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Kirstine Schoene
Location: Queensland, Australia Joined: 20 Dec 2016
Posts: 8
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 Posted: Sat 11 Feb, 2017 9:06 pm Post subject: Viking Sword Specs |
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I'm thinking about making myself a viking sword, but sadly I have not the slightest idea of dimensions, weights, etc.
I want to keep it historical to some extent. I own no viking blades to refer to, and i've done some digging but nobody seeems to state these kind of specs. I just need to know the dimensions of the crossguard and pommel ( less so blade), or at least realistic/average figures. Would also be nice to know distal taper, fuller widths and blade angles.
Thanks folks.
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Roger Hooper
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| Posted: Sat 11 Feb, 2017 9:22 pm Post subject: |
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A starting point might be to look at the specs for Albion viking replicas over at Kult of Athena. They even have a couple of blade thickness measurements - not enough for you, but It's something. Most would agree with me that Albion makes the most historically accurate replicas.
Again, that's just a starting point.
http://www.kultofathena.com/albion.asp
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Bram Verbeek
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Ian Hutchison
Location: Louisiana / Nordrhein-Westholland Joined: 27 Nov 2007
Posts: 626
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| Posted: Sun 12 Feb, 2017 3:46 am Post subject: |
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Seconded, has good pictures and dimensions. If you have any museums in your area, you might check if they have anything on display you could look at.
'We are told that the pen is mightier than the sword, but I know which of these weapons I would choose.' - Adrian Carton de Wiart
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Mark Moore
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| Posted: Sun 12 Feb, 2017 9:39 am Post subject: |
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| Roger Hooper wrote: | A starting point might be to look at the specs for Albion viking replicas over at Kult of Athena. They even have a couple of blade thickness measurements - not enough for you, but It's something. Most would agree with me that Albion makes the most historically accurate replicas.
Again, that's just a starting point.
http://www.kultofathena.com/albion.asp |
Roger, I wouldn't trust in KoA's measurements 100%. I'm pretty sure their sword measurements are decently accurate, but I have gotten some measures from other things--mainly helmets and armor--that are waaaay off.  ......McM
''Life is like a box of chocolates...'' --- F. Gump
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Mark Moore
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| Posted: Sun 12 Feb, 2017 9:45 am Post subject: |
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I AM SURE, however, that their Albion measurements would be taken from Albion directly....so, there's that. ....McM
''Life is like a box of chocolates...'' --- F. Gump
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Timo Nieminen
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| Posted: Sun 12 Feb, 2017 1:31 pm Post subject: Re: Viking Sword Specs |
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| Kirstine Schoene wrote: | | I just need to know the dimensions of the crossguard and pommel ( less so blade), or at least realistic/average figures. |
Length of guard is often published. Given a good photo of a hilt, you can get all of the other dimensions in that plane (easiest to work from a printout, if it's an online photo). The tricky part is to get thicknesses, because the usual side-on photo doesn't give that to you. A good source for thicknesses is Petersen's book:
https://archive.org/details/DeNorskeVikingesverdEnTypologisk-kronologiskStudieOverVikingetidens_105
where there are many drawings showing the thicknesses.
Other than Pierce's and Petersen's books, Wiglaf's Weapons Widget is a good one-stop online source for measurements: http://weapon.wiglaf.co.uk/biglist.php
| Kirstine Schoene wrote: | | Would also be nice to know distal taper, fuller widths and blade angles. |
Very hard to find measurements of blade thickness, let alone the multiple ones you need for distal taper. As already suggested, KoA distal taper measurements for Albion Vikings might be your best bet. Blade angle - I don't remember seeing published values.
Weight and POB are difficult. First, values of these (especially POB) are published less often than lengths. Second, corrosion and missing hilts mean that the measurements aren't the same as the originals.
Typical weight is easy: 1.2kg. Typical POB is easy: 15-20cm/6-8". But there's a lot of variation, especially in weight. I've seen Viking swords from 700g up to 1.9kg.
"In addition to being efficient, all pole arms were quite nice to look at." - Cherney Berg, A hideous history of weapons, Collier 1963.
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Luka Borscak
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| Posted: Wed 15 Feb, 2017 1:10 am Post subject: |
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| Mark Moore wrote: | | I AM SURE, however, that their Albion measurements would be taken from Albion directly....so, there's that. ....McM |
Albion's measures aren't all correct too. Gaddhjalt is listed as 36" (91cm) blade and all of them have 88,5-89cm blade and width is listed as 5cm but it's actually 4,8cm.. That is just example I'm familiar with, there may be others.
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This is a standard topic