Maldon Viking Sword

Description of the Product

The Maldon Viking sword from the Windlass Steelcrafts Battlecry collection is a light, agile and resilient fighting blade that captures nearly everything that made this style such a formidable and near legendary design. Created to deal with shields, mail and thick fur and leather armor, it was more than a match for any hand-weapon of its day. Its short hilt combined with the distinct lobed pommel gave the wielder a snug grip facilitating a quick center-of-rotation easily manipulated for exceptionally versatile action. With its capacity for delivering rapid single-handed strikes, it was ideal for fighting armed with a shield but also highly effective when matched with a seax or even a hand-axe.

Given a unique shadowed hue, one can well imagine a blade like the Maldon purposely darkened for a Northern nighttime skirmish. Serving a pivotal part in Norse martial heritage, it's easy to see why this style was so feared and so influential.

The weapon is named after the famous battle of Maldon in 991, where the Anglo-Saxon Earl Byrhtnoth refused to pay a tribute demanded by raiding vikings. The honor code of the Anglo-Saxon warculture did not permit Byrhtnoth to buy himself off the hook. Neither did his overwhelming pride, or ofermode, permit him to fend off the vikings from his superior defence position, but instead he allowed the vikings to wait for low tide, walk across the narrow causeway safely and set up a pitched battle. For the Anglo-Saxons a fight was not won, if it had not been won fairly. Unfortunately for Byrhtnoth, he was struck down fairly early on in the battle, leading some of his less loyal troops to flee in dissarray, causing lifelong shame on them and their families. But a loyal band remained, defending their dead thane till the bitter end. In their glorious defeat the Anglo-Saxons got what they most wanted, heroism. The vikings also got what they wanted: a profitable protection racket, as after the battle the king paid the first of many Danegelds to come.

Includes a matching scabbard with a belt stop, a frog to carry the sword and a certificate of authenticity signed by the smith who forged your blade. Made by Windlass Steelcrafts.

The Battlecry line of historical swords, daggers and axes has been designed in conjunction with John Clements, whose knowledge of historical fencing and Medieval and Renaissance fighting methods is unsurpassed. Hand forged by Windlass Steelcrafts, the 1065 high carbon steel is tempered in computer controlled ovens to a hardness of low 50’s RC. This ensures strength, resiliency and edge retention. Swords have extra wide full tangs and all weapons are sharpened.

Each model has been put through rigorous physical testing to exceed industry standards. These battle tested weapons have a stone washed, blackened finish. The blued patina protects the blade from the frequent rust spots and stains that occur so often from everyday practice and exposure to the elements. Each is individually inspected at every step of the manufacturing process, and only after passing inspection they receive the armorers stamp on the blade. A certificate signed by the smith who wrought your weapon is included.