[Ken Speed]

This is my first message here although I've been lurking for a couple of months. I was especially interested in the discussion about gripping the Viking sword. It seems evident to me that the way a weapon is gripped is going to detemine how it is used and I was wondering what information is available about how the Vikings used their weapons. The pommel grip that was discussed would result in the sword being swung like a machete or hatchet, that is with a lot of wrist action in the strike. It seems to follow that this kind of strike would would result in a very quick and athletic style of swordplay as opposed to the crude hammer the opponent into the ground that fiction portrays.

[Shawn Henthorn]

this is the best link I know of..... http://www.hurstwic.org/library/arms_in_sagas/

[George Hill]

[Martin Wilkinson]

Unfortunately the Vikings didn't leave us any manuals on the techniques they used to fight.

So, the only source i can think of that might tell you what you're after is the sagas, which someone has already posted a link to, the ARMA also has excerts from some of the Norse sagas which may be of use to you.

http://www.thearma.org/essays/vikingfight.htm

this is probably a little late, but may help:

http://www.thearma.org/essays/Saxo.htm