“The Stockholm” 10th Century Viking Sword, Type R – Deepeeka

The height of the Viking Age is captured in steel with this recreation of a 10th century sword which with its lavish Norse embellishment would have been the prized sword of a chieftain or champion – warriors who by sword and spear seized the wealth of the world from beyond the sea to their homesteads. Sturdily constructed and with a tempered blade, the sword is not only attractive but functional and its wooden scabbard bound in deep ocean blue leather makes for a complete package that is a fine addition or even centerpiece to a collection for beginner and established collector alike.

The nearly 31″ long blade is forged from C60 high carbon steel which has been termpered; as befits a 10th century Viking sword the blade is wide and broad with a spatulate tip and optimized for powerfully cleaving cuts, sweeping slices and deep-biting hacks. The blade has distal taper and a wide fuller groove to brings its weight down and its point of balance at that forward-weighted balance point (at around 6 inches) often seen on Viking swords that helps give the blade the power and momentum needed to strike the target to great effect. The grip of just under 4 inches serves to couch the hand without being too constraining and is made from smoothly polished hardwood.

The guard, grip center ring and pommel components are truly fetching pieces that are lavishly embellished in Norse knotwork. Finely cast from white brass with an antiqued finish, it very closely resembles an antiqued toned silver finish. Unlike most reproductions which take shortcuts, this one has faithfully reproduced the traditional manner by which a Viking sword hilt is constructed by peening the tang to the lower half of the pommel and then covering the peen with a pommel cap which was riveted to the pommel base. The scabbard is tough and made with a core of carved wood which is then tightly wrapped in stitched vegetable-tanned leather and completed with a chape and scabbard slide of matching antiqued white brass to seamlessly match the sword.

The Type R Viking sword was a prominent weapon of the 10th century Viking Age, identified through Jan Petersen’s classification system of Norse swords. Characterized by its sturdy blade and robust hilt construction, the Type R was designed for the demands of warfare during a period of raiding, trade, and territorial expansion across Northern Europe. Examples have been discovered primarily in Norway, with additional finds in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, the British Isles, and the Baltic region.

Type R swords were valuable possessions typically associated with wealthy warriors and members of the Norse elite. Many have been recovered from richly furnished graves, suggesting they belonged to chieftains, professional fighters, and prosperous landowners. Their widespread distribution reflects the extensive trade and cultural connections of the Viking world, while their practical design helped establish the foundation for later medieval European swords.