Tjure, Viking Combat Sword

(About): Recreate a Viking Battle with the Perfect Sword for Contact Fighting

Fearsome Carolingian swords were renowned across Europe as the deadliest of weapons in the hands of the Viking reavers who terrorised the Atlantic coastlines of Europe. Our Viking Combat Sword is intended to bring this fearsome legacy to roleplayers and re-enactors who want a little extra steel in their lives – renowned German reproduction equipment maker Mytholon has painstakingly designed Tjure for rigorous use in staged combat, blending together heritage design and construction techniques with robust modern materials.

Up Close and Personal

The blade of our Tjure Viking Combat Sword is an excellent modern analogue for the historical Carolingian swords of the Viking Age. Blades made by the Vikings were frustratingly inferior: Scandinavia has little mineral iron, and thus Viking smiths had to rely on poor-quality bog iron for much of their ironwork. The best swords of the Viking Age were made by the Frankish and southern Germanic smiths who lived in the Upper Rhine valley (in modern western Germany), and these were the envy of all Viking warriors. Viking chieftains would move heaven and earth to acquire one – trading for them or looting them in raids – and then having Viking smiths attach fine Scandinavian hilts to them. Often, Vikings would trade for these swords in hacksilver, pieces of silver bullion cut from their jewelry – if you want to fully inhabit the Viking era, you could include our Viking silver jewelry into your outfit and be prepared to trade at a moment’s notice. These Carolingian swords generally corresponded to Oakeshott Type X: broad, flat cutting blades with substantial fullers and long parallel edges. These were no mere choppers; they were subtly and cunningly designed for the perfect balance between cutting power and snakelike agility, with an optimum cutting point around two-thirds of the way up the blade, and a balance point close to the grip. The hilt of Tjure, our Viking Combat Sword, is a stark and authentic Scandinavian design dating from around the first half of the Viking Age, with a short bar cross-guard that is surprisingly effective at defending the hands in combat. The grip is a handsome ridged wood, designed to afford an excellent grip surface in gauntlets, gloves or bare hands. The pommel is a simple domed type that was very popular for functional fighting swords – simple, brutal and effective.

A Sword That Begs To Be Used

Our Tjure sword has been designed in all aspects for ruggedness and resilience in use and in the field. It has been forged from spring steel, the gold-standard for stage-safe weapons. It is made with a full peened tang – this means the cross-guard, grip and pommel have been threaded onto the blade’s tang and hammered into place, locking it all together. This is a requirement for swords that can be wielded safely. It has been finished with a rebated (blunt) 2mm edge, and a rounded tip for safety. When you receive our Viking Combat Sword, you may notice some minor nicks in the rebated edge – this is not carelessness, it is because Mytholon rigorously test every sword that leaves their workshop after manufacture, rejecting any that fail. Think of it as your sword’s passport to battle!

In all, this is a stunning sword, and a fantastic opportunity to taste battle in the Viking style. Even swords that have been blunted and specially designed for stage combat are still dangerous, and should be used in controlled environments with common sense at all time – but for those seeking a contact-ready blade, Mytholon have ensured that there is none safer. It’d suit anyone from the hardcore re-enactor to a casual roleplayer seeking the ability to engage in light staged encounters. As well, make sure you are properly padded with our selection of Viking Age armor.

Technical Specifications:

Total length: 36 ½ inches

Blade length: 29 inches

Blade material: Spring steel

Weight: 3.1 lbs.