Searching for pictures of viking type AE
Does anyone have pictures of original swords with type AE hilts? I have very few and it's a type that has captured my interest... Please post any you have in this thread. Thanks!
Here's one from the Albion website...anyone else?


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Here's another from Petersen's book...


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And there's this famous one from Finland you already know: http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?p=101107

Otherwise they are hard to find - at least on google images etc. I've also been searching!

I'm not sure, there might be some more pictures in Lech Marek's thesis, but I've mispaced my copy.
Here's another one:


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Sverd Type AE Hedmark, Løten, Halstenshov, Løten k., Hedmark 10. 1990 Cf21560_01 Museumsnummer C10658.jpg

J.D. Crawford wrote:
And there's this famous one from Finland you already know: http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?p=101107

Otherwise they are hard to find - at least on google images etc. I've also been searching!

I'm not sure, there might be some more pictures in Lech Marek's thesis, but I've mispaced my copy.


None in Lech Marek's thesis, I just looked. Thanks for posting J.D. It's hard to find pictures of this type! I'm considering what custom piece to have made next and a type AE is in the mix, but I just don't have enough photos of originals to decide. Post 'em if you got 'em!
Not too many commercially available ones either, besides the Albion Knud, but check these out:

http://www.macdonaldarms.com/armoury/SuontakaSword.php

http://www.castlekeep.co.uk/gallery.asp?galleryid=206

A while back 'Red Gur' had a simple sharp AE on his site that looked better than his usual reenactment stuff. I tried to buy it, but could never get a response. That site seems to have died.
J.D. Crawford wrote:
Not too many commercially available ones either, besides the Albion Knud, but check these out:

http://www.macdonaldarms.com/armoury/SuontakaSword.php

http://www.castlekeep.co.uk/gallery.asp?galleryid=206

A while back 'Red Gur' had a simple sharp AE on his site that looked better than his usual reenactment stuff. I tried to buy it, but could never get a response. That site seems to have died.


That reproduction by Castle Keep is just gorgeous. I remember salivating over it when he first put it up. I actually like the ones with the u shaped pommel more. I don't think I've ever seen a repro of one. It's between that or a type Q viking sword for my next project. I just need more pics. I know it's an uncommon type but there have to be some pics out there...
Tim Lison wrote:
I actually like the ones with the u shaped pommel more. I don't think I've ever seen a repro of one. It's between that or a type Q viking sword for my next project. I just need more pics. I know it's an uncommon type but there have to be some pics out there...


Are the U-Shaped pommels missing their tops/caps? Or is that the complete hilt? Are there rivet holes/rivet remains on the U-shaped piece? If they had caps and weren't riveted, were they brazed on or what?
I was wondering that myself. Maybe some organic piece that rotted away? Nothing like that is coming to memory, especially from this period, but you never know.
I always thought they were made that way... I haven't seen one up close so I really don't know. It seems that there are enough that have that feature that they were made that way but now I'm not so sure...
More pics. Hard to tell with my crappy pics if they are made to have the U shaped pommel or if something should be there. Wish I could read my PDF of Petersen's book...


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More. The one on it's own is shown in the other photo.


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You might be interested in this topic.
Tim Lison wrote:
. I actually like the ones with the u shaped pommel more. I don't think I've ever seen a repro of one. It's between that or a type Q viking sword for my next project. I just need more pics. I know it's an uncommon type but there have to be some pics out there...


I agree that if you're going the custom route, might as well break new ground. That U-shaped AE in the picture from Petersen's book would make a very dramatic statement. I'd go for that myself, but I can't keep up with your pace. :)
Nathan Robinson wrote:
You might be interested in this topic.


Hmmm. You make a good case that there may have been something that went into the U part of the pommel. Ian Pierce paraphrashes Petersen in "Swords of the Viking Age" saying that type AE is a development of type Q which has no top to its pommel, only an iron bar. Without having some good pics or seeing one, it's hard to tell.
I have not myself seen any of the AE swords with U shaped pommel, unfortunately. I think they are made like this and not intended to have a pommel inserted in the U. It may be that they are a Norwegian version of a style that was in vogue all around the Baltic sea. You see the familiar guard shape with different types of pommels.
In Latvia there are these single edged swords with scrolled antennae pommels and guards of this very style. Posted in this thread are already examples with D shaped pommels.

Imagine these U-shaped pommels (or upper guards) as a mirror shape of the lower guard: they are canoe shaped in plane with bulging sides. Very nice shaping going on.

I think this is a very striking design. A good choice for a project.
Thanks for your response Peter! I think I'll chance it and have one made as we see them today, with no upper pommel. Here's a pic of one of the Latvian swords Peter mentioned.


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