Sword and Pistol of Greek Freedom Fighter Theodoros Kolokotronis

In honor of Greek Independence Day, here are some photos of the weapons belonging to Theodoros Kolokotronis.  He was a prominent general in the Greek War of Independence (1821-1829).  Photos taken by Phil Baumhardt of the display in the Athens War Museum (Greece).

Funeral mask, General Kolokotronis

Sword of Kolokotronis

Sketch of Kolokotronis in prayer.

Flint-lock pistol

Mycenaean Swords and Daggers with Riveted Handles

All photos taken by Phil Baumhardt at the National Archaeological of Athens (Greece).

Artifacts from Grave Circle A and B in ancient Mycenae. 

Bronze knife with ivory handle riveted to blade

Viking's Companion Coilspring Knife

You can view the "making-of" videon on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2fSJb8TbOE

Pouch style sheath

Finished blade without handle

Blade is black after the quench. Knife needs its final grind to shape and temper.

Checking the blade fit to the handle, as well as aesthetic balance.

Finished knife

Viking era knife from Hedemark (Norway); inspiration for my knife.

Viking Saxes with Drop Points (Museum Photos)

It seems that there are a great many people who think that a "Viking" knife had to have a sheepsfoot/wharncliff type point.  From my research, this blade style seems to have been found mainly in England, which leads me to the conclusion that the type of blade associated with Scandinavians warriors are in fact Anglo-Saxon in origin.

Here are a few photographs from museum collections in Norway: http://www.unimus.no/arkeologi/#/collectionView?

Example from Ringerike 

Telemark

Nordland

Romsdal

Nordland

How Did Vikings Carry Their Knives?

Many re-enactors wear their scramasaxes horizontally on their belts, and the only evidence that I can find for this is two stone carvings.

From a stone cross in Middleton Church, North Yorkshire, England.

 

Some archaeological examples of Viking knife sheathes with the rings for horizontal carry.

Ukrainian find, 2006 Shestoviskaja graveyard dig

Viking Knives with Elongated Drop Points- Norwegian Finds

C12739 (Oppland)

C52968, Cultural History Museum of Norway

From Nord-Trøndelag (Norway)

From Nord-Trøndelag (Norway)

Find T15139A, from Nordland, Norway

C34843, from Oppland, Norway

C32500, from Oppland, Norway:  "Sverdkniv"

C21340a, from Oppland, Norway.  Spearheads and knives.