Viking Sword “LANGEID” – Replica of the Extraordinary Norwegian Grave Find
During road construction at Langeid in the Setesdal Valley of southern Norway in 2011, workers discovered an ancient Viking grave. Alongside coins and a broad axe, archaeologists uncovered an extraordinary sword that had remained buried for more than ten centuries.
Although thousands of Viking Age swords have been discovered in Norway in varying states of preservation, the Langeid sword is particularly remarkable for its unusually elaborate inscribed and decorated hilt. “LANGEID” by Windlass Steelcrafts recreates these distinctive details in an impressive historical replica.
An Extraordinary Find from Langeid
Whether the historical sword was originally made in Norway or was perhaps an Anglo-Saxon weapon acquired elsewhere remains open to interpretation. Its elaborate construction nevertheless indicates that it was an expensive and highly valued possession of its Viking Age owner.
The pommel and strongly downward-sloping guard of the original are decorated with gold and copper. Their surfaces display an unusual mixture of Latin characters, Christian imagery and rune-like symbols. The precise meaning of many of these signs has been lost over time, and some appear to have been reversed or rearranged for reasons of symmetry.
Enigmatic Inscriptions and Christian Symbolism
The Latin characters are among the most difficult elements to interpret. Some may represent abbreviations of Christian messages, biblical passages or Christograms. A cross or “X”, for example, could represent Xristos, or Christ.
The letter “R”, which appears several times, may stand for Rex, meaning “King”. A single “H” remains unexplained, while an “E”-like character appears in different orientations and is similarly enigmatic. Another sign that initially resembles a rune may instead be a stylised “S”.
The top of the pommel also depicts a hand holding a cross, possibly representing the hand of Jesus or God. Together with the possible “S” character, this has been freely interpreted as Xristos Salvator – “Christ the Saviour”. Such a reading would combine Greek and Latin elements, however, and should therefore be regarded as a possible interpretation rather than a certain translation.
An Unusually Short Grip
Another remarkable feature of the original Langeid sword is its exceptionally short grip. At only a little over 3.5 inches, it is among the shorter grips found on swords of this kind. Short grips are frequently associated with Viking swords featuring strongly downward-sloping guards.
Its owner may therefore have positioned the little finger partly over the pommel or placed the index finger and thumb closer around the guard. Another discussed handling method involves allowing the pommel to move into the palm during a swing, potentially extending and increasing the effectiveness of a cut.
Sharpened Carbon Steel Blade
The reproduction features a sharpened carbon steel blade. Its classic straight form is combined with the highly elaborate hilt that makes the Langeid find so distinctive.
As the blade is sharpened, “LANGEID” is not intended for reenactment combat, stage fighting or direct blade-to-blade contact. The sword is designed as a collector's and decorative piece and also makes an impressive historical prop for costume, photography, theatre or film.
Silver-Plated Hilt with Gold and Copper Details
The guard and pommel of the reproduction are made from iron and, like the historical original, are silver-plated. The distinctive markings and ornamentation are highlighted with gold and copper detailing.
For greater comfort, the grip has been made slightly wider than the extremely short historical original. Its wire wrapping, however, follows the same patterns associated with the original find, preserving one of the Langeid sword's most striking design features.
A New Scabbard for a Lost Original
The original sword's scabbard had completely deteriorated long before the archaeological discovery. Windlass Steelcrafts therefore created a new leather scabbard specifically for this reproduction.
The scabbard is laser engraved with a decorative pattern derived from an image found on the sword's pommel. A dedicated belt is also included, allowing the sword and scabbard to be presented or worn as a coordinated set.
Details
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Type: Viking sword / archaeological replica
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Model: LANGEID
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Manufacturer: Windlass Steelcrafts
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Historical model: Sword find from Langeid in the Setesdal Valley, southern Norway
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Year discovered: 2011
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Possible origin of the original: Norwegian or possibly Anglo-Saxon, not conclusively determined
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Blade material: Carbon steel, not stainless
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Blade: Sharpened
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Guard and pommel: Silver-plated iron
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Decoration: Gold and copper detailing based on the historical original
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Grip: Slightly widened for comfort with patterned wire wrapping
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Overall length: approx. 97.6 cm
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Blade length: approx. 79.9 cm
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Blade thickness: approx. 4 mm
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Grip length: approx. 8 cm
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Overall hilt length: approx. 17.7 cm
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Maximum blade width: approx. 5.3 cm
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Point of balance: approx. 11.5 cm in front of the guard
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Weight without scabbard: approx. 1240 g
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Weight with scabbard: approx. 2020 g
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Scabbard: Leather with laser-engraved motif derived from the pommel decoration
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Scope of delivery: Viking sword, leather scabbard and belt
Care Instructions
The carbon steel used for the blade is not stainless. Protect the blade from moisture and clean and thoroughly dry it after handling or use. Regularly applying a thin coat of suitable weapon or maintenance oil will help prevent corrosion. The sword should not be stored in a damp leather scabbard for extended periods.
Age Restriction
This item is sold only to persons aged 18 years or older. Please provide your date of birth during the ordering process. Suitable proof of age is also required.
Safety Notice
This product has a sharpened blade and may have very sharp cutting edges. Improper or careless use may result in serious injury.
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