Hallstatt Bronze Sword from VikingBronze Etsy store, Ukraine
Apr 17, 2024 19:24:29 GMT
Post by bwaze on Apr 17, 2024 19:24:29 GMT
I have received my Mindelheim Hallstatt Bronze Sword I ordered on March 13. It was shipped on March 23., and shipping and long customs process took until April 15. The price of the sword was 544.78 EUR with shipping, but I had to pay 159 EUR customs and 22% VAT, so final price was 704 EUR.
I don't intend to cut with this sword, the seller also doesn't recommend it (or this disclaimer just covers them as makers of decorative item, not weapon manufacturer?): "* Please be informed that it’s the reproduction only, we don't recommend to use it as real weapon."
Link to the store, the sword is currently out of stock:
Hallstatt Sword - Bronze Sword - VikingBronze
And YouTube video of casting, grinding, polishing and hilt making of such a sword:
MyArmoury thread about Mindelheim type swords:
MyArmoury: Hallstatt C Swords w/ Abstract from J.D. Cowen
First a couple of photos:
Tip of the sword:
A bit of casting pitting on one side (second picture) of blade near the hilt:
Compared to In Carius Type H Viking sword and an unfinished Bronze Age Foundry (Dave Chapman) Leaf Shaped Sword from UK:
A couple of stats:
Length: 845 mm
Blade length: 657 mm
Blade width and thickness:
- widest part, near the hilt: 67 mm, 8.5 mm
- waisted part at narrowest: 40 mm, 6.2 mm
- wide part at COP: 45 mm, 7.3 mm
- tip width at start of triangular portion: 30 mm, 3 mm
Grip length: 108 mm
Pommel height: 80 mm
Pommel width: 68mm, thickness 61 mm
Weight: 1.15 kg
COG: 375 mm from the pommel end, 180 mm from grip end
Comparing the Mindelheim Hallstatt Bronze Sword to In Carius Type H Viking sword in Weapon Dynamics Computer, just because they are relatively similar in length and weight. The graph shows what you also feel in hand - even though the viking swords have quite a blade presence, this bronze sword is something else entirely. The very forward center of gravity is of course the result of light hilt area, light wooden pommel, and even the tang is relatively thin.
I was a bit worried about the geometry of the sword - after all, the Youtube video shows a lot of handheld freestyle grinding with angle grinder, but I must say my sword is finished really nicely - there is some minor wavyness to the shape, but the blade edges are straight. There are a couple of casting pits on one side of the blade near the grip, but they aren't large.
And how does the sword compare to the originals? Well, there's a problem. There really isn't much detailed data about late bronze / early iron age, Hallstatt C / Mindelheim type swords. Sure, I have some books, articles like "The Hallstatt Sword of Bronze: on the Continent and in Britain, by J. D. Cowen", etc, but it's a miracle if you even get a sword length. Weight? Forget it. Blade thickness, distal taper etc? You can dream.
Although general stats are of course in range of museum finds, just by looking at photos and recollections of seeing swords in museum I think the VikingBronze sword has some deviations from real Mindelheim bronze swords. I think central rib on authentic sword would not thin down at the waisted part of the sword but would gradually narrow down from the grip to the tip. In VikingBronze replica it goes down from 8.5 mm to 6.2 mm at the narrowest part, and then it becomes thicker again at the leaf shaped wider part at COP at 7.3 mm. But of course I don't have any data, just my hunch.
Sword feels quite sturdy, and striking pommel or other parts of the sword to cause it to vibrate sideways to see the vibrational nodes result in very spring steel like vibrations. The edges aren't sharp, but they are rounded by less than 0.5 mm, a "butter knife sharp". Anyway, the edges aren't work hardened as in a functional replica bronze age sword would have to be. And I don't think I will try to work harden them myself.
Wooden grip and pommel are beautifully made - shape of the grip is very organic, slender and smooth, and pommel is oval shaped, not simply cylindrical. Engraved decorations are simple but evenly made, although a bit wide and deep compared to (bronze) originals it replicates. Since the pommel is so wide and the lower edge of the pommel is protruding so far over the grip you can only hold this sword comfortably in a hammer grip. This replica has somewhat stabby point, but many originals end with a relatively thick portion at the tip, rendering the sword completely a cutting / slashing weapon.
So, is the sword worth the asking price? Of course this replica isn't cheap. And I have no idea how much research the maker VikingBronze even invested into the weapon, or is it just a guesstimate from a photo. I would be more comfortable paying such price to makers I know had access to originals - Neil Burridge, or Ørjan Engedal / Warriorbronze.com from Norway. But I can't order a sword from Neil Burridge to EU any more (and even in UK it isn't really simple due to his illness, and his focus on working with museums), and Warriorbronze Mindelheim sword is I think now more expensive than their advertised price of 1100 EUR.
So, why did I buy the sword? I spend three days in a village of Hallstatt on a holiday last fall (I live only about 3.5 hours of driving away), visiting the salt mines, museum, hiking all over the town and surroundings, and I consider this a late souvenir.