Last modified on 9 December 2016, at 16:11

Norse Style Knives


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Completion Rating
This article's completion rating is 1 out of 5. Article planned for future work. No real progress to date.
Viking Age Compendium articles on Knives and Axes:
Viking Age Compendium articles on Knives and Axes:

Norse style blades [V]

A long straight backed blade, usually from 27cm to 72cm long.

Art

  • Middleton warrior?

Literature
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Archaeology

  • Norway R499 20” blade approx [RYGH 1885]:fig.499
  • Norway R500 11” blade approx [RYGH 1885]:fig.500
  • Gotland
  • Birka, 14 knives between 46 to 51cm (including tang), 2-3cm wide and 5-8mm thick. In weapon burials - male. [ARWIDSSON 1986]:p.35


Discussion
At Birka there were no signs of pattern-welding or decoration on the baldes. [ARWIDSSON 1986]:p.35
The knives associated with female burials are similar in form but are no longer than 20cm long with most being 16 to 17cm (including tang). Also the scabbard suspension rings are made from wire instead of cast rings [ARWIDSSON 1986]:p.35

Sheaths – eastern Baltic style

from Birka


Archaeology

  • Birka, 7 sheaths

Discussion
At Birka they enclosed the entire handle, 2mm leather, All have copper-alloy chapes, separate copper-alloy plates along their backs and have a flared decorated plate at the handle. All held together with copper-alloy rivets. Generally most have 3 cast copper-alloy suspension loops. Only one example had decorative loops and all of the other had plain cast rings. The cast hoops are very similar to those found on the small ringed pins – possibly the same manufacturer. [ARWIDSSON 1986]:p.35

See Also

Seax

References