Norse Style Knives

...
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
--
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 blades. ^{(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)}

from Norway

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)}