Viking Swords

HISTORY OF VIKING SWORDS 

Ordinarily Viking weapons have been mistakenly related as their own. However, most of them are from times before the time (550-794 AD ) of the Vikings. It is noteworthy that a large number of them were imports or copies of weapons from other countries, mainly the Roman Empire and the Frankish Empire. Such was the attraction that the Vikings had for weapons made in other countries, that their sale was prohibited. The Vikings appreciated the sword much more than the rest of the weapons, it is also the one that needed the most mastery to be used. The Vikings imported the swords because of the quality of the metal with which they were forged, much better than what they had in their countries. Due to the fact that they were imported, their price was very high, and only the rich bought them, becoming an important element within the inheritance, thus allowing them to pass from one generation to the next. Hence, only those who enjoyed a good heritage could have access to a sword.

WHAT THE VIKING SWORDS WERE LIKE

Successors to the Roman spatha , these swords were forged using the designer solder method. Swords were made from twisted steel bars and hammer-welded through the forge, forming the central part of the blade by hammer-forging. Then they added two carbon edges that were sharpened and polished. Later, two slits were made on both edges. This made the sword lighter without losing effectiveness. The usual size of the sword was about 90 cms . The handle was made of wood or leather and was covered with cloth or leather. The Vikings imported the blades, but the handles and pommels were up to them, which could be of different types and they added their handles and pommels, so characteristic, that they could be of different types. The sword was carried in a wooden scabbard lined with wool, to prevent rust, and in turn was protected with a leather sheath. A metal ferrule defended the tip of the sword. The end ended with a metal ferrule, which could be decorated, and whose function was to protect the tip of the sword. They were usually carried hanging from the right shoulder.

Towards the end of the 8th century, 170 exceptional swords appeared. These had an Ulfberht inscription on the blade. And Around this time a new sword-making technique arose, which produced stronger and more flexible swords. This technique is called crucible casting and they require forges that reach much higher temperatures than those achieved with the previous forges. The particularity of the Ulfberht was the use of crucible steel that had a high amount of carbon. Ulfberht was the name of a family of blacksmiths from the Rhineland, although there are discrepancies and now it is thought that it could be a great abbey where weapons were made, which was common at that time. They were so successful that archaeological excavations have found these swords all over Europe. Although the quality of these cannot be matched with Middle Eastern swords made of Damascus steel , relative to other medieval Viking swords the swords Ulfberht are among the best. Due to the movies and TV series they have been considered the quintessential Viking sword Like everything that is so popular, imitations arose throughout Western Europe that put inscriptions on the blades, such as Inglerii , Cerolt , Ulen , Pulfbrii , Centrlit . However, the attributes of these imitation swords were much worse, and furthermore the inscriptions are misspelled. Copies have generally been unearthed in graves, while the true ones have mostly been found in riverbeds, probably due to accidental loss. It was highly unlikely that its owner would part with it of his own free will. And it is that the swords were, without a doubt, the most esteemed and coveted weapon of the Vikings. Current evidence supports the belief that the Vikings were expert swordsmen.

The word Viking means pirate and arises from his continuous forays into other lands with the sole purpose of stealing, and always accompanied by his swords that became his most faithful companions. The Vikings never separated from them, even when they slept they had them within reach of their hands . They were even buried with them. Some of their owners gave them names : Blood Serpent, Wound Leech, Widow Maker or Odin's Flame are some examples. They were well known for their fittings, and had a small crosshead and a large pommel. In 1991 Professor Alfred Geibig distinguished the typology of the swords, based on the differences appreciated in the blade of the sword. Oakeshoot later developed another classification of swords. The Vikings were great navigators and in addition to swords they used other types of weapons that were the ax and the circular shield. The Ulfberht were not the only Viking swords with inscriptions, there are others with the following inscriptions Leofric me fec ”, “ Hiltipreht ”, “ Hartofer ”, “ Ranvic ” or “ Tasvit ”, among others. And some engraved the name of their owner. As an example is the sword “ Ingelrii ”.

PARTS OF A VIKING SWORD

Finally we will talk about the parts that make up the sword: pommel, hilt, guard, blade, groove and point.

Handle: It is the part by which the weapon is grasped, and fundamental for the controlled handling of the blade. In addition, it works as a counterweight.

Guard: It is a piece of metal that is placed in the hilt just before the blade begins. Its function is to protect the hand.

Blade: It is the metal part that has an edge. It can have one edge on each side. Decoration swords are blunt.

Knob. It is the upper end of the sword hilt.

Groove. It is a thinning or indentation in the central part of the spine of the blade. It contributes to making the sword lighter.

Tip. Lower end of the blade of the sword that is usually sharp as a needle to better penetrate the body of the enemy.