myArmoury.com - Replica Dark age swords pommel construction question

Posts: 92 Location: Australia

Sat 03 Mar, 2018 7:04 pm

Replica Dark age swords pommel construction question

I've been looking to get a decent mid-range Viking/Dark age sword. So far all the ones I've looked at have a one-piece pommel with an exposed peen at the end, even Albion ones. I find this rather inauthentic and would much prefer something with a separate pommel-cap covering the peen, especially when the pommel is clearly shaped to resemble a traditional multi-part design.

Are any of the regular companies offering what I'm looking for in the $300-600USD range?

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Arne G.

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Posts: 126

Sat 03 Mar, 2018 7:49 pm

Re: Replica Dark age swords pommel construction question

Sam Arwas wrote:

I've been looking to get a decent mid-range Viking/Dark age sword. So far all the ones I've looked at have a one-piece pommel with an exposed peen at the end, even Albion ones. I find this rather inauthentic and would much prefer something with a separate pommel-cap covering the peen, especially when the pommel is clearly shaped to resemble a traditional multi-part design.

Are any of the regular companies offering what I'm looking for in the $300-600USD range?

Actually, only the earliest offerings by Albion (which are already sold out) had the simulated two piece construction. Everything else that is intended to be two pieces riveted together is in fact just that.

However, no one does this in the low-mid price range you are looking at. You'll either have to save enough to get one of the Albions or a custom maker that will do this, or live with a one piece construction (I think Del Tins, which are in your price range, do this).

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Sam Arwas

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Posts: 92 Location: Australia

Sat 03 Mar, 2018 8:23 pm

Re: Replica Dark age swords pommel construction question

Arne G. wrote:

Sam Arwas wrote:

I've been looking to get a decent mid-range Viking/Dark age sword. So far all the ones I've looked at have a one-piece pommel with an exposed peen at the end, even Albion ones. I find this rather inauthentic and would much prefer something with a separate pommel-cap covering the peen, especially when the pommel is clearly shaped to resemble a traditional multi-part design.

Are any of the regular companies offering what I'm looking for in the $300-600USD range?

Actually, only the earliest offerings by Albion (which are already sold out) had the simulated two piece construction. Everything else that is intended to be two pieces riveted together is in fact just that.

However, no one does this in the low-mid price range you are looking at. You'll either have to save enough to get one of the Albions or a custom maker that will do this, or live with a one piece construction (I think Del Tins, which are in your price range, do this).

I'd prefer Valiant Armory or even Darksword over Del Tin. While I am reasonably happy with tbe one Del Tin I own (a falchion) I don't like the way they are always built without an edge (Darksword's new range is built sharp) and they all seem to be excessively heavy.

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Leo Todeschini

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Posts: 1,725 Location: Oxford, UK

Sat 03 Mar, 2018 11:57 pm

Well Sam,

Good news.

I was looking at a 10thC Viking sword at the BM a few years ago and it had what was clearly a one piece pommel, with a visible peen, that had been made to look like a two piece. Basically exactly what most makers make now. Not very common perhaps, but they did it.

Failing that yes you will need to go to a custom maker (like me!)

Tod

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Mikko Kuusirati

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Posts: 1,082 Location: Finland

Sun 04 Mar, 2018 4:10 am

There are also several types of Viking age swords with openly one-piece pommels, and some of the two-piece pommels have a visible peen. Examples of both can be seen in e.g. Ian Peirce's Swords of the Viking Age. Only the Sith deal in absolutes. :)

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Luka Borscak

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Posts: 2,307 Location: Croatia

Wed 14 Mar, 2018 12:33 pm

Leo Todeschini wrote:

Well Sam,

Good news.

I was looking at a 10thC Viking sword at the BM a few years ago and it had what was clearly a one piece pommel, with a visible peen, that had been made to look like a two piece. Basically exactly what most makers make now. Not very common perhaps, but they did it.

Failing that yes you will need to go to a custom maker (like me!)

Tod

Do you maybe remember what pommel type was it?

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Ryan Renfro

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Posts: 118 Location: Reno, NV

Wed 14 Mar, 2018 4:43 pm

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Do you maybe remember what pommel type was it?

Was it one of these?

http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collect...p;partId=1

http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collect...p;partId=1

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Ryan Renfro

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