The Armour Archive

Recently (within the last year someone was asking about information in regards to sword finds that actually had runes on them.

i just got ahold of Petersens, De Norske Vikingesverd en typologisk (i think that translates to The Norwegian Viking sword, a typology), and it contains more than a few blades with markings/runes on them. Let me know if your interested and ill post some pics

ill xpost this to the weapons list also

Halvgrimr

Do proceed. Reading Oakeshott gives one the impression that swords with runic inscriptions practically didn't exist. Getting a more rounded and complete picture will lend us wisdom.

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"The Minstrel Boy to the war is gone..."

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Konstantin the Red:
<B>Do proceed. Reading Oakeshott gives one the impression that swords with runic inscriptions practically didn't exist. Getting a more rounded and complete picture will lend us wisdom.

</B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

i will be putting up a site with the pics soon, i first need to figure out the copyright stuff to make sure i aint infringing on someone

Halvgrimr

Let's see if this works...
http://www.nba.fi/NATMUS/MUSEUM/Opetus/miekat.gif

Pekka

IT WORKS !

[This message has been edited by Pekka (edited 08-20-2002).]

ok, after closer observation, soem of these might not be runes (but soem appear to be) but more like decoration,

here are the pics of the ones with "runes" on them, this is onyl temporary, i will clean it up when i put up a site with all the swords in the book

http://www.missouri.edu/~rls555/SCA/research/temp/runes/

Halvgrimr

edited to contain the damn URL

[This message has been edited by Halvgrim (edited 08-20-2002).]

also there is a partial online English translation of this book at http://www.aiusa.com/medsword/petersen/ptsn089h.html

Halvgrimr

The 0141.jpg, fig. 113 Hodemarkep find is of an "Ulfbehrt" complete with its cross and with the F much worn: +Ulfbehrt. The 0151.jpg, fig. 120 Ø. Alm Stange is another Ulfbert, different spelling -- also typical of the Ulfbehrts, says Oakeshott. 0113.jpg fig. 95 might show a K rune, or it might be just a decoration featuring a chevron shape and a couple of thingies in train below it. Roman letters, not runic.

Nice source, though, for examples of inlaid interlace and decorative effects on early-type blades! Ya done good.

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"The Minstrel Boy to the war is gone..."

[This message has been edited by Konstantin the Red (edited 08-20-2002).]

I was one of those seeking Viking runed swords... I didn't see any runes on the above sites
This is the only blade with runes I've ever seen, & it appears to be Anglo-Saxon.
http://www.swordforum.com/museum/eriktracy/photo-17.jpg

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Hrútr bægifótr

The mind must be the harder, the heart the keener, the spirit the greater, as our strength grows less.

Any info on the inlay material? Is it iron, or silver? The contrast suggests it's silver.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Konstantin the Red:
Any info on the inlay material? Is it iron, or silver? The contrast suggests it's silver.</font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

no, not yet

the dook is in Danish so ill have to have bits of it translated

ironically, the partial on line English translation at http://www.vikingsword.com/petersen/#anchor364129 doesnt contain any info about the swords in question

Hrut, after a closer exam i agree that most of the swords merely contain decorations, i still strongly thing that the last two pics of swords on my page are representing letters of the futhark, maybe even roman letters, runes was a poor choice of words on my part.

Halvgrimr

on a similar subject i found this floating in my files, im not sure where i fot it

http://www.missouri.edu/~rls555/SCA/research/temp/spearwrunes.jpg

Halvgrimr

Could any of you gentleman tell me how the runic inscription for "Raibeart Made Me" would read out?

pro' Ray-bear'T

any help would be appreciated.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Raibeart Lok De la Haye:
<B>Could any of you gentleman tell me how the runic inscription for "Raibeart Made Me" would read out?

pro' Ray-bear'T

any help would be appreciated.</B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

of course this all depends on what futhark you are interested in but for general conversions check out this page for small conversions (use the write your name in runes feature):

http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/vikings/write.html

you can also email me privately and ill send you the font i use to do runes.

Halvgrimr




[This message has been edited by Halvgrim (edited 09-03-2002).]

Thank you Sir I will write.

AFAIK no viking SWORD with runic inscription was ever found. The decoration fals into three cathegories: maker's marks, maker's marks countrfeights (usually confused with runes) and ornaments (sometimes used with maker's mark)

Why runes were not used? I think because it was concidered that best swords were made by "franks" and it was so COOL to have an imported blade that even domestic forgeries (pun or play on the words) were made with inlays which copied "frankish" inscriptions.

Therefore: marking was not unkommon on viking swords (in fact, it seems to be
a must), but runic marks were not found.

PS With seaxes it may be different....

PPS Spears on the scan are gothic, i.e. pre-viking (I kbnow, I scanned that picture)