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Enjoy the Russo-Viking Sword, Petersen Type E1, Gnezdovo, Grave C-15, 9th Century.
Russian-Viking sword, Petersen type E1, Gnezdovo, tomb c-15, 9th century
This beautiful Viking Age one-handed sword is a replica of an object discovered in 1874 at the Gnezdovo archaeological complex near Smolensk, Russia, during the excavation of the c. 15 burial mound. Dating to the 9th and 10th centuries, the remarkably well-preserved original piece was found stuck in the ground near the urn containing the cremated remains of its presumed owner.
The blade bore on one side the inscription +ulfberh+t , and on the other a series of vertical lines and scrolls, the meaning of which is unknown to this day.
The sword was classified as type E1 according to Petersen's typology of Viking swords. This particular variant is characterized by the handle's simple cellular ornamentation: the guard and pommel were decorated with numerous round holes or depressions arranged in checkerboard-like lines.
The reconstruction offered here has a straight, double-edged blade made of hardened 1060 carbon steel with a long, wide kerf and unsharpened edges. The engravings are reproductions of the markings found on the original blade.
The handle consists of a short, lens-shaped brass crossguard, a wooden handle section tightly wrapped in leather, and a heavy, generously sized brass pommel. Here again, the dot pattern adorning the original artifact has been reproduced as faithfully as possible.
As with many surviving historical examples from this period, the pommel of this sword is a two-part construction: the continuous blade tang is anchored to the lower section, and the upper section is connected to the base by two rivets. The two pommel components are visually separated by a braided wire. There are also gaps between the three sections of the cap with braided wire inserts.
This early medieval one-handed sword comes with a fitted brown wood/leather scabbard with a muzzle strap, mouth plate, and antique-finished brass sling (maximum belt width: 6 cm).
This medieval sword is designed as a collector's item or decorative object. It's also ideal as an accessory, for example, to complete your costume.
Details:
- Blade material: 1060 carbon steel (not stainless), heat treated
- Rockwell hardness of the blade: approx. 48 – 52 hrc
- Handle material: Wood with brown leather covering, brass guard and pommel with steel wire inlay
- Total length: approx. 97 cm
- Blade length: approx. 79 cm
- Blade thickness: approx. 5 mm (cutting edges approx. 1 mm)
- Handle length: approx. 18 cm (handle section approx. 10 cm)
- Maximum blade width: approx. 5.8 cm
- Center of gravity: approx. 11 cm in front of the guard
- Includes wooden sheath with genuine leather cover and antique brass hardware.
- Weight without cover: approx. 1.8kg
- Weight with case: approx. 2.4 kg
The above specifications may vary slightly from specimen to specimen.
The steel used here is not stainless and may show slight signs of corrosion. We recommend regular maintenance of the blade, for example with Ballistol, a universal oil ideal for preserving steel products.
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