Viking Dybäck Sword with Scabbard, Damascus Steel

Discover Dybäck Viking Sword With Sheath, Damascus Steel

Viking dybäck sword with scabbard, 11th century, Damascus blade



This magnificent one-handed Viking sword is based on an archaeological find made around 1870 in a peat bog at Dybäck – also Dyback , Dybek or Dybeck – in Scania ( Skåne , still part of Denmark during the Viking Age, now Sweden). The original piece can now be admired in the Historical Museum – Historiska Museet – in Stockholm (exhibit SHM 4515).



Although the upper part of the pommel is missing, the gilt wire-wrapped handle, the lower part of the pommel and the guard (both made of gold-plated silver), as well as the scabbard mouthpiece, which has fused to the guard over time, are still remarkably well preserved. All sections of the booklet are decorated with elaborately engraved motifs of birds, snakes, fantastic creatures and intertwined tendrils.



This finely crafted piece of Viking history, dating to around 1000 AD, is classified as type Z according to the Petersen typology for Viking swords and is generally considered to be one of the finest specimens of Viking Age swords ever found in Scandinavia. The animal and vegetal ornamentation, which corresponds to the Anglo-Saxon Winchester style (8th–11th century), suggests that the sword originated in England or was at least strongly influenced by that country's style of goldsmithing. Since this style of ornamentation was particularly popular among Scandinavian nobility, who had frequent contact with England in the late 13th and early 11th centuries, and given the precious materials and high quality of craftsmanship used, it is thought that this sword was the prestige or showpiece weapon of a wealthy Norse nobleman or person of high status.



The reconstruction offered here has a straight, double-edged blade made of Damascus steel* with a wide groove and unsharpened edges. The handle consists of a short, slightly downward-curving cross-guard, a handle section tightly wrapped with brass wire, and a generous pommel with a slightly upward-curving base and a three-lobed cap. The guard and base of the pommel reproduce the highly detailed, engraved motifs and patterns that adorn the original artifact as faithfully as possible. As with many surviving historical examples from this period, the pommel of this sword is a two-part construction: the full-length blade tang is screwed to the lower section, and the upper cap is attached to the base with two rivets.



This early medieval one-handed sword comes with a brown wooden/leather scabbard with mouth plate, cap and antique-finished brass belt loop (maximum belt width 6 cm).



This sword is designed as a collector's item or decorative object and is also ideal as an accessory, for example to complete your costume.



A version of this sword with a hardened EN45 spring steel blade is also available in our shop (item no. 0116040901).



Details:

- Material: Damascus steel blade (carbon steel, not stainless), handle with brass wire wrap, guard and pommel made of cast brass

- Total length: approx. 92cm

- Blade length: approx. 74 cm

- Blade thickness: approx. 4 mm (cutting edges approx. 1 mm)

- Handle length: approx. 18 cm (handle section approx. 9.5 cm)

- Maximum blade width: approx. 4.5 cm.
- Center of gravity: approx. 12.5 cm in front of the guard

- Incl. wooden case with genuine leather sheath and brass fittings

- Weight without cover: approx. 1.1kg

- Weight with case: approx. 1.7 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 taking care of the blade regularly, for example with Ballistol, a universal oil ideal for preserving steel products.



*The term Damascus steel , Damascus steel or simply Damascus refers to a composite steel made from two or more different types of steel. The name is derived from the Syrian city of Damascus, which is considered an ancient stronghold and the origin of Damascus steel production. Typically, a hard, high-carbon steel and a soft, low-carbon steel are joined together by repeated welding and forging. The high-carbon steel provides higher hardness, better hardenability, and increased edge retention, while the softer steel gives the blade greater elasticity and higher resistance to breaking. With this technology, which was developed in a time of poor and changing steel qualities, the positive properties of different steels can be combined. Due to the different colors with different carbon contents, impressive patterns of alternating layers are created, such as the so-called twist Damascus or rose Damascus . Due to these patterns, Damascus swords from the Middle Ages were said to have an inherent magic.



Please note:

This item is only sold to persons over 18 years of age. Please enter your date of birth on our order form. We also require a copy of your ID, driving licence or similar by email, scan, fax or post.



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