Anglo-Saxon Fetter Lane Sword, 8th c.

Anglo-Saxon Fetter Lane Sword, 8th c.

This gorgeous one-handed Saxon sword is based on the surviving components of an original artefact - the upper part of a sword grip and pommel excavated during construction works on Fetter Lane, London (hence the name), and donated to the British Museum in 1893. The extremely well-preserved, beautifully detailed original find made of gilded silver is an absolutely unique piece of Middle Anglo-Saxon history, still on display at the British Museum in London today. Owing to its construction, shape and intricate ornamental motifs, this finely crafted masterpiece is historically placed in the late 8th century and believed to have been the prestige weapon of a wealthy warrior or nobleman of Germanic descent.

As the blade of the actual archaeological piece is missing, a classic Dark Ages blade (broad, straight, double-edged) was chosen for this highly detailed Fetter Lane sword reconstruction. It is made of tempered EN45 spring steel and features a broad fuller that runs almost its entire length on both sides. The parallel edges are unsharpened. The richly decorated hilt is cast from brass and tin-plated to give it a silvered finish. It is composed of several parts riveted together (just like the original) and closely recreates the fine designs of the museum piece. The pommel cap is made of a domed central element flanked by three smaller lobes and beaded wire patterns on each side. The pommel bar and the guard have both the same three-part layout and feature diagonal ribbing and an intermediate brass layer without tin coating. The grip is densely and intricately adorned with different motifs of intertwined leafy plants/tendrils and animals on either side (whirling serpents on one side and a bird- or eagle-like creature on the other).

Please note that this sword is not a battle ready weapon. It is designed as a collector's or decoration/display piece and is not suited for combat reenactment. Besides its quality as a collectible, it is also perfectly suited as a prop, e.g. to complete your costume.

A Damascus steel version of this sword is also available in our shop (Product No. 0116041301).

Specifications:

• Material: EN45 spring steel blade (high carbon steel, not stainless), tin-plated brass hilt
• Overall length: approx. 94cm
• Blade length: approx. 79cm
• Blade thickness: approx. 4.5mm (cutting edges approx. 1mm)
• Hilt length: approx. 15cm (grip approx. 8.5cm)
• Max. blade width: approx. 4.5cm
• Point of balance: approx. 12cm from the guard
• Incl. wooden scabbard with genuine leather cover, wooden suspension loop and tin-plated brass fittings
• Weight without scabbard: approx. 1.6 kg
• Weight with scabbard: approx. 2 kg

Specs may slightly vary from piece to piece.

The steel used here is not rust-proof and might show slight surface tarnishing in places. We recommend you to maintain the blade and the scabbard on a regular basis, for example using Ballistol Universal Oil, which is ideally suited for steel care.