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Robin Smith




Location: Louisiana
Joined: 23 Dec 2006
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PostPosted: Sun 06 Mar, 2016 8:25 pm    Post subject: Custom “Viking” Sword from Robert Moc         Reply with quote

I received this sword about a week ago, but owing to a nasty bout of flu I haven’t been up to posting about it until now. Which is a shame, because I am very excited to have it finally. The sword is a typical “viking” blade with with pattern-weld inlay, and a hilt of type U/V with silver and copper inlay.






The sword is not an exacting copy of any one specific example, but rather it is modeled to fit into a family of very similar examples.




A lot of care was taken in the the research by both Robert and myself. I must say Robert did an excellent job, both documenting an original example, and in his keen eye for details.


(I was particularly interested for Robert to do a hollow pommel with u-rivet construction)



The blade was an area of particular attention. While I do not wish to derail this thread into a discussion of the wider issues surrounding ulfberht blades, suffice for now to say our intent was not to copy a “crucible steel” example, but rather this project intended to reproduce one of the highest quality examples of the non-crucible ulfberhts. The blade is a medium carbon core with a high carbon cutting edge welded on, then partial quenched to achieve a hard end and resilient body. All steel was made by Robert out of iron that was salvaged from a historic source.




I cannot forget to call attention to the scabbard, which is honestly so good it could be its own stand alone work. I’m big on scabbards, and I insist all my swords have one. Not knocking any of my other scabbards, but this scabbard is far and away the finest I have seen . It has a slimness most scabbards seem to lack -- thin bodied but still robust enough. It doesn’t feel over-built, and consequently it feels graceful and refined. And the strap end and chape are amazing too.





In hand the sword feels very nice. Balance is in a good/typical spot for this type (~ 5.5 inches from guard). I don’t have the means to properly weigh it, but it does not feel overly heavy. In total, it is an amazing work of art, and I am extremely proud to own it, and seeing as it will out-last me, I am happy to have played my part.

ETA: typo fixes

A furore Normannorum libera nos, Domine


Last edited by Robin Smith on Mon 07 Mar, 2016 10:48 am; edited 1 time in total
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Shahril Dzulkifli




Location: Malaysia
Joined: 13 Dec 2007
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Posts: 1,265

PostPosted: Mon 07 Mar, 2016 3:20 am    Post subject: Custom “Viking” Sword from Róbert Môc         Reply with quote


The hilt looks awesome! Surprised

“You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength”

- Marcus Aurelius
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Matthew G.M. Korenkiewicz




Location: Michigan, USA
Joined: 08 Mar 2004
Reading list: 3 books

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PostPosted: Mon 07 Mar, 2016 6:36 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

... beautifully accomplished sword, and I truly appreciate the photographs hi-lighting
so many details. Excellent !
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Elric Rabenfels




Location: Britain/Germany
Joined: 28 Jan 2014

Posts: 40

PostPosted: Mon 07 Mar, 2016 7:22 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Oh wow... that's impressive.

Wonderful piece, congratulations!

- What can change the nature of a man?
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Ken Speed





Joined: 09 Oct 2006

Posts: 656

PostPosted: Mon 07 Mar, 2016 7:34 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Quite honestly, words fail me. Congratulations to both of you!
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William Swiger




Location: Reston, VA
Joined: 23 Feb 2011
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PostPosted: Mon 07 Mar, 2016 8:04 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Beautiful sword - congratulations!
Non Timebo Mala
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Tim Lison




Location: Chicago, Illinois
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PostPosted: Mon 07 Mar, 2016 10:23 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

WOW!!!! That sword is perfect! Great stuff Rob. I'm drooling with envy.
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J. Hargis




Location: Pacific Palisades, California
Joined: 06 Feb 2012
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PostPosted: Mon 07 Mar, 2016 1:22 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Beautiful, Robin. Thanks for the pictures.

Jon

A poorly maintained weapon is likely to belong to an unsafe and careless fighter.
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J.D. Crawford




Location: Toronto
Joined: 25 Dec 2006

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PostPosted: Mon 07 Mar, 2016 2:04 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

That's something very special, a real heirloom. It's really got it all from the blade to the decorated hilt. (I like the way the tree branches reflect in the pommel in that one shot.)

I've been craving a Viking sword lately after watching lots of 'Vikings', 'Last Kingdom', and reading another book on the subject. But I can't afford anything in this league. Too many practical expenses.

But then again, probably only a Jarl or King could have owned a sword like this 1200 years ago.

-JD
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Houston P.




Location: United States
Joined: 20 Apr 2015

Posts: 83

PostPosted: Mon 07 Mar, 2016 2:41 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Absolutely magnificent. In my opinion, there are few things that can produce as much awe as a properly made pattern welded Viking Age sword, and this is an extraordinary one!
...and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. (‭Luke‬ ‭22‬:‭36‬)
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Scott Kowalski




Location: Oak Lawn, IL USA
Joined: 24 Nov 2006

Posts: 818

PostPosted: Mon 07 Mar, 2016 4:53 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Congratulations to both of you. Definitely a piece to be proud of in both owning and crafting.
Chris Landwehr 10/10/49-1/1/09 My Mom
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Jerry Monaghan




Location: melbourne australia
Joined: 29 Oct 2006
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PostPosted: Mon 07 Mar, 2016 5:34 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Hi Robin
Firstly congratulations to you and Robert on an fine sword and I am sure that you will have a life time of pleasure with it.
I still can not put mine away as I look and handle it each day and think how lucky I am and every one else that has an piece of art like this and the amazement of just fondling Art.
Thanks for posting and enjoy.

Regards

Jerry Monaghan
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Robin Smith




Location: Louisiana
Joined: 23 Dec 2006
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PostPosted: Wed 09 Mar, 2016 1:24 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

J.D. Crawford wrote:
That's something very special, a real heirloom. It's really got it all from the blade to the decorated hilt. (I like the way the tree branches reflect in the pommel in that one shot.)

I've been craving a Viking sword lately after watching lots of 'Vikings', 'Last Kingdom', and reading another book on the subject. But I can't afford anything in this league. Too many practical expenses.

But then again, probably only a Jarl or King could have owned a sword like this 1200 years ago.

-JD
Oh, I really couldn’t either. But this is one of those rare indulgences that are permissible due to the passing of major milestone that come only a few times in a life. Furthermore, I like to think that this is more a family acquisition, and upon my passing that my son, and hopefully one day his son, shall have the opportunity to appreciate it. When looked at as a multigenerational investment, it doesn’t seem so bad. And these days it seems so very little is made to be multigenerational....

As to your other point, I’ve often wondered about that. Preservation bias makes it hard to get a handle, but based on material that survives, one would think all the swords from that period were quite fancy. But that may be misinterpreting what catches a curators eye for historical pattern.

...still owing to the gift giving culture of the pre-Christian Scandinavian and Germanic people, I rather suspect they would be more common than just Jarls and Kings. Someone attached and loyal to a Jarl or King no doubt.

A furore Normannorum libera nos, Domine
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Joe Fults




Location: Midwest
Joined: 02 Sep 2003

Posts: 3,646

PostPosted: Wed 09 Mar, 2016 5:01 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

That's nice...real nice!
"The goal shouldn’t be to avoid being evil; it should be to actively do good." - Danah Boyd
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James Gibson




Location: Mobile Alabama
Joined: 24 Jan 2016

Posts: 7

PostPosted: Thu 10 Mar, 2016 5:51 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

This is the second time that I have seen this beautiful sword. There is a post on a bladesmith forum showing the inlay. Now I get drool over it again. Dang it Robin that's just mean. Congrats brother and enjoy it. You only live once.
Occam's razor was a bastard sword
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J. Nicolaysen




Location: Wyoming
Joined: 03 Feb 2014
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PostPosted: Sat 12 Mar, 2016 6:21 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Oh you lucky lucky guy! What great work. A beautiful sword and scabbard. I've got to work with Robert Moc, everything I see him do is just terrific. Thanks for sharing Robin, I always love seeing works like this posted here.
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Robert Môc
Industry Professional



Location: Zvolen Slovakia
Joined: 15 Mar 2013

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PostPosted: Sun 13 Mar, 2016 11:39 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Thanks to all .It was one of my most difficult projects.
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Tomek Kowmal Ciupinski
Industry Professional



Location: Lodz, Poland
Joined: 16 Jul 2015

Posts: 130

PostPosted: Sun 13 Mar, 2016 12:12 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Robert is doing a fantastic blade.
Congratulations Robin Smith

I invite You to my websites
http://www.facebook.com/tomek.kowmal
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Robin Smith




Location: Louisiana
Joined: 23 Dec 2006
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PostPosted: Mon 14 Mar, 2016 12:59 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Robert Môc wrote:
Thanks to all .It was one of my most difficult projects.

This is true. I am very thankful for your perseverance through the set-backs, and I could not be happier with the end result. Truly, you are one of the best in the entire world, and such rarified talent was quite a privilege to work with.

A furore Normannorum libera nos, Domine
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Jeremy V. Krause




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PostPosted: Sat 19 Mar, 2016 7:55 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

This is a fabulous sword Robin. Really one of the finest Viking swords I have seen.

A hearty congratulations to you!

How does it handle?
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