Hello all,

Forewarning, this is about severe damage to an original viking sword.

I am writing this with the deepest sadness in my heart. Some may recall, about a year ago my house (and many antique arms and armour) burned down after an electrical fire. I wound up getting an insurance payoff, and with it purchased some new additions to my collection. The biggest purchase, and most expensive item I have owned in my life, is an original Norwegian Single-Edged 'Viking' sword of the 8th-9th century with a pattern-welded blade and two piece pommel.

I moved houses, and am renting an apartment near the American university where I am currently finishing my thesis on Viking Clothing. The sword got in a few days ago, I put it on a couch in my living room, and was trying to get insurance on it.... when.. of course. THE CEILING COLLAPSED IN MY HOUSE. Directly on top of the sword. The blade was bent on a ~45º angle. (the collapsed ceiling also damaged an early 18th century Cuttoe, also bending the blade severely).

I am seeking advice as to how much this damage will affect value (to get pre-damage value, see https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/19796/lot/55/), if there is any way to possibly straighten the sword without further damaging it (keep in mind it is pattern-welded).

The damage was caused by the rental house, but I am not sure how to go about forcing them to pay... especially as I have to leave the country when my degree ends in May. Any thoughts?

Pics of before and after are included. I am heartbroken :( This sword lasted 1,200 years... to go out in such a disgraceful manner. :cry:
I honestly think something must be wrong with my luck on these things.


Thank you,
Hadrian

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Post ceiling collapse.

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Oh wow, you really have had some terrible luck, my friend, I am so sorry.

I imagine the owner of the building would be responsible for damages caused by a ceiling collapse.

Oh God, I can understand your pain :eek: :cry:

I have straightened an original french 1822 cavalry saber just the way I straighten new blades, with careful heating of the bent area to around 200°C and a vice. I've also seen some 16th century swords that still flexed like a new blade so to me it seems a heat treat doesn't deteriorate over time (and why would it. Unless of course some idiot heats the blade up to remove rust or so...). Since your blade bent and didn't break, I would assume it can be straightened just fine but I would strongly suggest you ask a professional arms curator.

Talk to David Edge at The Wallace collection or Bob Savage at Royal Armouries Leeds. Both conserve and curate weapons at the highest level. They will be able to advise, don't touch it until then. I'm sure the blade will appreciate the efforts you are making somehow!

Only if the individuals, then the insurers cant sort it.

My wife's family motto is never involve insurers and lawyers. And they are insurers and lawyers!

Before all that happens Hadrian needs a quote from a professional conservator/restorer.

I am not going to speculate on the sword, however:

Go to your local Government Housing Commision they can often times mediate your case for free. You also will have the added benefit of your realtor being reported for maintaining unsafe housing for rent.

Get a lawyer. This will turn in to a legal matter very quickly.

He's in England David so things are a little different. At least that's my understanding of where he is.

At least you weren't in the house when the ceiling fell in!

First: My condolences. That is really bad and I truly hope you can get that sorted out quickly. It's terrible that a millennia-old sword has to suffer yet more indignities.

Secondly: Advice-wise, again, I am not a lawyer. However, I did have to deal with a similar circumstance; the ceiling in an apartment that I was living in at the time fell down due to a bad water leak. And then it happened again a few months later!

What happened was that the landlord cleaned it up for us and gave us a break on our rent for a month or two (it was a long time ago so I don't remember the exact details), but in our case, there was no serious financial damage other than a few wet books and some photos stuck together. It wasn't worth fussing about. That said, had the damages been more severe, we were told that we would have to take it up with the upstairs residents, who had caused the first leak by stressing their washing machine out. The second one was a mechanical failure in the toilet upstairs, so that was on the landlord, but there was no damage in that case (other than a couple of drop-ceiling tiles and a wet carpet).

In your case, obviously there is a serious financial and historical investment that's been bent 45 degrees. Presumably you have paperwork to accompany the piece. Establish responsibility for the damage (upstairs residents? landlord? builder? etc), and send a strongly worded but polite note requesting compensation. You are a renter, so you have certain rights that the landlord has to stand by.

Either way, absolutely speak to your local housing commission and to a lawyer. The housing commission may be available through your local government, so check in at the courthouse or wherever they handle such things. I don't know that they're necessarily going to care about a $33K sword but if you can prove the investment (really it should be no different from, say, a collection of rare stamps or cars) they will probably back you up on general principles. Also examine your rental contract in minute detail.

I know I said I'd butt out but:

Hadrian Coffin

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Nothing I'm reading in the very useful US based advice is applicable in Hadrian's case if he is in the UK. Maybe we should have Housing Commissions, they sound useful, but we don't, nothing like them whatsoever.

Unless his property is local authority owned, and he's mentioned a landlord so I dont think that's the case, then his only recourse first of all is to them, the landlord. Then the insurers, then the insurance ombudsman (our insurance industry referees) , then, and only then, lawyers but they have no jurisdiction at this level over insurers unless the breach of commercial law is catastrophic or a very bad judgement made by a company.

Maybe I'm a bit more legally focused at the moment as I'm deep in contract law over events concerning Magna Catra events, liability insurance and other start of the business year paperwork.

Apologies, I've read it wrong! D'oh!

But if anyone wants to have a ceiling fall on their stuff in the UK, the info is there.

I'll get me cloak/bonnet..... Best of luck with the housing commission!

I would absolutely second Mark's comments. Contact Bob at the Royal Armouries, Leeds, or David Edge and Alan Williams in the Wallace collection as the first ports of call, and till then DO NOTHING to it.

Modern conservators can do incredible stuff, turn rusted conglomerates into beautiful swords, repair all sorts of damage. This is exactly the sort of thing they're trained in. And if not the RA and Wallace collections, they will know who to point you to.

But if in the States (hangs head...) Dirk Breiding at Philladelphia will be able to help.