The Valkyrja

Specifications

The Valkyrja

Swords of Type AE are not among the most common of Viking swords. It is a late development, making it one of the youngest of Viking hilt-styles.

The Valkyrja is inspired from a fascinating Finnish find from Suontaka, Tyrväntö, Tavastland; a woman's grave that apart from other rich goods included two swords. One was a bare blade with silver decorations (it might once have had organic hilt furniture that is now lost?) and a splendid sword with a hilt of bronze.

Obviously this woman was an important person high in the social hierarchy. One might wonder if she was a female warrior. This is the reason we wanted to name the sword after those mytholigical female warriors of Odin; the Valkyrjas.

Using the Geibig 4 blade (that is a type belonging to the 10th C to 11th C) for this sword is fitting since the original weapon is dated to 11th C. Geibig type 4 blades are defined by a strong profile taper, a likewise tapering fuller and a relatively long point section. These factors combine in yeilding a blade with quick and agile point and a responsive balance.

The low-relief decorations on pommel and cross are two entwined dragons/beasts carved in the Urnes style of the 11th century. This style often utilizes ribbon-bodied animals, entwined with interlacing tendrils. The combination of both broad and thin lines of ornament and scrolling loops is typical of the Scandinavian Urnes Style, named after the wooden carvings at the church of Urnes, Norway. It shows the highly accomplished, final development of Germanic animal art in Viking regions before it merged locally into early Romanesque art.

The hilt fruniture is cast in solid bronze. The grip on the Valkyrja will be wood/leather rather than the hollow bronze grip mounted on the original, though a version with a bronze decorative grip may also be offered.

The hilt is Petersen Type AE, even though he only mentions hilts with a curved upper guard without pommel in his work on the Norwegian Viking swords. There are a some AE swords with D-shaped pommels in collections elsewhere in Europe. Good examples, apart from this Finnish sword, is one with iron hilt in the National Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen and yet another fine example in Dublin.

The blade is hand-ground from high-carbon steel to a fine satin finish, heat-treated by hand for maximum flexibility and to take a fine edge. These swords are sold sharp, unless otherwise requested by the customer..

A Limited Edition Hand Crafted Collectible Sword

This Viking sword is offered in a limited edition of only 100 collectible swords worldwide.

Sword design/specifications ©2003/2007 Peter Johnsson.