Viking sword program on NOVA

Richard Furrer · 14th September 2012, 05:46 PM

Hello All,
There is a one hour program on Viking swords airing in the US on 10 October.
Information and short video clip is viewable here:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ancient...ing-sword.html

I am afraid it only plays in the US...sorry for those who can not view.

I was was asked to make the modern copy of the old sword using what I assume were period techniques.

Ric

Richard Furrer · 10th October 2012, 02:44 PM

Hello All,
The show's premier is tonight and will show other times later in the week and next week.

Ric

fernando · 10th October 2012, 02:53 PM

Great material Ric !
Let's copy this thread to the European Armoury section ... if you don't mind.

Rich · 11th October 2012, 01:31 PM

I saw the program last night on NOVA. Great program and great work by Richard. Do you have a pic of the finished/mounted sword you made? The program is a must for anyone interested in Viking swords.

Rich S

-------------------------------------------------------
Richard Stein, PhD

Nordic Knives and Knife Links
http://home.earthlink.net/~rsblade/nordic.htm

Japanese Sword Guide
http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/nihonto.htm

"Never go anywhere without a knife"
- Leroy Jethro Gibbs
-------------------------------------------------------

fearn · 11th October 2012, 04:32 PM

It looks like the program is available online at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ancient...ing-sword.html

Best,

F

kronckew · 11th October 2012, 06:18 PM

sadly, comes up as 'video not available'. maybe it will find it's way to youtube

fearn · 11th October 2012, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kronckew

sadly, comes up as 'video not available'. maybe it will find it's way to youtube

Let's try this again, and see if I can make it not automatically truncate: htt(ADD P COLON HERE AFTER COPYING)//www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ancient/secrets-viking-sword.html or link. That seems to prevent the board program from automatically truncating a URL. Sorry about that.

Almatolmen · 12th October 2012, 09:15 AM

Excellent job, Richard! Brilliant!
During the program we were told that only 170 Ulfberht swords have been identified, with perhaps only a fraction of them being authentic and not period counterfeit knock-offs. It was said that most had been found either in water or among grave goods. My first question is whether, since these were upscale swords, any of those in burials have an identified owner?
Second, The possible origin of the name Ulfberht was discussed and it was identified as Frankish. Do we have any documentary record of ANY Franks in Viking lands during this period. If so, what were they? Slaves, captives, hostages, outlaws, or exiles? One theory could be that the original Ulfberht was a smith in one of those categories, maybe not starting his labour as a volunteer. Eventually he could have put down roots and began a school or dynasty of swordmakers.
And last, I was interested in the part dealing with the interaction of swords and shields. I have a special interest in shields since part of my surname means "shield". I've not found much luck finding information about ancient or medieval Germanic shields compared to other weaponry. I'm also interested in shield myth and folklore since the other part of my name means "fortune" or "good luck". Can anybody recommend sources of information to me?

Rich · 12th October 2012, 06:21 PM

Question for Richard or anyone.

Isn't crucible steel (like the Viking blade) basically the same as wootz?

Thanks
Rich

Rick · 12th October 2012, 07:57 PM

It sure looked like Ric was following your basic wootz recipe there .

Richard Furrer · 12th October 2012, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

It sure looked like Ric was following your basic wootz recipe there .

Yes and no.
The carbon level on my blades was a tad bit higher than the 1-1.1 of the swords studied, but that was entirely my fault. The ULF blades do not show much if any surface patterns.

Ric

Rick · 13th October 2012, 02:44 AM

Any idea why ?
Only because of less carbon ?
Did anyone ever ascertain if the secret of Crucible Steel was copied in the West from trade examples and knowlege brought from N. India ?

laEspadaAncha · 13th October 2012, 03:05 AM

So I watched this, and I was very pleased...

Great showing, Ric - your demonstration of the process was impressive to say the least, and I have an appreciation I never before had for the effort that went into the inlay process. Wow.

And your sword was stunning. Considering it is one of a kind, I would have to think it is priceless in its own right. Again... wow. How many man hours would you estimate - from the time you first built the oven to the last minute of polishing - went into this sword's creation?

Every forumite here would enjoy this documentary, which focuses on the small group of Ulfberht swords, of which only a relative small minority are thought to be genuine (the others being contemporary copies). It mentions not only the likely origin of the steel, but the (Volga) trade routes that brought the Vikings to the south shore of the Caspian Sea, where they posit the Vikings likely traded for crucible ingots.

So much of the documentary had me thinking of various threads I have read and digested here over the years...

Spunjer · 13th October 2012, 03:23 AM

ric, just wanna say, heck of a show! i have so much more (if that's even possible) respect with my collection. didn't really think what goes through when a particular sword is made. all i can say is wow!!!

Lew · 13th October 2012, 04:10 AM

I to enjoyed the show. Interesting that the Vikings had a route to Persia? I guess that crucible steel is really wootz? Must have been difficult to forge for for the Viking smiths or were these blades forged by some other people maybe someone who was trained by the Asian sword smiths?

Battara · 18th October 2012, 01:30 AM

Great work and show Richard!

Another note of Medieval work is the Sutton Hoo Saxon sword in England.

Richard Furrer · 19th October 2012, 04:17 PM

Sutton Hoo..yes...and the Bamburgh sword as well....very complex blade.
Sutton Hoo was an eight bar...Bamburgh was a 12...most complex multi-bar I know.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mcdlscr3eY

Ric

David · 19th October 2012, 04:40 PM

Hey Ric, caught the show the other night and was most impressed. Awesome job! Also nice to place a face to the name...

Richard Furrer · 20th October 2012, 03:55 AM

Thank you all for your kind remarks.

There are many talented smiths working today...have a look around and you may be surprised what you find.

I'll slide back to the shop for a while now as work is piling up. I hope to surface again in the Spring.

Ric

AJ1356 · 20th October 2012, 02:56 PM

Just finished watching the program, very informative and interesting. At the end with the finished product i could see a little pattern. one thing to consider, not sure if true or just something poeple made up, when i was younger, poeple used to say blade with jowhar (wootz) were quenched in donkey piss. I always thought it strange, but then again I know nothing about metalergy, maybe that procces gave it more of a pattern?

14th September 2012, 05:46 PM	#1
Richard Furrer Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin Posts: 163	Viking sword program on NOVA Hello All, There is a one hour program on Viking swords airing in the US on 10 October. Information and short video clip is viewable here: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ancient...ing-sword.html I am afraid it only plays in the US...sorry for those who can not view. I was was asked to make the modern copy of the old sword using what I assume were period techniques. Ric

12th October 2012, 09:15 AM	#8
Almatolmen Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 1	A Few Questions Excellent job, Richard! Brilliant! During the program we were told that only 170 Ulfberht swords have been identified, with perhaps only a fraction of them being authentic and not period counterfeit knock-offs. It was said that most had been found either in water or among grave goods. My first question is whether, since these were upscale swords, any of those in burials have an identified owner? Second, The possible origin of the name Ulfberht was discussed and it was identified as Frankish. Do we have any documentary record of ANY Franks in Viking lands during this period. If so, what were they? Slaves, captives, hostages, outlaws, or exiles? One theory could be that the original Ulfberht was a smith in one of those categories, maybe not starting his labour as a volunteer. Eventually he could have put down roots and began a school or dynasty of swordmakers. And last, I was interested in the part dealing with the interaction of swords and shields. I have a special interest in shields since part of my surname means "shield". I've not found much luck finding information about ancient or medieval Germanic shields compared to other weaponry. I'm also interested in shield myth and folklore since the other part of my name means "fortune" or "good luck". Can anybody recommend sources of information to me?

10th October 2012, 02:44 PM	#2
Richard Furrer Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin Posts: 163	Hello All, The show's premier is tonight and will show other times later in the week and next week. Ric

10th October 2012, 02:53 PM	#3
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Great material Ric ! Let's copy this thread to the European Armoury section ... if you don't mind.

11th October 2012, 01:31 PM	#4
Rich Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: comfortably at home, USA Posts: 432	I saw the program last night on NOVA. Great program and great work by Richard. Do you have a pic of the finished/mounted sword you made? The program is a must for anyone interested in Viking swords. Rich S ------------------------------------------------------- Richard Stein, PhD Nordic Knives and Knife Links http://home.earthlink.net/~rsblade/nordic.htm Japanese Sword Guide http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/nihonto.htm "Never go anywhere without a knife" - Leroy Jethro Gibbs -------------------------------------------------------

11th October 2012, 04:32 PM	#5
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	It looks like the program is available online at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ancient...ing-sword.html Best, F

11th October 2012, 06:18 PM	#6
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,183	sadly, comes up as 'video not available'. maybe it will find it's way to youtube

12th October 2012, 06:21 PM	#9
Rich Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: comfortably at home, USA Posts: 432	Question for Richard or anyone. Isn't crucible steel (like the Viking blade) basically the same as wootz? Thanks Rich

12th October 2012, 07:57 PM	#10
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	It sure looked like Ric was following your basic wootz recipe there .

13th October 2012, 02:44 AM	#12
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	Any idea why ? Only because of less carbon ? Did anyone ever ascertain if the secret of Crucible Steel was copied in the West from trade examples and knowlege brought from N. India ?

13th October 2012, 03:05 AM	#13
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	So I watched this, and I was very pleased... Great showing, Ric - your demonstration of the process was impressive to say the least, and I have an appreciation I never before had for the effort that went into the inlay process. Wow. And your sword was stunning. Considering it is one of a kind, I would have to think it is priceless in its own right. Again... wow. How many man hours would you estimate - from the time you first built the oven to the last minute of polishing - went into this sword's creation? Every forumite here would enjoy this documentary, which focuses on the small group of Ulfberht swords, of which only a relative small minority are thought to be genuine (the others being contemporary copies). It mentions not only the likely origin of the steel, but the (Volga) trade routes that brought the Vikings to the south shore of the Caspian Sea, where they posit the Vikings likely traded for crucible ingots. So much of the documentary had me thinking of various threads I have read and digested here over the years...

13th October 2012, 03:23 AM	#14
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	ric, just wanna say, heck of a show! i have so much more (if that's even possible) respect with my collection. didn't really think what goes through when a particular sword is made. all i can say is wow!!!

13th October 2012, 04:10 AM	#15
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	I to enjoyed the show. Interesting that the Vikings had a route to Persia? I guess that crucible steel is really wootz? Must have been difficult to forge for for the Viking smiths or were these blades forged by some other people maybe someone who was trained by the Asian sword smiths?

18th October 2012, 01:30 AM	#16
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	Great work and show Richard! Another note of Medieval work is the Sutton Hoo Saxon sword in England.

19th October 2012, 04:17 PM	#17
Richard Furrer Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin Posts: 163	Sutton Hoo..yes...and the Bamburgh sword as well....very complex blade. Sutton Hoo was an eight bar...Bamburgh was a 12...most complex multi-bar I know. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mcdlscr3eY Ric

19th October 2012, 04:40 PM	#18
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,123	Hey Ric, caught the show the other night and was most impressed. Awesome job! Also nice to place a face to the name...

20th October 2012, 03:55 AM	#19
Richard Furrer Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin Posts: 163	Thank you all for your kind remarks. There are many talented smiths working today...have a look around and you may be surprised what you find. I'll slide back to the shop for a while now as work is piling up. I hope to surface again in the Spring. Ric

20th October 2012, 02:56 PM	#20
AJ1356 Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Nashville Posts: 314	Just finished watching the program, very informative and interesting. At the end with the finished product i could see a little pattern. one thing to consider, not sure if true or just something poeple made up, when i was younger, poeple used to say blade with jowhar (wootz) were quenched in donkey piss. I always thought it strange, but then again I know nothing about metalergy, maybe that procces gave it more of a pattern?