A Beautiful Vikingsword, 9th Century!

Matchlock · 3rd February 2011, 08:02 PM

Hello Richard,

It's good to hear of you, my friend, and to learn from your both carefully and well balanced terms as ever.

Best as always,
Michael

cornelistromp · 3rd February 2011, 08:42 PM

Hi Richard,

you are right if I use the word never in a discussion with my wife, 9 of 10 times it means that Iam in serious trouble

re:carving in iron in high relief.
In the national museum in Helsinki are (plenty) viking Hilt examples of iron carving in high relief.

what we know and have seen in viking swords is only "the top of the iceberg" there must have been 100's of thousands of swords.
Unfortunately there are only a few % remaining for study, which are obviously far from representative of what was common in forging /patterns and of what was common in the use of certain type of decorations.

best,

Pukka Bundook · 4th February 2011, 05:00 AM

Michael,

I too am no expert on anything, and very far from it on Viking age swords!
It appears one must be something of a politician, and say lots and yet say nothing, to avoid being wrong!

Cornelistromp,

Do you see the wisdom in my words aboove? I can get into trouble so easily if I say much at all!
I must look at the iron hilts from Finland, and may learn something.

Thank you for the direction!

Richard.

cornelistromp · 4th February 2011, 08:29 AM

there is very interesting book published about central and eastern european viking swords;

early medieval swords from central and eastern Europe, dilemmas of an Archeologist and a student of arms. by Lech Marek
isbn 83-229-2624-3
beautiful, interesting and scientifically correct approach of technological aspects of the blade construction, blade forms, inscriptions and techniques invocations etc. very recommendable

best,

Jeff Pringle · 4th February 2011, 06:32 PM

It is true we have only a tiny percentage of the era’s product to admire! The artisans of the Viking age were subject to the same limitations of technology, whims of fashion and economic restrictions as the rest of us, so you can make some pretty concrete predictions about the 99% of swords we have NOT seen from the time. Just as you will not find a Viking sword with an aluminum hilt (technology not available), you can be pretty sure an iron one with relief interlace carving is not going to show up – although technologically feasible, it was not the fashion of the time or what the economics of the situation would favor, inferring from the ones that have survived.

A few Finnish examples of Viking age swords can be found here:
http://www.helsinki.fi/arkeologia/ra...t_viikinki.htm
Though the photos are woefully small, you can see they were using the same techniques as the folks further South to render designs in a slightly different style.

cornelistromp · 7th February 2011, 09:55 PM

Hi Jeff,

you are indeed right iron ones in high relief are very difficult to find, I have seen them so please give me some time to find them

the pattern of the blade I did find, it it closer then expected ,it was in Peirce p25. see pics, also a picture of the Scandinavian hilts I mentioned before.

Kind regards,

4th February 2011, 06:32 PM	#5
Jeff Pringle Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 189	It is true we have only a tiny percentage of the era’s product to admire! The artisans of the Viking age were subject to the same limitations of technology, whims of fashion and economic restrictions as the rest of us, so you can make some pretty concrete predictions about the 99% of swords we have NOT seen from the time. Just as you will not find a Viking sword with an aluminum hilt (technology not available), you can be pretty sure an iron one with relief interlace carving is not going to show up – although technologically feasible, it was not the fashion of the time or what the economics of the situation would favor, inferring from the ones that have survived. A few Finnish examples of Viking age swords can be found here: http://www.helsinki.fi/arkeologia/ra...t_viikinki.htm Though the photos are woefully small, you can see they were using the same techniques as the folks further South to render designs in a slightly different style. Attached Images

7th February 2011, 09:55 PM	#6
cornelistromp Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1,060	Hi Jeff, you are indeed right iron ones in high relief are very difficult to find, I have seen them so please give me some time to find them the pattern of the blade I did find, it it closer then expected ,it was in Peirce p25. see pics, also a picture of the Scandinavian hilts I mentioned before. Kind regards, Attached Images

3rd February 2011, 08:02 PM	#1
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Hello Richard, It's good to hear of you, my friend, and to learn from your both carefully and well balanced terms as ever. Best as always, Michael

3rd February 2011, 08:42 PM	#2
cornelistromp Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1,060	Hi Richard, you are right if I use the word never in a discussion with my wife, 9 of 10 times it means that Iam in serious trouble re:carving in iron in high relief. In the national museum in Helsinki are (plenty) viking Hilt examples of iron carving in high relief. what we know and have seen in viking swords is only "the top of the iceberg" there must have been 100's of thousands of swords. Unfortunately there are only a few % remaining for study, which are obviously far from representative of what was common in forging /patterns and of what was common in the use of certain type of decorations. best,

4th February 2011, 05:00 AM	#3
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Michael, I too am no expert on anything, and very far from it on Viking age swords! It appears one must be something of a politician, and say lots and yet say nothing, to avoid being wrong! Cornelistromp, Do you see the wisdom in my words aboove? I can get into trouble so easily if I say much at all! I must look at the iron hilts from Finland, and may learn something. Thank you for the direction! Richard.

4th February 2011, 08:29 AM	#4
cornelistromp Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1,060	there is very interesting book published about central and eastern european viking swords; early medieval swords from central and eastern Europe, dilemmas of an Archeologist and a student of arms. by Lech Marek isbn 83-229-2624-3 beautiful, interesting and scientifically correct approach of technological aspects of the blade construction, blade forms, inscriptions and techniques invocations etc. very recommendable best,