Beschreibung:

Viking Single-Handed Sword 10th-early 11th century AD A double-edged sword of Petersen Type S variant with tapering blade, shallow fullers, possible traces of pattern-welding to the blade, battle nicks to both cutting edges; boat-shaped upper and lower guards with splayed ends, the massive pommel with three lobes. 1.2 kg, 92cm (36 1/4"). Fine condition. Provenance Property of a European gentleman living in London; from his grandfather's collection by descent in 1989; formerly in the family collection since at least the 1970s; accompanied by an academic report by military specialist Dr. Raffaele D’Amato. Literature See Petersen, J., De Norske Vikingsverd, Oslo, 1919; Peirce, I., Swords of the Viking Age, Suffolk, 2002; Hiardar K. and Vike, V., Vikings at war, Oxford-Philadelphia, 2016; the sword has good parallels with similar Viking age specimens published by Peirce (2002, pp.102-105), one in the British Museum and the other at the Universitetets Oldsaksamling, Oslo. Footnotes Viking swords of Type S are commonly found in Nordic countries and Eastern Europe, with only a small number found in Western Europe. Although this sword would be classified as a Type S, the trilobate form of the pommel recalls the swords of type L, having Anglo-Saxon influences. The style of the hilt on the S swords are often very different: so were the swords, that can combine elements of different types.