Albion Valkyrja
Jul 2, 2014 16:50:10 GMT
Post by William Swiger on Jul 2, 2014 16:50:10 GMT
I purchased this sword from the original owner. I have no personal or professional relationship with Albion.
The Valkyrja:
Overall length: 36 1/4"
Blade Length: 30 1/4"
Blade width: 2 1/4"
Grip Length: 3 1/2"
POB: 4 1/2"
COP: 21"
Weight: 2 lbs 15 oz
Petersen Type AE
Geibig Type 4 Blade
Albion Description:
Swords of Type AE are not among the most common of Viking swords. It is a late development, making it one of the youngest of Viking hilt-styles.
The Valkyrja is inspired from a fascinating Finnish find from Suontaka, Tyrväntö, Tavastland; a woman's grave that apart from other rich goods included two swords. One was a bare blade with silver decorations (it might once have had organic hilt furniture that is now lost?) and a splendid sword with a hilt of bronze.
Obviously this woman was an important person high in the social hierarchy. One might wonder if she was a female warrior. This is the reason we wanted to name the sword after those mythological female warriors of Odin; the Valkyrjas.
Using the Geibig 4 blade (that is a type belonging to the 10th C to 11th C) for this sword is fitting since the original weapon is dated to 11th C. Geibig type 4 blades are defined by a strong profile taper, a likewise tapering fuller and a relatively long point section. These factors combine in yielding a blade with quick and agile point and a responsive balance.
The low-relief decorations on pommel and cross are two entwined dragons/beasts carved in the Urnes style of the 11th century. This style often utilizes ribbon-bodied animals, entwined with interlacing tendrils. The combination of both broad and thin lines of ornament and scrolling loops is typical of the Scandinavian Urnes Style, named after the wooden carvings at the church of Urnes, Norway. It shows the highly accomplished, final development of Germanic animal art in Viking regions before it merged locally into early Romanesque art.
The hilt furniture is cast in solid bronze. The grip on the Valkyrja will be wood/leather rather than the hollow bronze grip mounted on the original, though a version with a bronze decorative grip may also be offered.
The hilt is Petersen Type AE, even though he only mentions hilts with a curved upper guard without pommel in his work on the Norwegian Viking swords. There are a some AE swords with D-shaped pommels in collections elsewhere in Europe. Good examples, apart from this Finnish sword, is one with iron hilt in the National Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen and yet another fine example in Dublin.
Impressions: Seriously - I love this sword. I joined the 100 club. It has been on my want list for years and I was lucky to get one but had to pay what they sold for new to get a perfect condition one. I consider this sword the production "Holy Grail" of Viking swords. It is a beautiful sword and very well executed. The grip and hilt fittings are very comfortable. The sword handles well and is not heavy in hand at all but feels powerful.
Cons: No longer produced. They sometimes come up for sale but folks do not sell them for under the new price and sometimes want more from the ones I have looked at the last couple of years.
References:
Albion
The Valkyrja:
Overall length: 36 1/4"
Blade Length: 30 1/4"
Blade width: 2 1/4"
Grip Length: 3 1/2"
POB: 4 1/2"
COP: 21"
Weight: 2 lbs 15 oz
Petersen Type AE
Geibig Type 4 Blade
Albion Description:
Swords of Type AE are not among the most common of Viking swords. It is a late development, making it one of the youngest of Viking hilt-styles.
The Valkyrja is inspired from a fascinating Finnish find from Suontaka, Tyrväntö, Tavastland; a woman's grave that apart from other rich goods included two swords. One was a bare blade with silver decorations (it might once have had organic hilt furniture that is now lost?) and a splendid sword with a hilt of bronze.
Obviously this woman was an important person high in the social hierarchy. One might wonder if she was a female warrior. This is the reason we wanted to name the sword after those mythological female warriors of Odin; the Valkyrjas.
Using the Geibig 4 blade (that is a type belonging to the 10th C to 11th C) for this sword is fitting since the original weapon is dated to 11th C. Geibig type 4 blades are defined by a strong profile taper, a likewise tapering fuller and a relatively long point section. These factors combine in yielding a blade with quick and agile point and a responsive balance.
The low-relief decorations on pommel and cross are two entwined dragons/beasts carved in the Urnes style of the 11th century. This style often utilizes ribbon-bodied animals, entwined with interlacing tendrils. The combination of both broad and thin lines of ornament and scrolling loops is typical of the Scandinavian Urnes Style, named after the wooden carvings at the church of Urnes, Norway. It shows the highly accomplished, final development of Germanic animal art in Viking regions before it merged locally into early Romanesque art.
The hilt furniture is cast in solid bronze. The grip on the Valkyrja will be wood/leather rather than the hollow bronze grip mounted on the original, though a version with a bronze decorative grip may also be offered.
The hilt is Petersen Type AE, even though he only mentions hilts with a curved upper guard without pommel in his work on the Norwegian Viking swords. There are a some AE swords with D-shaped pommels in collections elsewhere in Europe. Good examples, apart from this Finnish sword, is one with iron hilt in the National Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen and yet another fine example in Dublin.
Impressions: Seriously - I love this sword. I joined the 100 club. It has been on my want list for years and I was lucky to get one but had to pay what they sold for new to get a perfect condition one. I consider this sword the production "Holy Grail" of Viking swords. It is a beautiful sword and very well executed. The grip and hilt fittings are very comfortable. The sword handles well and is not heavy in hand at all but feels powerful.
Cons: No longer produced. They sometimes come up for sale but folks do not sell them for under the new price and sometimes want more from the ones I have looked at the last couple of years.
References:
Albion