DIY reproduction Viking sword restoration -- myArmoury.com

Harry Marinakis

This is nothing to get excited about - it's a restoration of an old, cheap reproduction Viking sword that was made in India. But it came out rather nice, so I thought that I'd share. A friend of mine asked to see what I could do for this old, rusty, pitted sword. I didn't want to spend a lot of time working on it, but I wanted to give back to my friend something that he would like. Before and after pictures are shown below.

Lin Robinson

You did an excellent job of turning a genuine sow's ear into a silk purse. Very nice work!

Dean F. Marino · Posted: Sun 10 Aug, 2014 2:03 pm Post subject:

I disagree with "nothing to get excited about".... you did a GREAT job cleaning up, and refining this sword. It's not so much about "this sword" - it's FAR more about you, and YOU having the guts to clean up & refine a commercial offering Happy

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Welcome to the "I'm gonna fix this sword dammit" club Happy

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Harry Marinakis · Posted: Sun 10 Aug, 2014 4:43 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the feedback!

The best part of this little project was the experience and practice I got doing it.

Ryan McLaurin · Posted: Sun 10 Aug, 2014 5:40 pm Post subject:

Wow! The difference is like night and day. Very good job. Now tell your friend to keep it oiled Exclamation

Mark Moore · Posted: Mon 11 Aug, 2014 11:13 am Post subject:

Dang............I've got a couple of turds propped up in the corner that you'd love to get hold of. Laughing Out Loud

Great job!....McM

Harry Marinakis · Posted: Wed 13 Aug, 2014 9:29 am Post subject:

Here's an update... I decided to turn this whole project into a skill-building and learning session. So I made a scabbard and three-way ring suspension based on a hybrid of the Ballateare and the Cronk Moar scabbard from the Isle of Man.

I have never done any metal work, so I bought a brass bowl from a metal salvage yard, cut it up, and started tinkering around with some hardware for the suspension. It's not "Tod's Stuff" quality, but here's what I've made so far.

I am still trying to figure out how the Vikings tacked on the upper fixing plate, given than the scabbard wood core is so thin.

Jean Thibodeau · Posted: Wed 13 Aug, 2014 8:47 pm Post subject:

Seems like you are using your imagination learning to use various tools and methods and doing a very good job improvising techniques that seem to give good results.

Plus a good sense of visual design with the scabbard and scabbard furniture.

Harry Marinakis · Posted: Thu 14 Aug, 2014 6:55 am Post subject:

Thanks Jean.

Anyone have a suggestion on how to place rivets in the scabbard, given that it's only 1/8" to 3/16" thick? Looking at the old Ballateare scabbard, the suspension plates were riveted to the scabbard, and they bore the full weight of the scabbard.

Mark Moore · Posted: Thu 14 Aug, 2014 11:49 am Post subject:

Harry....that looks fan-damn-tastic. You keep up the good work. You've inspired me to enter into a few new projects! All the best to you...........McM

Greg Ballantyne · Posted: Sat 16 Aug, 2014 8:58 pm Post subject:

Not sure the blade deserves the scabbard........

Harry Marinakis · Posted: Sun 17 Aug, 2014 8:04 am Post subject:

Jeffrey Faulk · Posted: Sun 17 Aug, 2014 9:44 am Post subject:

Rather historically inaccurate but you could try 'pop' rivets. It's either that or anneal some small brass nails, slide a flat piece of steel down the scabbard, and try to 'clench' the nails by hammering them against the steel to turn them around into the wood of the scabbard.

Harry Marinakis · Posted: Sun 17 Aug, 2014 10:17 am Post subject:

Dean F. Marino · Posted: Sun 17 Aug, 2014 1:55 pm Post subject:

Harry Marinakis · Posted: Sun 17 Aug, 2014 4:41 pm Post subject:

Thanks Dean! Actually the Viking scabbard was the 2nd sword scabbard that I made.

Here is the first scabbard that I ever made: