mine I wanted to capture the spirit of what a blade like this would look like. The blades themselves were not made by the skilled Frankish smiths and imported.. but more likely by local smiths who did not have capabilities for complex pattern welding. So.. I wanted it more to reflect the idea that swords were not usually made from a single piece of high quality steel.. but pieced together with what was available..and using iron to the furthest extent possible. And I'm now running with the concept of 'ancient heirloom' that you see frequently in the sagas.. a kenning for sword. From Beowulf: "And the ancient heirloom Unferth permit thou, The famed one to have, the heavy-sword splendid. The hard-edgèd weapon; with Hrunting to aid me, I shall gain me glory, or grim-death shall take me. So.. as is typical for me.. I'd like this sword to look ancient.
The blade is composed of 4 bars.. 2 of old phosphoric wrought iron gently twisted and 'piled' straight laminate of 1095/1045 in between. The edge is straight laminate 1095/1045. I wanted low contrast in the elements and lower carbon over-all... reflecting a more accurate look and feel of a blade from this period.
Here it is after I failed to weld on one of the edges (for the original commission):
Here it is during pre-heat treat grinding. This swords had thick spines and therefore many had a subtle, wide 'fuller' that was really just a hollow grind to the spine and then flat ground to the edge. It is 31.5" long with a 1/4" spine.
A close-up after post heat treat grinding:
The hilt will be wrought iron with nickel silver wire inlay and bog oak grip. The hilt type (type C) was commonly found on single edged swords. Here is some conceptual sketching.. please ignore the proportions in my sketches! I've since learned that my inspiration for the wire inlay was based on a very detailed counterfeit from Hungary.
Oh well.. it is generic enough and within my capabilities.
