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Post by JohnE on Feb 25, 2011 5:42:09 GMT
I've heard that some viking swords were single edged, but I've never seen any, unless you count unusually large seaxes. Is that what they're talking about? Does anyone know anything about single edged vikings, or know where I can look it up? Thanks.
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Greg
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Post by Greg on Feb 25, 2011 5:51:21 GMT
The only one that I have seen is The Berserker by Albion:  There is a little bit of history mentioned with the blade here.I've always admired this blade. Kinda reminds me of a viking style falchion. IF I ever get an albion, this would be my first. |
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Post by Vincent Dolan on Feb 25, 2011 5:55:59 GMT
Greg, you'll have to post a review if you do, because I've admired that blade for the longest time. I remember seeing it on the site that is now Weaponmasters back when I first got into swords. At first, I didn't really care for it, especially not with the price they were asking, but it kinda grew on me and now, aesthetically speaking, it's one of my favorite styles of viking sword.
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Post by JohnE on Feb 25, 2011 6:04:50 GMT
Thanks, Greg. That's just the sort of info* I'm looking for.
* And pictures, so I can see what the heck they looked like.
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Lunaman
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Post by Lunaman on Feb 25, 2011 6:10:00 GMT
Single-edgers are the only viking swords I really like. Here's one by Ollin Sword designs:  This one is by Vladimir Cervenka, further customized by Kirk Lee Spencer  Here are two by Jake Powning:   |
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Post by Vincent Dolan on Feb 25, 2011 6:20:09 GMT
I really like the scabbard and hilt construction on the Vidirhrafn, but I much prefer the blade of the Helvegr. That said, they're both gorgeous and I'd forgotten that Ollin Swords had one, too, so thanks for reminding me, Luna. Edit: Also, I just noticed this while typing, but don't the single-edge viking swords look a lot like Tibetan swords?  (Photo from Oriental Arms) |
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Lunaman
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Post by Lunaman on Feb 25, 2011 6:23:15 GMT
No problem--also added a Cervenka Piece that was harder to track down a picture for.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2011 18:18:24 GMT
Hey Luaman those pics are really cool.
Well this is the first time I think about a viking sword like this. I'll be reading some history books to see if there was any specific reason to invent it, because it is unusual and unpractical to create this king of swords with the fighting style of the traditional viking warrior. Don't you think?
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Post by Anders on Feb 26, 2011 13:47:39 GMT
Single edgers are my favourite viking sword, and I wish here were more reproductions around. If there was one in my price range I would absolutely get one.
I also wish they came with other hilt types then Petersen Type H, which I think is the most boring hilt type. This kind of blade on a Type S hilt (like on the Albion Huskarl) would look awesome. Type K or Type R would be pretty nice too.
I absolutely adore the blade on the Helvegr, though I'm pretty sure it isn't historical.
Well, it's a pretty basic profile for a single edged sword, so it makes sense they look kinda alike.
Interesting thing I've noticed with Tibetean swords is that they seem to have a front side and a backside - that is, if you look on the other side of the hilt, it won't be anywhere near as decorate.
I've never heard of any official theory for why these swords look the way they o. Though, from what I know of singe-edged vs double-edged swords, I'd hazard a guess it's the same reason there were both double-edged and single-edged baskethilts in the same time and region - backswords simply feel and behave somewhat differently (for example, Albion's page for the Berserkr notes that it's heftier then regular viking swords of the same size) and some people apparently prefered their swords that way.
For that matter, it might also have been a matter of local fashion, as this type of sword was most common in Norway.
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Post by birdman on Feb 26, 2011 14:06:56 GMT
A long time ago I saw a picture of an excavated original in a book about weapons. IIRC, the cutting edge was on the straight side, while the back curved down at the point to meet the edge - sort of a giant "sheep's-foot" blade. Would make a great chopper, with a strong point for stabbing. The straight edge would be easier to sharpen, too.
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Post by Anders on Feb 26, 2011 14:12:11 GMT
Those would be the longseax type blades, developed from the regular viking seax. Popular theory is that the single edged viking swords we're discussing here are an evolution of those blades.
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Post by Ichiban on Feb 26, 2011 17:25:31 GMT
The single edged viking sword is a Norwegian type, I actually believe it's exclusive to Norway.  I really want to see an affordable single edged model, I would buy it on the spot. (wink, wink, Sonny at VA) |
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Post by Vincent Dolan on Feb 26, 2011 18:25:33 GMT
Really? That's certainly interesting to know. It would certainly make sense if you were to look at all single handed swords with a curved blade sabers (the dao, the shamshir, talwar, pulwar, kilij, saber, saif, etc.), since there are tons that are specific to a certain country.
I'd buy two as soon as I had the funds! (nudge, nudge, hint, hint, Sonny)
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Post by Ichiban on Feb 28, 2011 1:14:27 GMT
Here's some pics I took at the Museum Of Cultural History in Oslo. This is the sword the Albion Berseker is based on:  A display containing three single edged swords, all with type H hilt:  The spearhead the Hanwei Viking Throwing spear is based on:  And the famous Gjermundbu helmet:  |
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Post by Anders on Feb 28, 2011 19:58:27 GMT
Most of those examples are regional names for the same type of sword, though (shamshir, kilij, saif) and they also belong to the same family. So, that's a matter of cultural influence.
I don't think that corelates well to the Norweigan vikings occasionally making their swords single-edged, which is really more of an abberation. Especially since, culturally speaking, Norway wasn't any different from any other Scandinavian region at the time.
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Post by Ichiban on Mar 1, 2011 9:23:33 GMT
I care to disagree. Scandinavia was perhaps more cultural different than it is now back then with distinct regional differences. Norway was a kingdom already in the year 860, and Denmark was gathered under Harald Bluetooth about 100 years later. In Sweden there were svear and göter, allegedly two ancient tribes with their own kingdoms in what today is known as Götaland and Svealand. Sweden was not a nation like Denmark and Norway until after the Viking ages.
Scandinavian vikings was not a homogenous population, and ventured different places. While Norwegian and Danish vikings mostly headed west, the Swedish (Rus) mostly headed east. Norwegian and Danish vikings were in battle from the earliest times as the Danish often raided in Norway and opposite, and Norwegian/ Swedish vikings raided each other. Through political and military alliances and trade there were coorporation between the countries/kingdoms though.
About 20% of the swords found in Norway are single egded, and most of them are found in Western Norway or related to this region. It is common belief that this is an early (migration period) regional derivation from the longsax, while the double edged viking swords common in Southern Norway, Sweden and Denmark developed directly from the migration swords. Some of the single edged swords found are obviously rehilted in the 8th or 9th century, indicating that these blades are older. Single edged blades are seldom found in Sweden and Denmark, but again found in typical places where Norwegian vikings roamed (Ireland and Northern Britain).
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Luka
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Post by Luka on Mar 1, 2011 14:47:43 GMT
There is a theory that few native Norwegian smiths knew how to make a pattern welded sword and single edged swords with their thick spine are durable enough even if made only of iron and not pattern welded. Very few single edged swords found are pattern welded and they are mostly a bit overbuilt so that theory may be truth.
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Post by Anders on Mar 1, 2011 19:52:49 GMT
I seriously doubt that. Yeah, yeah, I'm aware of that. I actually live in Scandinavia, you know.  I'm just saying that I have never heard anything to suggest that the Norweigian vikings were much different from any other viking population in terms of stuff like weapons. The fact that they both fought and traded with each other with a great deal of frequency pretty much guaranteed that. Of course there were regional differances, but they were still vikings. They shared a basic culture, is what I'm saying, and there is a difference between "culture" and "country." |
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Post by Ichiban on Mar 1, 2011 20:47:44 GMT
Yeah, I see what you mean. The viking culture. I still mean that the regional differences were larger than now. Most of the research on the viking age has focused on similarities. There still was different dialects (it is believed that the regional dialects started developing around 500 AD) , different rune alphabets, different practice in belief and burial, different ships, different weapon shapes and different cultural influences. I'll try to dig deeper in the material I have as this interests me a lot. I just read through Petersens exellent book "The Norwegian Viking Swords" again, and despite it's 100 years old it still has a lot of weight. According to Petersen about 10% of the swords from this time found in Norway are single edged swords WITHOUT hilts, (giving a total of 1/3 of all swords found in Norway are single edged). This indicates the swords are pre viking age or very early viking age swords made locally. I haven't found any reference to hilt shape or material, but I assume this was wood or bone. Seems like a case for more study that too. |
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Post by brissybeater on Mar 3, 2011 2:40:59 GMT
All I know is the Willowraven is now the pinnacle single edged viking sword in my eyes now. Its my idea of Viking perfection. If I had the money I would get one exactly the same to the detail (even if the handle isnt ship wood). Its just a gorgeous piece. The worst part is I love to use my swords and its a piece of one of a kind art ........ how could you cut water bottles with the Mona Lisa |
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