Historical Example of Viking Sax with a Hilt

I found a picture of this sax while I was doing background research for my backyard swordsmithing project. It was found in Oppland, Norway.

Screech Owl Visits the Forge

This Eastern Screech Owl decided to roost in the spruce right next to the forge today. I therefore decided not to do any bladesmithing, and let the little guy sleep.

Homemade Viking Seax (Single-edged sword)- Completed

Forged and finished by hand, this blade began as a discarded leaf-spring.

Inspired by the Norse sax.

Video series of the entire build on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cq3MLsHe040

Knife forged from a Coil-spring: Day 1

Coil-spring in the forge today. I cut a piece of it off and started forging it into a knife. Coil-springs are supossedly high-carbon steel, so I should get some decent knives from it. 

The rough shape. With a clip point and narrow tang, it actually looks like a knife! 

Video coming soon to my Youtube channel.

Homemade Viking Sword- Pommel (Completed)

You can tell from the picture, but the three pieces of the pommel has two brass rods and some JB Weld holding them together.

Homemade Viking Sword- Grip (Work in Progress)

Carved out the slot for the tang today. I have another maple slab that will complete the grip. I plan on wrapping the grip in leather.

Homemade Viking Sword- Pommel (Work in Progress)

Forged iron and ash wood layers.

German "Calendar" Sword, 1576 A.D. Century

The guard is a modern reconstruction.

The ricasso and forte. Maker's mark is on the left.

The blade is the one on the top. The deep fuller and wide cutting edges is reminiscent of Viking Age swords.

Italian Cinqueda (1480 AD)

A broad-blade single handed short sword that is the descendent of Migration and Viking era swords, it was used between the late 15th and mid-16th centuries.  Note the two fullers.

The grip is made from bone.

Close up of the cinqueda tip.

German Swept-hilt Rapier (1630/40)

If you look closely on the fuller there are thin marks that is actually a maker's mark. It is the infamous "Running Wolf" mark of the blade smiths of Passau.  The mark has been found on blades as old as the 13th century.

Close up of the guard.

Some decorations on the hilt.

On display at the Detroit Institute of Arts.