Thanks to Paul Browne for some of the pictures.

** By far the best, and most complete book, on British swords and scabbards is the Ian Stead noted above. If you have an interest in British iron age weapons then this is the book you should get.

The quality of blades in this period varies enormously. The raw material itself is a problem, in addition to an efficient smelting process and the ability of the weapon-smith themselves. Blades could easily be soft and liable to bend, brittle enough to break and definitely chip when struck against hard objects.
Striking your blade hard against someone else's is a sure-fire test for how good your weapon is and not something that you'd want to be doing. Parrying with your weapon is a later period style or a "re-enactorism" brought about consistent modern methods of manufacture with hardened and tempered spring steels. Even striking the rim of a metal edged shield is a risky business with a period blade (see Pleiner above).

Because of the quality issue with the blades, then fighting with a sword in both hands is a bit of a silly thing to do as neither blade can be relied upon to parry. Also, you won't be carrying a shield which is your primary form of protection in a skirmish from other warriors and missile weapons. Both good reasons why it wasn't done, so it's best left to LRP'ers and musketeers.

The best way to fight with these period weapons is to strike for the man in all cases and not at his weapon of shield. Of course, it's best not to risk your costly sword in the first place and stick with your single hand spear !!!

Sword blades.
Sword blades, by our period, are all of iron construction.
There is quite alot of diversity within the finds, both length and blade section may vary.

Blade sections (cross section) are diamond, oval, lenticular, midribbed and some with a series of narrow grooves (multi- fullered). As far as I am aware, there are no wide fullered blades (which are distinctive of later Saxon and Viking swords). found.

Length can vary from 14" to 30" and more.
Some blades may taper along their length, for part of it or remain parallel sided (straight)


In addition, there seems to be a class of blades that are exclusively fitted to anthropomorphic handles. There are around 50 or so of these found across Europe, often with a longer sword. These blades are short, wide and a have common shape with a long point.
Click here for more images of these sort of swords.









Sword Handles
Handles, during the later iron age, are invariably assembled over the tang. These means that the guard plates, guards, grip and pommel have a hole which allows them to be slide over the tang and retained by the end being riveted over, usually on another small washer or knob.



There is alot of variation in the actual design of handles that it's hard to make generalisations. Most use use natural materials, such as bone, horn, antler and even wood although some use cast bronze. Some are also inlaid with coral, enamel and other materials.

The best way to illustrate the diversity is to show you a few pictures:



Sword from Worton in Lancashire. This is one of the few to use all bronze construction.






These swords are some of the ones from the Yorkshire cemeteries are very simple in their construction with no real guard or pommel. (see above for a construction)














A few types. The Hod Hill sword is shown largest (middle) here.












This sword is from Asby Scar,

Cotterdale Sword (British Museum).

Compare this to the Asby Scar sword above ..

Hod Hill Sword (British Museum)

The fittings would have been wrapped around wooden cores (now rotted)

See a possible construction by Al-Hamdd Trading Post

Scabbards

First of all, the Hollywood image of warriors sticking (sharp) swords through their belts or carrying them round in their hands all the time are not correct. Many swords are a costly status items and care would be shown in how they are maintained and transported. An expensive sword would be merit an expensive scabbard.

Many swords are found without any scabbard at all, even in graves, which would indicate either that the sword was deposited without one (which is less likely in a grave) or that the scabbard was made from an organic material that has rotted away (such as wood, leather or cloth).

Some swords are found with traces of wood around the blade indicating that wooden scabbards (without any metal fittings) were used. In addition, some have all metal scabbards, which survive very well.

The method of scabbard suspension on metal scabbards that survive is a loop or runner that is riveted directly to the scabbard itself. The sword belt or baldric would then pass through this loop. It is likely that simpler wooden scabbards would have utilised a similar method with organic components.

Additional information on belts and baldrics is covered in the Sword Belts article.

Cotterdale scabbard ( which goes with the cotterdale sword above)

Isleham Scabbard (top).

British scabbards are invariably constructed in two parts. One half of the scabbard is bent around the edges of the sword blade and the the other half is a simple plate the slides down (fairly tightly it must be said). The mouthpiece, chape (the piece on the bottom end of the scabbard) and ny extra bands then hold the two plate securely.

Some scabbards of Indian manufacture are WELDED, which is wrong.

Isleham Scabbard (bottom)

Stanwick Scabbard (top).

This one is unusual in that it uses strips that are held together with copper alloy bands.

Stanwick Scabbard (bottom)

Swords in the Vicus
As there is plenty of evidence for swords, then the Vicus expects members to make every effort to make or obtain weapons that are either fair copies of finds, which combine common features of types or are similar in construction and style. Every effort should be made to avoid weapons that have obviously later period features such as wide fullers or construction techniques.

All swords should come with an appropriate scabbard. Leather, cloth, wood and two piece metal scabbards are all acceptable.

Matt in the group has made several swords that are fantastic representations .

Swords to avoid

There are no good quality, accurate weapons available "off the shelf".

You can avoid, with almost 100% certainty, any weapon advertised as a "Celtic sword". The most common one, is shown below:

This weapon has too many faults to list.

Unfortunately, unless you are able to commission from a reputable sword maker (and pay accordingly) then you will be limited to making your own weapon, like many of us have had to. Members of the group can help, if you decide to go this route.

Modifying a british sword
Making a british sword from scratch