Parade arms

Parade arms are weapons designed primarily for ceremonial use and show rather than true combat. They include many two handed swords which might also be known as 'parade' or 'bearing' swords.

Their are a number of weapons that were possessed by the Vikings and similar cultures that were highly decorated and also lacked some of the characteristics of weapons used in war. It is thought that these weapons represented status. eg Mammen and Trelleborg axes.