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Post by wolf_shade on Sept 7, 2012 20:39:07 GMT
I'm going to be showing my ignorance (on purpose this time, and more so than normal). A short time ago (read a few months) I purchased a Gen 2 Single Handed Norman through the classifieds. My ability to translate numbers into visual information is, aparrently, laughable, as I was not aware that the blade was as long as it is. I'm interested in a viking sword. I like the wide blade, wide fuller, and simple guard. Unfortunately, they all (from KoA's stock) seem to have a blade of 30+ inches, which is somewhere between 2-4 inches longer than I'd prefer. Additionally, I'm not fond of the classic pommel on the viking sword. I know the Ulfberht has a sort of brazil nut type pomel, but I'm not fond of the guard on the Ulfberht. So here's my question, is there a shorter (say 28" blade or less) production viking sword with the standard guard and a sloped pommel, or am I looking at a custom? (Basically the Windlass Sword of the Viking King - ignoring the scabbard - with a blade 3"+ inches shorter and the pomel from the Ulfberht)
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Post by Vincent Dolan on Sept 7, 2012 21:07:24 GMT
The Sword of the Viking King is actually from Windlass Steelcrafts. That said, I think I know just the sword for you: the Hanwei Saxon. The blade's 27.5" with a Petersen Type L hilt configuration. Other than that, without going custom, the only thing I can think of is the Albion Thegn which is a little over double the price of the Saxon. By the way, a good way to get a visual for a sword's size before buying is to keep a retractable tape measure nearby; it gives a pretty decent idea of how big long the sword would be, albeit not how wide or heavy or any of that.
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Post by wolf_shade on Sept 7, 2012 21:30:11 GMT
Whoop, bouncing back and forth between links grabbed the wrong company name. That's been fixed.
Even has a pattern welded core. Yes, that would be what I was after. Unfortunately I do not like the curved guard. If it were the straight stubby guard it'd be just what I was looking for. I sincerely doubt what I'm looking for has a historical basis (closest being the ulfberht, but it doesn't have the stubby guard) and I admit my desires are entirely based on asthetics, but hopefully that is the peragotive of the buyer/collector.
The Thegn has the same guard issue, and also has a taper the entire length of the blade. Part of the appeal to me of the viking sword is the lack (or near lack) of taper till it gets to the tip.
Yeah, I need to start doing this.
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Post by Vincent Dolan on Sept 7, 2012 21:52:58 GMT
Hmm. In that case, custom would probably be your best bet. As far as I can tell, you're correct in thinking that what you're looking for has no historical basis; you want a Geibig Type 2 blade (generally about 27" long and 2" wide with little profile taper about like the Albion Clontarf), the squat guard of a Petersen Type H hilt (similar to on the Albion Hersir), and a brazil nut pommel like on the Ulfberht. That sound about right?
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Post by wolf_shade on Sept 7, 2012 21:56:41 GMT
About right, yes. I'd keep the hanwei saxon as my blade example, though, because if I'm going custom I'll be asking for a pattern weld as well. And thank you for pointing me in the direction of these other swords, and giving me terms to go with my descriptions. That is one of the more daunting things I've found about sword interest, there is a lot of terminology to adjust to.
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Post by Lonely Wolf Forge on Sept 7, 2012 22:50:40 GMT
god damnit vincent....now i want that Hanwei Saxon! Curse you! hahaha
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Post by Vincent Dolan on Sept 7, 2012 22:56:00 GMT
Not a problem; I've just had Viking swords on the brain lately, so a lot of the information was more or less at my fingertips. Here is an article on MyArmoury that details much of Geibig's typology, which includes measurements of antique blade types, as well as pommel types (Petersen did much of the hilt types, a diagram of which, detailing the chronology, is here). The information should prove useful to help you hammer out exactly what it is you're after. Lonely Wolf Forge: :lol: I can't say as I blame you. It's a good looking sword.
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Post by Elheru Aran on Sept 9, 2012 2:24:39 GMT
I've heard people talk (can't put my finger on where at the moment, I know there's been at least a couple of mentions here) about taking the Saxon and using the blade, as apparently it's pretty decent quality for the price, to make their own shortish Viking or Anglo-Saxon sword. Worth a thought.
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Luka
Senior Forumite
Posts: 2,848
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Post by Luka on Sept 9, 2012 11:05:55 GMT
It's important to know that Saxon has very little if at all distal taper and is much heavier that a sword of its length should be. It is still managable enough because it's short, but it will feel like a longer sword, definitely not like a shortsword. But you may like this. Short, very solid, hefty, excelent for shield breaking.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2012 11:33:16 GMT
I'm posting from my phone atm, so I can't look up anything very easily, but why not a long seax or even a regular seax?
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Post by Beowulf on Sept 11, 2012 11:50:59 GMT
I absolutely love my Saxon. Yeah, it's stout, but very sweet because of it. I blame Luka for getting it. I remember reading one of his threads when he first ran into it and was freaking out about it. It seemed like he couldn't get anyone else excited about it. Then I saw his review and that was it... Now I have a Saxon. My handle rings have loosened away from the handle, but they stay in place and don't slip from where they are supposed to be. It's an easy fix, I just haven't gotten around to it. I actually like to store mine with the scabbard seam facing outwards, I actually like the look of the stitching on the seam. Thanks Luka, damn it!
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Luka
Senior Forumite
Posts: 2,848
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Post by Luka on Sept 12, 2012 10:40:41 GMT
Yeah, at first nobody seemed to be much interested in Saxon, I guess people are cautious about relatively cheap swords claiming to be pattern welded. But I believed Hanwei enough to risk it. I wasn't really in love with the hilt because I'm not a fan of type L hilts in general, but once rehilted I really love it. And since I wasn't looking for a shortsword I don't mind it feels like a real, big, shieldbreaking viking sword although it's not as long as a one.
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Post by Beowulf on Sept 12, 2012 17:02:29 GMT
I saw you got yours rehilted. It looks good. I haven't been to many other forums lately so I don't know how many people have decided to use the blade for a project. I keep hearing that people are though.
This is the only sword I have ever seen that the maker changed a lot of things in the hilt and the changes didn't mess it up. I'd rather it was done the way it should be, but after seeing pictures of one disassembled I don't have any worries it will fail or get loose.
I need to do more research and try and figure out a better, authentic way to finish the fuller. There are conflicting accounts from Arabs descriptions of the weapons when new and what some scholars say. I cannot decide. I guess I need to ask Paul Binns in the UK or Peter Johnsson.
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Luka
Senior Forumite
Posts: 2,848
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Post by Luka on Sept 12, 2012 19:35:52 GMT
Well, it seems more subtle finish is accepted as more historical...
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