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This image shows a photo of an excavated Viking knife (top) and a possible reconstruction of a similar knife, part of whose ivory handle survived. These were my reference images for designing recent Viking style knives ... |
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A preliminary design for a Viking style knife, with a complex beast motif and wire-wrapped handle... |
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This knife was based on the above design. Here, the blade is forged and polished, the handle roughed out, and the cast silver collar and pommel in place...
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Detail of the cast silver pommel above. The style is a combination of Viking and Celtic, common in this part of the world, and especially in the Northern Isles .... |
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Here, the carving on the ebony handle has been detailed, and inlaid with copper wire for emphasis. This is the knife very much finished. However, this knife uses anachronistic modern materials - it's Viking in style, but not construction, so... |
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The design has evolved for this knife, shown here with the blade just rough finished, and the composite handle of (historically accurate) Highland stag's antler and birch, roughed out ... |
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In this photo, the blade has been etched to show the more accurate laminated steel of the blade, and the copper fittings are in place. The sheath is nearly finished, but requires special loops so that it can be worn in true Viking fashion... |
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The finished knife. You can just see how the carving is continued over the spine, and I've stained the birch for contrast. The copper plates on the sheath have been engraved, and the loops added. I was very pleased with this knife - it's a good working blade, which is very important in a reproduction - the essence of a historical knife, in fact. |
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