Video Review - History Channel - Forged In Fire - Viking Sword - #TidbitThursday

Researching Vikings and the Viking Era has led me to several interesting videos. One of these is from the popular History Channel series, Forged in Fire, which is a competitive show that focuses on the art of blacksmithing swords with various challenges.

Forged in Fire - Viking Sword

Season 2 - Episode 5

Description:

This particular episode the contestants must recreate Viking swords with materials from a car within a limited time frame.



Highlights:
The Blade of the sword is about 9 to 11 inches long. The total length with the tang is about 22 inches long.
The sword features a recurve blade, ideal for slicing.
During the Viking Age (8th - 11th centuries), their swords were typically double-edged and fuller along the blade's length to add strength and flexibility.
A hilt and pummel added balance.
A fuller (a rounded groove or slot) was added to the blade to make it lighter weight and, interestingly, to give it more strength.
Uneven heat during the forging will warp a blade when it's quenched (dunked in the water).
Delamination occurs when two metal layers which were welded together during the process begin to separate.
The Viking sword was meant to be a single-handed weapon (freeing the other hand to carry a shield).



See info on the series here - TravelChannel.com

Watch the Episode online: Viking Sword