Langeid Viking sword, sharp

Product description

In 2011, during the construction of a new road in the Langeid area of the South Norwegian Setesdal valley, workers discovered an ancient Viking burial site. Windlass Steelcrafts has replicated the remarkable weapon from this grave, creating a fully functional sword with a carbon steel blade just as battle-ready as the original.

The original sword is almost entirely preserved. The pommel and tapered crossguard are decorated with gold and copper, displaying a mix of Latin characters, Christian symbols, and runes, whose exact meanings have been lost over time. Some symbols are apparently reversed for symmetry. The Latin letters are among the hardest to interpret but may represent meaningful abbreviations of Christian messages. These could range from Bible verses to expressions of devotion to Christ in Greek or Latin, somewhat analogous to christograms. A cross or “X” could stand for Xristos (Christ). The letter “R” appears in several places and may signify Rex (king). “H” appears once, with an uncertain meaning. The “E” symbol is shown in various orientations, but its significance is also mysterious. A symbol resembling a rune could be a stylized “S.” On top of the pommel, a hand holding a cross is depicted, possibly representing the hand of Jesus or God. The cross in the hand, combined with the “S” symbol, could loosely be interpreted as Xristos Salvator (Christ the Savior), though it would then be a mix of Greek and Latin.

The cross-guard also features a stylized sun cross. The sun cross appears in art and mythology since prehistoric times, symbolizing the sun’s central role in daily and spiritual life. In rock carvings from Alta and Bronze Age art on Bornholm, the sun is depicted with rays and possibly lunar cycles. Objects such as the Trundholm Sun Chariot show the sun as a moving force traveling across the sky by day and through the underworld by night. In the Late Bronze Age, the sun cross became associated with wheels, emphasizing the sun as a life-giving, moving force. This motif remained linked to the Indo-European sun cult and was later adopted by Christianity as the Celtic cross.

Interestingly, the grip of this sword is one of the shortest known, measuring just over 8.89 cm. Short grips are common in Viking swords with strongly tapered guards like this one. The owner likely rested his pinky on the pommel or possibly clasped the cross-guard with his index finger and thumb (Viking warriors often let the pommel slide into their palm during a swing to increase the effectiveness of a strike).

The sword was probably made abroad and brought to Norway by a prominent man. The grave dates to around 1030, at the end of the Viking Age. Alongside the sword lay a large battle axe with a brass casing, similar to axes found in the Thames in London, suggesting a connection to King Cnute’s wars in England. The man buried here may have belonged to Cnute’s army. This sword is classified as a Petersen type Æ.

This faithful replica is fully functional. The pommel and cross-guard are made of silvered steel, and the markings are reproduced in real gold and copper. The grip has been slightly widened for comfort, but the wire wrapping follows the same patterns a prominent Viking warrior used centuries ago. The remarkably well-preserved original can now be admired in the Cultural History Museum in Oslo. The original scabbard had long decayed, so a high-quality leather scabbard has been made and engraved with a pattern inspired by the pommel design. The scabbard comes with its own belt.