View source for Viking fighting equipment

The fighting equipment of [[Viking]]s is drawn from pre-[[Christian]] burial remains, sacrifices and other lost and now recovered artefacts. This brief guide covers the period coming associated with the [[Viking]]s in Western [[Europe]] of 800 to 1100.

The [[saga]]s give us some indication of their fighting methods and [[weapon]]s but due to their being written many hundreds of years later, are deemed to be, at best, unreliable sources.

==Equipment==
===Arms===
* [[spear]] - sometimes with [[wing]]s and generally [[socket]]ed. Some were light enough to be easily thrown.
* [[axe]] - common household [[tool]] sometimes with pronounced [[beard]].
* [[saex]] - knife
* lang[[seax]] - longer, single edged [[blade]] substituted by some in place of a sword.
* [[arming sword|sword]] - single handed weapon with short [[crossguard]] that might be straight or slightly curved forward on both sides of the blade and thought to be an influence of the [[Saxon]]s. Blade could be pattern welded, would have a rounded tip and the blade would usually be no longer than 76 cm (30 inches). [[Pommel]] of various types (cocked hat, 'tea cosy' and lobed predominating). [[Hilt]] small only just large enough to accommodate an average sized modern hand. Only used by the wealthy.
* Dane [[axe]] - large axe designed for use with two hands. Likely only used by the wealthiest of warriors and only in good quaility [[armour]]
* [[longbow]] - of [[yew]], with side [[nock]] on the upper [[limb]] which could have an odd bent section. Lower limb tied to string.
* [[arrow]]s with [[tang]]ed [[head]]s and self [[nock]]s. [[Eagle]] feather [[flight]]s bound onto the [[shaft]] in a spiral pattern.

===Armour===
* none
* padded armour (''gambeson'' or ''aketon'') - conjectural with no known examples surviving
* [[leather]]/reindeer hide - conjectural with no known surviving examples. One saga mentions a number of warriors being equiped with reindeer hides that could turn swords as well as mail, but these are magical.
* [[maille|mail]] - short sleeved and short in the body composed of alternating rows of punched/welded links (roughly rectangular or flattened round section) and riveted (roundish drawn wire) of approximately 1.2 to 1.5 mm diamter with an internal diameter of 5-6mm internal diameter for the rings. Wealthy only. The length later, likely in the [[11th century]], changed to include elbow or forearm length sleeves and knee length body probably split in the front and back.
* [[shield]] - [[centre boss]] style. Width between 65 to 95 cm in diameter, and thickness of approx 8mm. Covered with leather with an [[iron]] [[boss]].
* [[Norman shield|Norman]] or [[kite shield]] a possibility for [[11th century]] Vikings. 
* Conical [[centre boss]] [[shield]] - conjectural 
* [[spectacle helmet]] - [[Gjermundbu]] style with round top, multiplate construction with [[maille|mail]] [[aventail]].
* [[spangenhelm]] - pointed [[helmet]] with [[nasal]]. Single or multiplate construction -conjectural from ill defined picture stones and contemporary helmets
* [[helmet]] - conical or rounded with [[metal]] frame and hardened [[leather]] sides.

===Clothing===
*[[tunic|kyrtle]] of [[wool]]
*under[[tunic]] of linen
*[[hose]] of wool
*[[wickelbander]] of wool
*ankle boots or turn [[shoe]]s of leather

===Misconceptions===
* two handed swords - not known
* double headed axes - not known
* swords with dragons
* swords with circular pommels
* swords with elaborate basket-style hand guards
* swords with very heavy, blunt blades.
* [[greave]]s - not known
* [[vambrace]]s - not known
* [[gauntlet]]s - not known
* furry vests - not known
* furry ugg-boot style shoes - not known
* cross gartering - not known
* rough [[amber]] necklaces
* calf length 'sea boots' - this appears to be an invention of The Vikings group in the UK

[[category:fighting kit]]
[[category:8th century]]
[[category:9th century]]
[[category:10th century]]
[[category:11th century]]
[[Category:viking]]
[[category:starting out]]