Shown here, in scale to one another, are just 30 of the ones we've shared. Each one has a high-resolution photo, a description, and measurements included.
[ Linked Image ]
Note that the swords were all photographed at different times and in different places so their individual perspectives may differ slightly.
You can see much higher-resolution versions in our Viking Age Swords album should you wish to do so.
The intent of posting these samples was to encourage discussion and critique for them. Some are absolutely assuredly authentic examples. Others are questionable as to them being authentic samples from the Viking Age. Some have tell-tale signs of artificial aging, others have questionable provenance. It's been a taboo subject to discuss openly on the Internet. I'm not entirely sure why, as I think this is what encourages all of us to have an open mind when viewing photos of objects. Almost all of us are not experts (I certainly am not) and so we rely on those more experienced alongside the collective knowledge of the community to create a knowledge base that we can use to assess what we see. Further, we want to encourage those selling such items to stay diligent in their efforts to properly and completely assess and identify these objects.
In the following series of posts, I'll pull some of the images from our Facebook page and share them here in hopes of encouraging some additional dialogue.
I understand that we really don't have many (if any) experts in the field on this site. Most of us are enthusiasts with an interest in the subject. Others may have a lot of hands-on experience with original swords and have gained quite a lot of knowledge from their experiences. Still, others, have even more knowledge gained from their many hours of hands-on experience, countless hours of reading, and discussions with others knowledgeable in the field.
It's the diversity of the community that creates an environment well suited for dialogue and learning. Please don't be afraid to ask questions, point out concerns, or even express appreciation of an item! There shouldn't be fear of being wrong or, worse, a fear of debate. These things are each healthy and necessary things for learning. Any question can be asked or any concern can be raised when couched in the appropriate context. Please take care to provide context.
Attachment: 400.16 KBViking-age swords shown to scale [ Download ]
