RARE VIKING BROADSWORD Late 11th-early 12th century. This sword accords with Oakeshott XI.3 preserved in the Danish National Museum, Copenhagen. That sword was recovered in Denmark and is dated by Oakeshott 1100-50, perhaps 1075? It has a blade length of 37” compared to this example at 37 3/8”. The Copenhagen sword has an inscription inlaid in silver on the blade and the present example has remnants of an inscription with six or more characters inlaid in silver remaining in part. The crossguards of both examples are slightly shorter than those used on corresponding Christian swords and both are balanced by large Brazil nut form pommels. While in excavated condition, this example retains significant areas of smooth original surface, on both edges, flanking the inscription and the corresponding areas on the reverse. An additional area of relatively large size is preserved about 5” above the point on the front (inscribed) side. The patterning suggests that the sword was bu
