The traditional lobed pommel identifies this sword with the Vikings and balances the weight of the blade. The pommel and simple cross guard are complemented by the decorative rivets on the handle and the trim on the leather scabbard.The supposed reasons for the sudden appearance of the Vikings, at the end of VIII century, are different. The overpopulation at their homelands is one of the most mentioned reasons; the demographic explosion (that) took place in Norway and Denmark during the VII and VIII centuries. Furthermore, the progressive setting of a stable rule in almost all Western Europe, especially in the continent after the foundation of Charlemagne's Empire, had provoked a remarkable increase in the European trade, this meant chances for piracy. Basic armament comprised sword or axe, spear and shield, while most men had a short knife attached to their belts. Of these weapons, the sword was the most popular and this piece was considered with a certain respect, especially in the case of old swords that had been handed down from generation to generation or looted from burial mounds. Overall Length: 34 1/4"