Long Gotland Style War Knife

Description of the Product

Almost all Viking, Saxon and Frankish warriors, from the highest to the lowest carried a single edged knife known as a scramseax. This was very common for warriors of Germanic tribes. The use of these long war knives wasn't excluded from other tribes and these were common weapons throughout the Early Medieval Northern Europe. For example Vendel Period Finland saw plenty of weapons like this in use. The basic weapons for a warrior were shield and spear with a long knife as a back-up for close combat for stabbing, hacking and slashing. Swords were naturally also used, while being more expensive and reserved for the better well off warriors. The longest langseaxes are almost as long as the swords of the time.

Scramseaxes ranged in size from small pocket-knife sized tools for household chores and crafts to sword-sized blades built solely for war. We don't quite have a word for these large knives that are in between a utilitarian tool and purely fighting weapons. These very big knives were better suited to be used as weapons but we know that at least some were also used as tools for heavy cutting etc. We know this as archeological pieces have been found that have been extensively resharpened and weapons don't tend to wear out slowly with continuous resharpening.

We named our long scramseax as a war knife as these long seaxes seem to be more geared towards being a fighting weapon than a tool for domestic use. We don't know much about migration era fighting styles or tactics, but it's clear that large knives like this were part of the warrior tactics and warrior culture of the day. Most likely these large knives were easy to carry, not that expensive, all-purpose tools that also served as a back-up weapon. The use of large knives continued till Medieval Times and for example 15th Century English longbowmen also carried large knives with them to be used both as tools and as weapons.

It was typical for the era to have brass or bronze decorated sheaths on these long war knives and so this war knife also is paired with a brass decorated and reinforced sheath that is crafted from thick leather. Brass rivets and brass plates not only embellish the sheath but also give it durability. A pair of belt loops fitted to brass hanging rings allows for this seax to be readily worn from your belt whether hanging on your side, front or on your back. It was customary to wear these long seaxes sharp edge upwards in the sheath and so does this version.

Several knives in this style have been found for example from the heart of the Viking world in Gotland. The durable and sturdy blade with full tang is hand forged out of 1095 Carbon Steel. Handle is made of wood and bone and it has pommel cap and bolster made of brass. There is also ring in the pommel cap to attach a wrist strap. We have these rings on most surviving pieces so perhaps wrist straps were important part of how these knives were used.

This is a 100% handmade item and each item will have it's unique small differences from other pieces. The overall look, feel and size however is the same for each piece.

• Fighting knife and heavy tool from Migration and Viking Era Northern Europe
• Historically accurate brass decorations and construction of sheath and knife
• Dark brown leather sheath has 2 belt loops to carry the knife diagonally
• Ring in the handle pommel cap to attach a wrist strap
• 100% hand made with hand forged blade
• Overall length: 45.2 cm
• Blade length: 31.7 cm
• Handle length: 13.6 cm
• Weight: 440 g
• Blade width at guard: 34 mm
• Blade thickness at guard: 4.0 mm
• Blade material: 1095 High Carbon steel
• Blade hardness: 50 to 55 HRC on Rockwell scale
• Handle material: Walnut wood, bone and brass
• Sharpness: Sharp
• Manufacturer: Karhunhammas - Beartooth