Medieval Weapons

The Vikings gave their swords names such as ‘Gramr’ (fierece), and ‘Fotbitr’ (legbitr).  Viking swords were also valuable family heirlooms, and were passed down from father to son.  They were decorated with gold and valuable stones set in the hilt. 

The Norse sagas are full of accounts of combat using swords.  The Lausaviser, a Norwegian epic,  recounts the story of the revenge of Einar, son of Ragnvald.  Ragnvald was a chieftain who ruled in Orkney around 860.  He was burnt to death in his own house by two of Harald Fairhair’s sons.  Einar fought with one son, Halfdan Halegga, and killed him.  Halegga was found the next morning on the side of a hill and his back had the shape of an eagle cut into it with a sword.  The ribs had been separated from the backbone and the lungs had been pulled out on either side to represent an eagle’s wings.  This was Einar’s victory sacrifice to Odin. 

The Viking blades were most often pattern-welded.  The pattern-welded technique was accomplished by the smith welding together long strips of iron and steel.  Then he forged them into square-sectioned rods, which he twisted or folded and welded together in groups of three or four.  These were used for the central core of the blade.  The edges of the blade were then welded to it.  After grinding and polishing, the twists and folds of the core pattern were brought out with acid. 

The crossguard was very simple.  There was elaborate decoration on the pommel.

The Vikings were some  of the most feared and highly regarded warriors of any age.  These Viking  swords with a soul were a mighty extension of the legend of the Norsemen.  Many reenactors choose the Viking persona for this reason.

Swords and Hilt Weapons published by Prion, 20 Mortimer Street, London WIT 3JW is an excellent resource for information on Viking and all other swords.

When caring for a sword collection, it’s important to be aware of the factors that can cause damage to the blades and hilts of swords. The leading cause of damage to collectible swords is the oil from human fingers. For example, if the blade is touched by human hands and then not wiped clean, small stains will develop that can cause blemishes to appear over time. These blemishes are near impossible to remove after appearing, so it’s important to avoid touching the blade when possible, and if touched, remove the oils with a soft rag or even a t-shirt. The same principles can apply to the hilt and all other areas of the sword that are metal.

In order to store collectible swords, it’s best to keep them on a wall rack to avoid them becoming damaged. Most collectible swords don’t have sharp edges, so never attempt to cut or hack at an object or risk damaging the blade. For swords with sharp edges, be careful to exercise caution, and keep out of reach of small children and even older children. Collectible words are still weapons and can be dangerous.

The following description appeared in a 1997 calendar, entitled Medieval Women.  The calendar was published by the Workman Group and the title described the women as the following:  “The Strong, The Resilient, The Accomplished.” One of the writings from this calendar told the story of those Medieval women who went to war in full armor, bearing swords and pole arms just like their masculine brothers.

“During the 9th and 10th centuries, noblewomen were often directly involved in war.  Emma, granddaughter of the Capetian king Robert the Strong, headed the defenses of Laon in 927, and led a siege against Chateau Thierry in 933 that resulted in its surrender: Aethelflaed of Mercia ruled part of England from 911 to 918 and defended it from the Vikings.  The medieval custom of siege warfare, in which an attacking army tried to invade or starve out a walled fortress, frequently meant that noblewomen had to be left in charge while their warrior husbands were outside the walls, conducting the battles.

For later medieval queens, especially those married to kings of distant countries, survival could mean a great deal of military strife.  Margaret of Anjou, married to the simpleminded Henry VI of England in 1445 educated her young son in “nothing else but cutting off heads and making war.” After the young prince was killed in the Battle of Tewkesbury in 1471, Margaret was put in the Tower of London for five years; she died in penury in 1482.

Average women might also expect to experience war; but they were often victims instead of warriors.  Joan of Arc, a peasant girl from a small town in France, broke the mold in the early 15th century by becoming a military leader.  She led the French army in several successful battles against the English army in the last stages of the Hundred Years’ War. When the English captured her in 1431, she was tried and burned for heresy.  Thomas Basin mourned her death his History of Charles VII:

“Joan was sent by God to save the kingdom and the people of France.”

Although wearable armor weighs from 35 to 60 lbs.,  the modern woman would look stunning in the ultimate Medieval costume.

There are several noticeable differences between European swords and those forged in the East in countries like Japan, Thailand, and China. Most oriental swords are lightweight and have a slim blade. In addition, several oriental swords, such as those used by the Japanese samurai, have a small hilt with no separation between the hilt and the blade. Because of the relative size of the blades, sword fighting in the East was developed around finesse and technique. While this was also done in Europe with slim swords like the rapier, almost all Eastern swordsmen used the slim blades, while most Europeans used broader blades like the long sword or broad sword.

The sword fighting techniques used all across Asia are quite different than those found in Europe. The Japanese sword fighting technique known as Kendo involves quick and relentless strikes to overwhelm the opponent, while European techniques often utilize a shield in the off-hand, and are centered around powerful thrusts or slashes to batter the opponents defenses.