[David Hohl]

Fairly simple question: the script used to inlay swords such as the one drawn here,



or the soborg sword from Peter Johnsson's notebook (thank you!)



have a really distinctive and attractive form. Can people provide more examples of this type of script, or better yet, a font?

[Craig Peters]

I think the best that anyone will be able to provide is the chart in this article: http://www.gustavianum.uu.se/digitalAssets/20...blades.pdf

If you go to page 32 of the PDF (nominal page 41), there is a compilation of different paleographic alphabets based upon several different swords. The chart provides images of different versions of the same letter, including common variations of the characters. The only drawback is that Søborg D 8801 is not one of the swords whose characters have been transcribed in the article. Nevertheless, you will find letters in a fairly similar style, and short of purchasing a highly specialized book on inlay inscriptions, this is probably the best you can do.

[Jeffrey Faulk]

While not an exact match, you can find a similar alphabet in many calligraphy books called 'Lombardic' or 'Versal'. It's not supposed to be an 'alphabet' per se, rather a style of initial letters, however it was frequently used in decorative work. These sword inscriptions are merely a simplified version of that style.