[Peter Johnsson]

Just some more observations on this interesting weapon from Vimose. It is dated to 2nd C AD. The type is found in specific areas (like Bornholm and eastern part of Sweden) whereas the imported spatha was more widely used elsewhere in germanic areas at this time in history.

Note the surviving scabbard of ash wood. It is constructed from narrow staves that are glued together into two separate sides that are cut out to accept the blade. They are held together by iron bands. The two top most ones use to hold rings for attachment to a baldric or belt. One ring faces forwards, the other backwards. Sometimes these rings are integral with the bands, by twisting into a loop. Sometimes there are articulated rings that sit affixed by the bands.

In this case it is interesting that the scabbard of ash has survived, but the grip has perished. Makes one wonder what material was used for the grip slabs...

I attach a sketch based on one of the drawing published by Engelhardt from the Vimose find. I have pencilled in the outline of the original grips, as I imagine they may have looked. If the grip slabs extended outside the width and outline of the tang (as some surviving metal mounts show) the outline with the scabbard is "completed": the lines of the grip and the lines of the scabbard meet uninterrupted. To get a good grip of these weapons a spur at the heel of the hand is of great help. If the grips were to end with just a gradually narrowing grip, it is very easy to loose grip of the sword in a swing. The spurs do also help some in protecting the fingers during a fight. Perhaps not from a direct cut, but will hep deflect the force if you slam your hand into the opponents shield.

[Peter Johnsson]

Christian, I like your interpretation of the germanic "La Téne" sword!
I note especially the interpretation of the hilt: did the original have such a very roman looking rivet button?
If so, do you think it is realistic to imagine it had a spherical or hamburger shaped pommel rather than the half moon one? It is interesting that the forward mount of the hilt is so very celtic looking, with its curved shape.

I would love to learn more about the double edged sword used by the germanic tribes before the roman spatha came into wide use. At present I wonder a lot about the germanic versions of hilts put on these imported roman sword blades (and those possibly made locally after roman pattern). There seems to be several local hilt types and I wonder how and if these relate to contemporary roman type hilts.
I know there were copies of celtic long swords made by germanic smiths in the 1st C BC (and into the 1st C AD?), but I have not seen many of these(only a small handful of old published drawings). In storage rooms in Swedish museums one can come across rusty remains of blades that may have been celtic, germanic or roman. They are often so far gone, it is difficult to see any distinguishing shapes.

Could you possibly share some info on finds where details of hilts, scabbards and blades survive?
Or any one else here at the forum may help out?
I´d love to get a better idea of what these double edged sword could look like. I am also very curious about decorative styles, materials and techniques that were used to embellish these swords. Those two little bearded heads used as belt hooks are nice! Have thee been other finds of objects like these? How much do we know of their use?

... Lots of questions!

[Peter Johnsson]

[Peter Johnsson]

Jeroen, thanks for posting interesting examples!

I find the one from the Thorsbjerg find very puzzling. Engelhardt published a drawing of that grip, and I attach that below. The grip is in the upper left corner and in the lower right corner is a detail showing the front end of that grip. It really looks like that "neck" or extension from the grip describes the actual blade width and that there is a spur about one inch behind the forward end of the grip. The "pommel" end of the grip as a very familiar shape if we compare to those single edged swords that have full tang. Very strange!
Engelhardt describes it as a wood grip of rather crude make. The blade it was fitted on was single edged hand had a thick back.
This makes me wonder about that actual hilt shape of narrow blades with simple tang: if the grip is as elaborate on those as well, as is suggested by this unique one. An open mind is certainly needed to get an idea of the original shape of even the most simple of single edged war knives...
I also attach another photo of that strange grip from the Thorsbjerg find.

[Christian Böhling]

[Nathan Robinson]

Peter-

Here's what looks to be the same sword shown above inside the scabbard.

[Christian Böhling]

I like this study of the Putensen sword, and I would love to see any drawings or documentations of the original as it seems to be so very similar to the Åsby sword. [/quote]

note the very small bronze piece at the lower left corner, it is bend around this corner, describing two circle plates (each on each side) connected with a broader strap. And note also the small fitting at the right edge of the grip-part....

[Christian Böhling]

[Christian Böhling]

....just an impression of how these swords have injured....

this image is from our special exhibition (ended)...and shows the skulls of a roman couple who had been slaughtered in their villa rustica by germanics.....

[Peter Johnsson]

[Peter Johnsson]

Thanks also for those pics on the double edged swords!

I wonder about those little embellishments on the Nienbüttel sword´s scabbard. It looks like they cover some earlier mounts? Could they have been some elements to attach leather belts: a kind of wrap around that passed through the open loops?
Also, I wonder about the reconstructed shape of the scabbard mouth? Could it have been straight instead of bell shaped? (like some other late la Tene III swords)
The chape, or bottom ending of the scabbard is also a nice detail. So different from those large ladder shaped chapes of late celtic sword scabbards.
But the one from Großromstedt seems to have had such a celtic looking chape? There are remains of "ladder rungs" on the scabbards lower part...


Very interesting!

[Jeroen Zuiderwijk]

[Peter Johnsson]

The battle knives/daggers carried by these germanic warriors also commands some interest.
Type and shape varies by location. In the danish bog finds the origin of invading/defeated forces could be identified by the shape of personal equipment, like combs, personal knives fire strikers and so on. The double edged swords (spathe) were (more or less?) alike all over the germanic area, since they were imports or copies of imported blades. In the centuries after year 1, the single edged sword lost importance pretty rapidly and the double edged sword gained widespread popularity.
Knives and daggers did still form an important part of the equipment: it was the personal "civilian" equipment that singled out the individual fighter, while spears, shields and swords were of more uniform type. Warriors from different areas ad combs and fire strikers that were typical for their land ends. Spears and axes were forged locally and would therefore also show local variation in form.
Below are a few knives from the Illerup Ådal find.
I find their shape very beautiful. Simplified and suggestive curves. Cross section is a strong triangle. The large knives were often made from iron, while the smaller "civilian" type knives had edges of hardened steel.

[Luke Zechman]

This thread is amazing! I have not been able to read all of it yet, and already I am learning so much. Thanks to anyone contributing information, and works in progress. Keep it going!

[Christian Böhling]

[Christian Böhling]

[Peter Johnsson]

Examples of battle axes wielded by warriors from scandinavia in the second or third C AD. Very different from the famous viking axes of later times...
The haft was pushed on from the front end of the head, just like you haft a tomahawk (note the swelling at the forward end of the head: a stop like the "pommel" of a baseballbat). I

[Myles Mulkey]

Peter,
Do you happen to know what find these axes are from? I can't remember for the life of me, but I think they are of a later date than the ones you posted.

Also, I'd like to see something said about the type of decoration on Illerup spearheads, since it seems to be a pretty established style found on multiple spears.

[Myles Mulkey]

[Artis Aboltins]