Viking Festival 2027 Weapon Specification

This page is under construction.

If you have any questions regarding specifications, please contact the amroury team:

armoury@vikingsonline.org.uk

General Notes All weapons to be used in combat must be blunted with rounded corners and conform to the specifications below. All metal components musty be free from sharp burrs and rust. All wooden components must be free from splits, splinters and rot. In the event of any damage to blades, shafts, or heads coming loose, the weapon must be immediately retired until it is made safe. All weapons must conform to Society Authenticity Regulations (SAR). They must look like Viking age weapons. Please do not use weapons overtly modified for sport. Please refer to Authenticity Guides for typologies. Please refer to Melee Weapon Combat Rules for guidance on usage.

Seax

Illustration of a seax

Blades must be made of hardened and tempered spring steel.

The edges of the blade must be no less than 2.0mm, semicircular profile.

Blade points must be rounded to a minimum of 18.0mm diameter (5p coin).

Sword

Sword Illustration

Blades must be made of hardened and tempered spring steel.

The edges of the blade must be no less than 2.0mm, semicircular profile.

Blade points must be rounded to a minimum of 18.0mm diameter (5p coin).

Spear

Illustration of the parts of a spear

Spear Specifications

	Overall Length		Shaft Diameter		Blade Length[1]		Wings Permitted
	Min	Max	Min	Max	Min	Max
1H Short Spear	1.20 m	1.80 m	19 mm	-	100 mm	180 mm	Yes
2H Long Spear	2.00 m	2.50 m	25 mm	-	100 mm	600 mm	Yes

^{[1] Blade length does not include the socket. Measurement should be taken from where the socket begins to widen to form the blade.}

Spearheads must be of socketed construction and be securely attached with a rivet.

The edges of the blade must be no less than 2.0mm, semicircular profile.

The spine of diamond or cross profile blades must be blunted to no less than 2.0mm semicircular profile.

The tip of the blade should reach a minimum contact surface area of 100mm2 before reaching a depth of 5.0mm. Please see Fig. 1.

Spherical tips are limited to a minimum of 10.0mm diameter. This is because even though they do present the contact area at depth, the initial point of contact is more concentrated.

Transitions between widths and thicknesses on the blade should be smooth with nothing that can snag.

All corners and edges must be rounded. Dimensions should accommodate the loss of contact area due to rounding off.

Blades must be solid, not thin sheet folded or welded to form a hollow box section.

Wings must have edges of not less than 2.0mm, semicircular profile. Tips and corners must be rounded to a minimum of 18.0mm diameter (5p coin). Wings may be welded on.

The shaft of the spear must not bend excessively due to the weight of the head when the spear is held horizontally at the butt end.

Spears used in one hand must have the entire hand within the middle third of the weapon's length. It is recommended that visible marks are placed on the spear to facilitate this.

Apart from the spearhead, no other metal allowed. No metal collars by the head nor any other additions such as caps or spikes at the butt end.

A portion of the shaft below the head may be wrapped in leather, rawhide or twine. Any such wrapping should be glued or stitched, not tacked.

Hand Axe

Illustration of a hand axe

Minimum Length: 60cm
Maximum Length: 90cm

The length is defined as measured from the Butt to either the Stop or the Forward Point of the Head, whichever is the longer.

The edges of the blade must be no less than 2.0mm, semicircular profile.

Blade points and corners must be rounded to a minimum of 18.0mm diameter (5p coin).

The head may be fitted from either end, i.e. can be either “top” or “bottom” hafted. The head must be securely fitted with no significant movement.

Wedges must be made of wood.

Apart from the blade, no other metal components are allowed. For example, but not limited to, collars, studs, wedges and end stops.

The shaft should be smooth with no splinters.

A portion of the shaft below the head may be wrapped in leather, rawhide or twine. Any such wrapping should be glued or stitched, not tacked.

The axe head may be made from mild steel.

Long Axe

Illustration of a daneaxe

Minimum Length: 1.20 m
Maximum Length: 1.70 m

The length is defined as measured from the Butt to either the Stop or the uppermost point of the Head, whichever is the longer.

The edges of the blade must be no less than 2.0mm, semicircular profile.

Blade points and corners must be rounded to a minimum of 18.0mm diameter (5p coin).

The head may be fitted from either end, i.e. can be either “top” or “bottom” hafted. The head must be securely fitted with no significant movement.

Wedges must be made of wood.

Apart from the blade, no other metal components are allowed. For example, but not limited to, collars, studs, wedges and end stops.

A portion of the shaft below the head may be wrapped in leather, rawhide or twine. Any such wrapping should be glued or stitched, not tacked.

Shield