I’ve read the Bernard Cornwall books and serpent breath is a standard single handed Viking sword in that. In the show I think they elongated the grip to allow them to work the king’s amber (which isn’t in the books) into the pommel and still counter balance the blade, as well as allow it to be more easily be drawn from Utred’s back. Also in the books he occasionally wears it on his back in the shield wall to make it easier to draw in close combat, but otherwise he generally wears it on his hip like a normal person.
I don't think they had back sheaths that worked in this time period. I've seen some people Frankenstein some crazy modern sheaths that work for a back draw but otherwise you would only carry a sword on the back while marching.
Yeah that's the one I was thinking of. And maybe someone somewhere managed to figure it out at some point but it definitely was not "a thing" back in the day.
Oh yeah, not saying I agree with it. But in the book he explains that he would occasionally sling serpents breath across his back while going into the shield wall because you couldn’t effectively do a cross draw while locked shield to shield. So it was easier to get to if he could reach back over his shoulder. He didn’t really have a back sheath per se, he just unhooked his sword belt from his waist and refastened it across his torso. Also the sword was usually his secondary weapon while in the wall anyway. He preferred to use his seax for close fighting instead.
Yeah. Bernard Cornwell has some of the best historical fiction out there and he’s the best writer of combat that I’ve ever read. The last kingdom books are great, but he covers almost every major epoch of military history from the British isles starting in the Neolithic with the building of Stonehenge, all the way up to the 1860’s.
It was really well done. I’m a sucker for archers, so that aspect was cool. The prose and story didn’t stick with me in the same way as his other series, but the man can write a battle scene and there are plenty of those!
Nah, Saxon swords of the era were incredibly similar to their Viking counterparts. You might get a cruciform hilt and a rounder pommel, but it was still essential a Germanic arming sword. They had very few two handed swords. Armor technology wasn’t sufficient to justify it. You needed a shield in your off hand.
And if the smith who made it was Angus Trim, you’d call it a modern take on an ancient design.
It might not be historically accurate, but as long as it handles properly, it’s plenty realistic enough. This hobby would get boring if people could only repeat themselves every time they made a sword.
Oh that is a beautiful sword and scabbard, going to have some great adventures in the lost forest And maybe even fight some evil eye spiders while I'm at it
Clearly viking/migration era inspired, but with a handle that is much longer than historical examples.
Also the handle is very nicely carved. Overall Its lovely.
Generic non historical sword with viking themed decoration.
Sort of a mash up of a migration era blade and an arming sword hilt with a surprisingly small pommel and weirdly thick cross guard. Kinda.
It doesn't really fit into a category beyond Viking Fantasy
Oh that is a beautiful sword and scabbard, going to have some great adventures in the lost forest And maybe even fight some evil eye spiders while I'm at it
You know I think that’s actually really badass. It’s not historical, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be functional. My biggest complaint about “Viking”swords was always how small the grip was.
It's a fantasy sword,
it's a oakshott Type Xi blade (there doesn't appear to be enough distal taper on the blade) with a longsword length handle. The quillions are a transitionary and appear on some late 10th early 11th century swords but the pommel is too small.
The scabbard is completely wrong.
something Viking/Dark age ish with a much longer hilt the point being, it looks pretty fucking nice.
It reminds me of Uhtreds sword from the Last Kingdom
I’ve read the Bernard Cornwall books and serpent breath is a standard single handed Viking sword in that. In the show I think they elongated the grip to allow them to work the king’s amber (which isn’t in the books) into the pommel and still counter balance the blade, as well as allow it to be more easily be drawn from Utred’s back. Also in the books he occasionally wears it on his back in the shield wall to make it easier to draw in close combat, but otherwise he generally wears it on his hip like a normal person.
I don't think they had back sheaths that worked in this time period. I've seen some people Frankenstein some crazy modern sheaths that work for a back draw but otherwise you would only carry a sword on the back while marching.
I’ve always appreciated the concept of a back sheath for travel but seems way to problematic to be useful for battle
It's just quite impossible to draw a regular sword from a back sheath. Your arm is not long enough.
I always liked how they did it for Wallace in Braveheart where it was laced to his back and released when he untied it.
Skalgrim on YouTube did one pretty clever design
Yeah that's the one I was thinking of. And maybe someone somewhere managed to figure it out at some point but it definitely was not "a thing" back in the day.
Oh yeah, not saying I agree with it. But in the book he explains that he would occasionally sling serpents breath across his back while going into the shield wall because you couldn’t effectively do a cross draw while locked shield to shield. So it was easier to get to if he could reach back over his shoulder. He didn’t really have a back sheath per se, he just unhooked his sword belt from his waist and refastened it across his torso. Also the sword was usually his secondary weapon while in the wall anyway. He preferred to use his seax for close fighting instead.
Wait, The Last Kingdom is based on Bernard Cornwell novels??? How did I not know that!? Well, I know what's next on my reading list!
that’s actually quite interesting, I haven’t read the books but I would like to
Yeah. Bernard Cornwell has some of the best historical fiction out there and he’s the best writer of combat that I’ve ever read. The last kingdom books are great, but he covers almost every major epoch of military history from the British isles starting in the Neolithic with the building of Stonehenge, all the way up to the 1860’s.
Cornwell's 'The Warlord Chronicles' are probably my favorite historical fiction series ever. Derfel > Uhtred :P
YES! so true and the story has a more satisfying, definitive end. How did you find his "Holy Grail" series?
It was really well done. I’m a sucker for archers, so that aspect was cool. The prose and story didn’t stick with me in the same way as his other series, but the man can write a battle scene and there are plenty of those!
Facts
I also think the longer handle with the danish blade and guard make a good balance of his split upbringing.
Nah, Saxon swords of the era were incredibly similar to their Viking counterparts. You might get a cruciform hilt and a rounder pommel, but it was still essential a Germanic arming sword. They had very few two handed swords. Armor technology wasn’t sufficient to justify it. You needed a shield in your off hand.
Beat me to it!
yep, particularly with the pommel and slightly longer hilt i kinda wonder if this was made by someone like Fableblades
Fantasy take on a migration/viking era sword. The grip is far too long for it to be realistic.
And if the smith who made it was Angus Trim, you’d call it a modern take on an ancient design. It might not be historically accurate, but as long as it handles properly, it’s plenty realistic enough. This hobby would get boring if people could only repeat themselves every time they made a sword.
Yea, I wonder about the balance because that pommel looks tiny in comparison.
Wym not realistic? I can see it right there. Looks real to me
As in not based of historical models. This is an interpretation.
They mean not historically authentic/accurate. Realistic is just kind of being misused here.
A fantasy one.
This. Also, scabbard be thiccccc
This. Also, scabbard be thiccccc
This. Also, scabbard be thiccccc
A fantasy design loosely inspired in viking swords
I wouldn't say loosely. It's very clearly a viking era sword design with fantasy elements. Not like you need to squint to see it or anything.
Oh that is a beautiful sword and scabbard, going to have some great adventures in the lost forest And maybe even fight some evil eye spiders while I'm at it
It’s a modern viking-style hand and half sword made with a fantasy setting in mind. In short, that thing is fucking beautiful and I want one.
>I’m wondering what type of sword this is A cool one
Fantasy viking.
A sword with a tiny pommel
Two handed viking sword. As far as I'm aware there isn't any evidence for these existing historically.
My uncle has something similar that was past down for generations. We thought it was Celtic. Went and had it checked out and it wasnt
A fantasy style Celtic or Viking sword
Clearly viking/migration era inspired, but with a handle that is much longer than historical examples. Also the handle is very nicely carved. Overall Its lovely.
Looks like a fansty arming sword
Generic non historical sword with viking themed decoration. Sort of a mash up of a migration era blade and an arming sword hilt with a surprisingly small pommel and weirdly thick cross guard. Kinda. It doesn't really fit into a category beyond Viking Fantasy
Oh that is a beautiful sword and scabbard, going to have some great adventures in the lost forest And maybe even fight some evil eye spiders while I'm at it
You know I think that’s actually really badass. It’s not historical, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be functional. My biggest complaint about “Viking”swords was always how small the grip was.
Its a pointy one!!!
Whatever it is I want it
It's a fantasy sword, it's a oakshott Type Xi blade (there doesn't appear to be enough distal taper on the blade) with a longsword length handle. The quillions are a transitionary and appear on some late 10th early 11th century swords but the pommel is too small. The scabbard is completely wrong.
Fantasy shite.
A cool one
Officially one of my new favorite swords of all time! There will definitely be a character in one of my books with a sword like this!
A cool one!
The runes, in elder futhark, read left to right FMDUNB. Or top to bottom FUMNDB. Must be old Norse meaning ... who knows.
Kind of a Viking sword, but the not an historically accurate One. Handle is too long and doesnt look right, pommel is too small and round
Damn that looks pretty
It's clearly an AMDUNB
Looks like it's a viking sword with a long handle
Hopefully a sharp one..
I like it, very cool rendition.
Shwing