Can someone identify this sword Viking ?

bguevremont · 26th September 2005, 06:59 PM

This sword has a solid silver handle and bronze blade
no other maker marks seen but a nice detail on the handle .
picture provided ... is it Viking ,Roman ???

Tim Simmons · 26th September 2005, 07:29 PM

Hello, I do not think this is ancient or European. I personally think you should be looking towards Indo/Persia. I could be wrong. Tim

Tim Simmons · 26th September 2005, 07:46 PM

If it was European, it looks pre Roman and if it is yours then you would have the most exceptional collection a little beyond interest in this site. If it was Celtic it would make world news

. Tim

fearn · 26th September 2005, 08:19 PM

Showing the rest of the blade and describing a little bit more about it would be useful (how long you've had it, etc). I'm skeptical that it's Celtic, but beyond that, I can't tell. Given the good condition of the silver and the interesting condition of the bronze, something's definitely weird about this one, and it's not just the design. Silver corrodes at least as fast as bronze does.

F

Ahriman · 26th September 2005, 11:17 PM

Viking out, they used quite different hilt parts, and preferred much shorter hilts. Especially the pommel seems out of place for anything viking.
Roman out as well as far as I know, as they used more rounded hilts, with almost-spherical wooden pommels.
Celtic... I'm not sure, they never used much armour so I don't know much about them

, but I think they almost always used antropomorphic hilts.
The quillon seems VERY indian to me.
Hm, not much info, sorry...

Oh, almost forgot: that "tongue" part of the quillon is quite out of western europe as well... I've never seen anything like this on western swords except the claymore, but that would've been recognised by a glance.

Justin · 27th September 2005, 12:56 AM

I personally haven't read about any Celtic bronze swords with hilts like this,they are either integral to the blade and solid,or flat tangs made to have scales riveted on,but I am far from an expert.

ham · 27th September 2005, 01:14 AM

The hilt is 16th century Mughal type, though not necessarily that old. With a bronze blade, it may well be a married piece.

Ham

Jim McDougall · 27th September 2005, 03:22 AM

Without further research I am inclined to agree with Ham on this, and think Tim is correct as well in suggesting the Indian subcontinent, very likely the southern regions. The style of the hilt and the bronze blade suggest this is likely a votive or ceremonial piece, and as Ham notes, not necessarily as old as the style suggests and not necessarily homegenous.
Best regards,
Jim

26th September 2005, 06:59 PM	#1
bguevremont Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1	Can someone identify this sword Viking ? This sword has a solid silver handle and bronze blade no other maker marks seen but a nice detail on the handle . picture provided ... is it Viking ,Roman ??? Attached Images

26th September 2005, 07:46 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	more thoughts If it was European, it looks pre Roman and if it is yours then you would have the most exceptional collection a little beyond interest in this site. If it was Celtic it would make world news . Tim Last edited by Tim Simmons; 26th September 2005 at 08:44 PM.

26th September 2005, 07:29 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Hello, I do not think this is ancient or European. I personally think you should be looking towards Indo/Persia. I could be wrong. Tim

26th September 2005, 08:19 PM	#4
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Showing the rest of the blade and describing a little bit more about it would be useful (how long you've had it, etc). I'm skeptical that it's Celtic, but beyond that, I can't tell. Given the good condition of the silver and the interesting condition of the bronze, something's definitely weird about this one, and it's not just the design. Silver corrodes at least as fast as bronze does. F

26th September 2005, 11:17 PM	#5
Ahriman Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Hungary Posts: 72	Viking out, they used quite different hilt parts, and preferred much shorter hilts. Especially the pommel seems out of place for anything viking. Roman out as well as far as I know, as they used more rounded hilts, with almost-spherical wooden pommels. Celtic... I'm not sure, they never used much armour so I don't know much about them , but I think they almost always used antropomorphic hilts. The quillon seems VERY indian to me. Hm, not much info, sorry... Oh, almost forgot: that "tongue" part of the quillon is quite out of western europe as well... I've never seen anything like this on western swords except the claymore, but that would've been recognised by a glance.

27th September 2005, 12:56 AM	#6
Justin Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 175	I personally haven't read about any Celtic bronze swords with hilts like this,they are either integral to the blade and solid,or flat tangs made to have scales riveted on,but I am far from an expert.

27th September 2005, 01:14 AM	#7
ham Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 190	The hilt is 16th century Mughal type, though not necessarily that old. With a bronze blade, it may well be a married piece. Ham

27th September 2005, 03:22 AM	#8
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,957	Without further research I am inclined to agree with Ham on this, and think Tim is correct as well in suggesting the Indian subcontinent, very likely the southern regions. The style of the hilt and the bronze blade suggest this is likely a votive or ceremonial piece, and as Ham notes, not necessarily as old as the style suggests and not necessarily homegenous. Best regards, Jim