Godt mót! -I’m interested in the topic of Viking

Battle Gear because I think it’s interesting to compare the gear the

Vikings had to the stuff we use today-I learned almost everything in these sides other than some of the names

-This information might be important to other people for upcoming tests(?) and

because it is interesting general knowledge

VIKING BATTLE GEAR

Viking Weapons

• The Vikings had many weapons, these are just some of them

The Viking Spear

• Main Weapon of the Vikings

• The blades were very big and heavy and could even pierce armor

• Good thrusting weapon and could be thrown

• The head measured 20-60cm long

Viking Swords

• Very expensive due to lack of resources and knowledge

• Only important people could afford swords

• Status symbols, highly decorated hilts

• They were so personal that they were often named

Viking Battle Axe

• The battle axe was affordable because it was also used as a work axe

• This powerful weapon could pulverize amour and leave a wound

• One version the “bearded axe” has been found to be able to decapitate an ox in one blow

Viking Sax

• A single edged Short Sword

• Hilts for these were made of wood, bone or horn

• Crudely fabricated usually made by smiths locally

Viking Seax

• Large Single edged knife common among Viking free-men

• The viking version of the modern day machete

• Larger Seax’s were used to double as swords.

• The “mail piercer“• Comes from the

Norse word ‘Atgeir”• Said to be a lot like a

glaive• Mentioned in Njáls

saga and other Norse sagas

Viking Halberd

Bows & Arrows• Common of southern enemies • Not very affective against

enemies superior bows & arrows• Disadvantage for vikings• Made of Yew, Ash or Elm wood• Ranges of 250m with 90lbs of

force (400N)• One found with 100+ lbs of force

and fired to about 480m• Arrow heads of iron, wood or

antler and use of eagle feathers is also present

Viking Defensive Gear

Viking Armour• Chain Mail was use

but it’s long processing time made it expensive

• Made of interlocking chain loops

• Viking Lamellar armor was found in Sweden

• Made of metal scales

Viking Helmets• Simple cup shapes• Most had nose strips, while more complex ones had

Goggles and neck protectors• Viking helmets DID NOT HAVE HORNS!

Viking Shield• Shields were round and

made of wood• Sometimes covered with

leather, or a metal band to strengthen them

• The usual size was about 1m diameter

• A heavy iron boss in the center

Other Viking Stuff

• Vikings have tones of other interesting stuff but only these two fit the title

Viking Horses

• Norse horses are smaller and slower than European horses

• Vikings fought on foot instead of horseback like the Europeans

• Some European horses were looted but the cold slowed breeding and only the strongest horses survived

Viking Ships

• No saws were used to build the hulls of these, instead they overlapped and use wedges and mallets

• Propelled by oars, and a single rectangle shaped sail

Text Sources:• http://warviking.tripod.com/realweaponsandarmor.html• http://www.medieval-castles.org/index.php/

viking_weapons_warfare_norse_fighters_we• http://militaryhistory.suite101.com/article.cfm/viking_warfare• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Viking_Age_arms_and_armour#Bows_and_Arrows• http://www.viking-shield.com/weapons.html• http://www.hurstwic.org/history/articles/manufacturing/text/

viking_sax.htm