The "Sax of Beagnoth" (Thames scramasax)
Below I present three replicas from different manufacturers of a sax found in the Thames, near London, in 1857. The original blade is in the collection of the British Museum.
For the story, I quote from the article in Wikipedia
The Beagnoth sax was found by laborer Henry J. Briggs between January 6 and 23, 1857 in the Battersea district of London in the River Thames.[3] In addition, between 1843 and 1867, Briggs sold numerous other archaeological artifacts that he had found in the Thames to the British Museum.[2] The museum bought the sax from Briggs, whereupon the employed antiquarian Augustus Wollaston Franks presented it at the meeting of the Society of Antiquaries of London on May 21, 1857.
Link to the Seax in the British Museum:
www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_1857-0623-1No. 1
An interpretation by the manufacturer Deepeeka. It is traded under the name “Sax British Museum”.
Total length with sheath: 777 mm
Total length without sheath: 742 mm
Blade length: 563 mm
Blade width: 40.6mm
Blade thickness: 3.5 mm at the ricasso, 2.7 mm at the blade location
Blade material: EN45 carbon steel hardness 48 HRC (half sharp)
Weight: 603g (866g with sheath)
Balance point: approx. 175 mm from the edge of the handle
Sheath: Leather with belt loops
No.2
An interpretation by the manufacturer Windlass. It is traded under the name “Long Sax with Runes”.
Total length with sheath: 770 mm
Total length without sheath: 735 mm
Blade length: 584 mm
Blade width: 37.4mm
Blade thickness: 4.8 mm at the ricasso, 1.1 mm at the blade location
Blade material: carbon steel 1065, hardness 45-50 HRC (not sharp)
Weight: 825g (1086g with sheath)
Balance point: approx. 60 mm from the crossguard
Manufacturer's mark: WINDLASS MARTO
No. 3
It is the interpretation of the manufacturer Legends In Steel and is sold commercially under the name Viking Seax Sword with Scabbard.
Total length with sheath: 790 mm
Total length without sheath: 745 mm
Blade length: 562mm
Blade width: 38.9mm
Blade thickness: 4.5 mm at the ricasso, 2.0 mm at the blade location
Blade material: carbon steel 1095, (sharp)
Knob: screwed
Weight: 1134 g (1390 g with sheath)
Balance point: approx. 80 mm from the crossguard
Sheath: Leather with belt loops
Manufacturer: Legends In Steel
Based on the dimensions, blade shape and decoration, it can be assigned to the Thames find, as with the two saxes presented previously. I may be wrong, but I have a "feeling" that the inscription on one side is mirrored. Maybe I'll check that out. The pommel is described as a traditional Viking design. If that's the case, I'll have to look for one in the literature.
From a visual point of view, this sax is not my favorite. He was also an “accidental” purchase. In terms of the blade, however, it is the more usable version of the three. The sax has upside down runes. The presence of a ricasso and the sharpening of the cutting edge also spoil the enjoyment of the blade. This sax is not a replica.
The rough leather sheath is well suited to carrying the sword knife in the forest. Authenticity cannot be assumed with these snap fasteners.
Comparison photo