Russian-Viking Sword, Petersen Type E2, Gnezdovo, Tomb L-13, 10th century. Category-B

Get Russo-Viking Sword, Petersen Type E2, Gnezdovo, Grave L-13, 10th Century.

Russian Viking sword, Petersen E2 type, Gnezdovo, Tomb L-13, 10th century
This beautiful Viking Age one-handed sword is a replica of an object discovered in 1949 at the Gnezdovo archaeological complex near Smolensk, Russia, during the excavation of burial mound L-13. The original piece, dated to between 920 and 950 AD and classified as type E2 according to Petersen's typology of Viking swords, was found broken in two and stuck in the ground.
On one side, the blade had a stylized representation of a man, and on the other, a spiral framed by two crosses. However, what truly distinguished this sword was its finely crafted hilt with elaborate cellular ornamentation: the guard and pommel were decorated with rounded recesses arranged in lines. Slots inserted with twisted wires connected these depressions to each other, thus forming a pattern similar to a checkerboard or lattice.

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 brass crosspiece, a wooden handle section tightly wrapped in leather, and a generous brass pommel. Here again, the pattern adorning the original artifact has been reproduced as faithfully as possible. In this case, the guard and pommel are hollow and have holes that allow the wire ornament to be threaded through.
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 twisted wire knotted on the side. 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 mouthpiece, laying plate, and belt loop made of antique brass (maximum belt width 6cm).
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. 98.9cm
- Blade length: approx. 79.7 cm
- Blade thickness: approx. 5 mm (cutting edges approx. 1 mm)
- Handle length: approx. 19.2 cm (handle section approx. 10 cm)
- Maximum blade width: approx. 6 cm
- Center of gravity: approx. 16.5 cm in front of the guard
- Includes wooden sheath with genuine leather cover and antique brass hardware.
- Weight without cover: approx. 1.4kg
- Weight with case: approx. 2.1 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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