Dybäck Viking Sword

Description of the Product

During the Viking era from c. 700CE to 1000CE Nordic sailors sailed all the known and unknown seas exploring, trading with far off peoples and pillaging unsuspecting coastal towns. In addition to the traditional Viking countries like Sweden, Norway and Denmark, adventurers and soldiers from other Baltic states and Finland also took part and sailed to the ends of the earth with the Viking boats.

The Vikings were quite conscious of the need for a good sword, and when they acquired one, they took good care of it, handing it down from generation to generation. On the other hand the Vikings also sacrificed valuable and beautiful objects to their gods and their forefathers, often in rivers and lakes. Some of the most valuable and most beautifully decorated weapons with silver and gold inlays, as well as the finest jewelry with gemstones, were sacrificed at bridges and fords believed to be the boundary between the living and the dead.

This sword is a replica of an original that was discovered in 1870 from a peatbog in Dybäck, Skåne, in an area which is modern day Sweden, but during the Viking-era belonged to Denmark. The original fittings are gold plated silver with animal and plant ornaments in the Anglo-Saxon Winchester style. The style indicates that the fittings could be of Anglo-Saxon workmanship, or simply an indication of the many contacts the nobles of the early 1000’s had with England. The sheer amount of precious metal definitely makes this a sword for the nobility. Although the original find was well preserved, the organic materials of the sheath have not survived. The mouth guard of the sheath is made of precious metal and has survived, but during the centuries it has fused together with the hand guard. Our sword is a copy of the way the sword is presented in the museum today, with the mouth guard together with the handguard, even though the pieces originally have of course been separate. The original is on display at the Historical Museum in Stockholm.

With its intricately sculptured bronze hilt, this replica reflects the strength of the fierce Viking warriors of old, as well as the masterful skill of their craftsmen, irrespective of their provenance. The blade is forged of high strength stainless steel and is fully tempered. The Toledo steel blade is polished to a mirror finish making it rust resistant and requiring minimal care. The Dybäck sword is a worthy addition to any collection.

The stainless steel blade is easy to care for, and the sword is ideal as a decoration, as part of a costume, as a collectible and suitable for light cutting practice. The material is not suitable for steel-on-steel fencing or heavy cutting practice. No sheath included.

• Overall length: 95.5 cm
• Blade length: 76 cm
• Handle+Pommel length: 15.7 cm
• Weight: 1.8 kg
• Width at Guard: 5,2 cm
• Thickness at Guard: 5,0 mm
• Blade material: 420 Stainless Steel
• Sharpness: Unsharpened
• Made by Marto (Toledo, Spain)