Viking sword from Dybäck with scabbard, 11th century, blade made of Damascus steel

Viking sword from Dybäck with scabbard, 11th century, blade made of Damascus steel

This magnificent Viking single-handed sword is based on an archaeological find discovered around 1870 in a peat bog in 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 at the Historical Museum - Historiska Museet - in Stockholm (exhibit SHM 4515).

While the upper part of the pommel is missing, the grip wrapped with gold wire, the lower part of the pommel, and the guard (both made of gilded silver), as well as the scabbard mouth plate, which has fused with the guard over time, are still remarkably well preserved. All hilt parts are adorned with intricately engraved motifs of intertwined birds, snakes, fantastic creatures, and tendrils.

Dated to approximately 1000 AD, this finely crafted piece of Viking history is classified as Type Z according to the Petersen typology for Viking swords and is generally considered one of the most beautiful Viking Age sword specimens ever found in Scandinavia. The animal and plant ornaments, which correspond to the Anglo-Saxon Winchester style (8th-11th century), suggest that the sword originated in England or was at least heavily influenced by the local metal art. Given that this ornamental style was particularly popular among the Scandinavian nobility, who maintained lively contact with England in the late 10th / early 11th century, and considering the precious materials and high-quality craftsmanship used, it is believed that this sword was the prestige or ceremonial weapon of a wealthy Norse nobleman or a person of high status.

The reconstruction offered here features a straight, double-edged Damascus steel blade with a wide fuller and unsharpened edges. The hilt consists of a short, slightly downward-curved guard, a grip tightly wrapped with brass wire, and a generous pommel with a slightly upward-curved base and a trilobate "cap." The engraved, highly detailed motifs and patterns adorning the original artifact have been replicated as faithfully as possible on the guard and pommel base. As with many preserved historical examples from this period, the pommel on this sword is a two-part construction: The full tang is screwed to the lower part, and the upper cap is attached to the base with two rivets.

This early medieval single-handed sword comes with a brown wood/leather scabbard with a brass mouth plate, chape, and strap loop with an antique finish (max. belt width 6 cm).

• Material: Damascus steel blade (carbon steel, not rust-proof), grip with brass wire wrapping, guard and pommel made of cast brass
• Overall length: approx. 92 cm
• Blade length: approx. 74 cm
• Blade thickness: approx. 4 mm (cutting edges approx. 1 mm)
• Grip length: approx. 18 cm (handle part approx. 9.5 cm)
• Max. blade width: approx. 4.5 cm
• Point of balance: approx. 12.5 cm in front of the guard
• Includes wooden scabbard with genuine leather covering and brass fittings
• Weight without scabbard: approx. 1.1 kg
• Weight with scabbard: approx. 1.7 kg

The above specifications may vary slightly from item to item.

Sharpened and therefore not suitable for stage combat.

Price is for one sword!
Proof of age is absolutely required!