[Peter O Zwart]

I have noticed a lack of sword from the late 7nth century and early 8th century among the modern sword reproduction market and general discussion. It seems as though there is discussion on the 5th century weaponry and on the 9th century weaponry but the centuries in between are left out. With that in mind I have been thinking about making myself a sword from this time period using a hilt design similar to what is in the top left corner here:

http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/download.php?id=35405

using Albion's bare type X blade:

http://www.albion-swords.com/bareblades.htm (about half way down the page, though young I am no computer whiz and know no better way of attaching them)

So my question is basically 'is that blade shape appropriate for the hilt?'

[Peter O Zwart]

In the second picture in this thread:

http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=14152

the second sword blade looks like it has similar geometry to the Albions but it seems to have a wider fuller. This blade has a time frame of 750-950 and the hilt in my previous post has a time frame of 650-750 so the dates just barely over lap. So perhaps it can be used but would there be any other fullerd blade design that would be more suitable?

[Paul Hansen]

It's only my opinion, but Geibig's book focuses mainly on swords from the post-Carolingian period, rather than those of the late Merovingian period. Blades from the Merovingian period varied considerably in terms of length, width and presence of fullers. As far as I know, there is not yet any serious study done specifically on the blade shapes of these swords, like Geibig did with the slightly later swords.

Regarding the Albion type X blade, I'd say that the fuller is perhaps a bit narrow, but I think it would be very hard to prove that it's "wrong". I would, however, modify the tip so that it becomes a bit rounder and more lenticular in cross-section (it seems to be diamond in the pictures).

What hilt do you want to base your design on? The left-most Behmer type 8 in this picture?
http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/download.php?id=35405

[Peter O Zwart]

I was actually looking at both hilts, however I am unsure of their construction. I assume the one on the lift would have an organic guard and hilt attached to the metal plates, or it could be built like this one:
http://www.templ.net/pics-weapons/113-sword/a13v.jpg
However that does not enplane the rivets. On the one second to the left I can not tell if the guard and pommel are all metal or have organic material in the like this:
http://www.templ.net/pics-weapons/133-sword/133-hilt-v.jpg

[Matt Corbin]

Peter,

I think the rivets you're seeing are due to the sword guard having a metal core rather than an organic one. The organic components are riveted on either side of that metal core.

Attached is an example of what I'm trying to describe:

[Peter O Zwart]

[Matt Corbin]

It is a beautiful sword. I don't know how common that style was. Someone else here might know though.

Here's a better picture of the sword from your link.

[Paul Hansen]