Vikings were the seafaring Scandinavian people who raided the coasts of
northern and western Europe from the eighth through the tenth century.
The Vikings spread all through Europe, raiding, trading and establishing
colonies from Ireland to Russia. The ferocity of their attacks was known
worldwide. The primary weapon of the Vikings was the sword. The Vikings
admired the sword above all weapons and addressed them by fierce names.
The swordsmiths during their times created beautiful swords using
methods of pattern welding and cryogenic quenching. The typical Viking sword of the 9th and 10th centuries featured a long wide blade with a broad central fuller and two keen edges. The preferred stroke was a hard slash or chopping blow. A simple guard with forward curving quillions was combined with a utilitarian wooden handle covered with leather, bone, or brass. The distinctive feature of the Viking sword was its heavy 5 lobed pommel used to balance the long blade. Both guard and pommel bear traditional Celtic knot embellishments.
The swords had both pommel and guard often inlaid with gold designs following the Viking style. The blade was usually hand forged from high carbon steel, with a fuller and capable of bending 5" out of line and return to true. The swords of the Vikings bear typical four viking symbols, "Tir"- Courage, "Ur"- Strength, "Elhaz"- Protection and "Sigel"- Success.
