Small Viking knife from Gotland, Damascus steel 0364002651

This handcrafted Viking Age knife has a 256-layer Damascus steel* blade. The handle is made of wood, the neck and butt cap are made of brass. The butt cap is equipped with a practical eyelet for threading a lanyard or removing the knife from its sheath. The beautiful tanned leather sheath with ornate brass trim is equipped with a suspension ring that allows it to be carried comfortably on the belt.

The knife is modeled after an archaeological find from Hellvi (Gotland Island, Sweden) dating back to the 9th/10th century. The original piece is now on display at the Historical Museum ( Historiska Museet ) in Stockholm.

Please note that as the blade is sharp and fully functional, this Gotland knife is intended as a collector's or decorative piece and is not suitable for combat reenactment.

* The terms Damascus steel , damascened , or pattern welded designate a composite steel forged from two or more different types of steel. It is named after its birthplace, the Syrian city of Damascus, an ancient stronghold of stamped steel production. As a common practice, a harder high-carbon steel and a softer low-carbon steel are repeatedly forged and folded. The high-carbon steel ensures greater hardness, better hardenability, and longer-lasting edge retention, while the softer steel confers greater blade flexibility and tensile strength. This procedure, which emerged in an era when steel grades were often low and inconsistent, makes it possible to combine the positive attributes of the various steel grades. Moreover, the different nuances generated by the varying carbon content of the alternating layers engender strikingly beautiful patterns, such as the twisted motif called Damascus twist pattern or Damascus Rose pattern . These unusual patterns undoubtedly partly explain why inherent magical properties were attributed to Damascus steel blades of the Middle Ages.

Details:
- Blade material: Damascus steel (256 layers, 4340 and 1070 steel), sharp edge
- Handle material: wood and brass
- Total length: approx. 17.5cm
- Blade length: approx. 8 cm
- Weight: approx. 40 g (approx. 120 g with case)
- Leather and brass sheath with carrying ring The

specifications may vary slightly from piece to piece.