While hiking an old mountain trail in Haukeli (on the border of Telemark County, Norway), Goran Olsen was surprised to discover a 1250 year old Viking sword among some rocks near the road when he sat down to rest. The sword was in excellent condition, especially considering its immense age.
1,200 Year Old Viking Sword Discovered
This story is a month or so old, but I don't remember seeing the picture before.
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It is noted that the area in which the sword was found had been buried in ice until "climate change" uncovered it. Which is to say that the Vikings who had the sword and used it there were apparently thriving and wealthy enough to bury valuable artifacts with their dead in that area -- without shifting tons of ice to do so -- until "climate change" brought ice down on the region and destroyed their civilization.
Which is to say climate change isn't synonymous with "global warming". Change includes cooling.
It is to say climate change isn't synonymous with industrial activity, or pollution. Change includes natural cyclic variation.
It is to say that climate change doesn't affect the whole globe the same way. Some regions will benefit, some will not. Change includes both.
Ask me if I believe in "climate change" and I may point at this tale to support the claim that I do. But ask me to pay more taxes, or sacrifice my children's estate, to help fix "climate change" and I may be looking for a sword, such as this, with which to respond as the question deserves.
In that case, you may want to give this guy a call. Pattern welded Viking swords seem to be his specialty.
http://jarkko1.deviantart.com/art/vendelmiekka-423887176
The Viking sword has now been sent to the University Museum of Bergen for further study and restoration.
Windy place, Bergen, or so I hear.
This is a langseax, a single-edged weapon, which was slightly less expensive than the double-edged kind (the welded-on edge would be precious pure steel, while the body of the blade would be a mixture of iron and steel). Such weapons might be sharpened on the straight edge or on the curved edge, depending on personal taste. Nice find.
I find one edged swords to be more versatile and easier to use. Also increases the number of parry surfaces and grips. For two edged blades, achieving a non lethal blow would most likely use a pommel or side of the blade. For a modern steel, the back spine line provides an additional point of contact, that can be wielded with the same grip force, if the user so chooses. Although it's capability of shattering limb bones, is far higher as a result.
I find a .45 easier to use, myself. Although it's hard to cut a pizza with it.
That's a good point, raven. Have you tried adding a bayonet lug?
If it's a tough crust, I'll use the Garand. Has a lug. Works good on sword wielders too, according my inside info source. ( Marine Corps, Guadalcanal)
A bayonet + rifle has some extra reach against sword users, due to the range issue. A weapon that combines grapple range, dagger range, stick range, quaterstaff range, short spear range, long spear range, and firearm range, is not invincible but nearly so against enemies restricted to only some ranges.
The older method was sword in hand, pistol in the other. One reason why it seemed officers, not the enlisted, used it more was because the art of the sword generally was due to birth class, not formal education. The infrastructure to train someone to use a melee weapon and a firearm, seemed rather thin. Before rifled firearms, that seemed like a good compromise for people who had a melee background, but didn't want to forsake the advantages of a firearm.
http://www.sword-buyers-guide.com/
I started my sword research there, and they do have a list of trusted manufacturers that can temper European historical blades as well.
Ymar Sakar said...
A bayonet + rifle has some extra reach against sword users,
yeah, about 600 yards...
Reports from the second Afghan War indicate the Afghans were very effective at melee distances. Maiwand being an example. Of course they had excellent artillery too, and numbers.
I had always dismissed the Western military swords of the mid 1800, probably from seeing so many US civil war swords that were left dull. By comparison to a Japanese blade they looked like a butter knife. Then I saw some British blades used in the Mutiny and North West Frontier - they were well made and sharpened for combat. Some of the officers mounted tulwar blades in Western hilts, preferring the Indian weapon.
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