Iron, 145 grams, 376 mm. Circa 9th-11th century AD. A diamond-section spearhead with lateral extensions developing into the narrow, leaf-shaped blade similar to Swanton's Type B2, derived from the earlier 4th century Nydam types, but with the typical Scandinavian closed-type socket and thickened rim. The blade is about 23 cm long, and 2.5 cm wide at the broadest point; the rib is about 8 mm thick. A perfect light thrusting spear designed to open and split mail links. Reference: Swanton, M.J. Spearheads of the Anglo-Saxon Settlement, London, 1973 and Hammond, B. British Artefacts vol.2 Middle-Saxon and Viking, Witham (in press). Extremely fine condition, stabilized and conserved. Provenance: from an old English collection.

Iron, 195 grams, 208 mm. Circa 9th-11th century AD. A broad and sturdy iron spearhead of leaf-shaped profile and lozengiform section. The blade is about 9.5 cm in length and 3 cm at the widest point. The socket is of the standard Scandinavian closed-socket construction and only 3 cm external diameter at the mouth. The shortness of the spearhead and its stocky construction make it perfect for use on a throwing-spear (Old Norse darrað). Reference: Lehtosalo-Hillander, P-L. Luistari II, Helsinki, 1982 p.25(4) cf. the spearhead from Uskela in Leppäaho, H. Späteisenzeitliche Waffen aus Finnland, Helsinki, 1964 plate 59(3) and Hammond, B. British Artefacts vol.2 Middle-Saxon and Viking, Witham (in press). Good very fine condition, stabilized and conserved. Provenance: found Cambridgeshire, England.

Iron, 570 grams, 374 mm. Circa 9th-11th century AD. A diamond-section spearhead with lateral extensions developing into the broad, leaf-shaped blade similar to Swanton's Type B2, derived from the earlier 4th century Nydam types, but with the typical Scandinavian closed-type socket with facetted section. The blade is about 19.5 cm long, and 5 cm wide at the broadest point; the rib is about 18 mm thick. There is a hole to accept a securing pin close to the lower rim of the socket, and a single stamped ring-and-dot decoration below this. The socket is about 32mm in internal diameter, allowing the spearhead to be attached to a substantial shaft, making it a lethal heavy thrusting spear. Reference: Swanton, M.J. Spearheads of the Anglo-Saxon Settlement, London, 1973 and Hammond, B. British Artefacts vol.2 Middle-Saxon and Viking, Witham (in press). Very fine condition, stabilized and conserved. Provenance: found Cambridgeshire, England.

Iron, 130 grams, 383 mm. Circa 9th-11th century AD. A diamond-section spearhead with lateral extensions developing into the narrow, leaf-shaped blade similar to Swanton's Type B2, derived from the earlier 4th century Nydam types, but with the typical Scandinavian closed-type socket. The blade is about 24 cm long, and 2.3 cm wide at the broadest point; the rib is about 9 mm thick. A perfect light thrusting spear designed to open and split mail links. Reference: Swanton, M.J. Spearheads of the Anglo-Saxon Settlement, London, 1973 and Hammond, B. British Artefacts vol.2 Middle-Saxon and Viking, Witham (in press). Extremely fine condition, stabilized and conserved. Provenance: from an old English collection.

Iron, 150 grams, 232 mm. Circa 9th-11th century AD. A diamond-section spearhead with lateral extensions developing into the narrow, leaf-shaped blade similar to Swanton's Type B2, derived from the earlier 4th century Nydam types, but with the typical Scandinavian closed-type socket. The blade is about 12 cm long, and 3 cm wide at the broadest point; the rib is about 12 mm thick. A perfect light thrusting spear designed to open and split mail links. Reference: Swanton, M.J. Spearheads of the Anglo-Saxon Settlement, London, 1973 and Hammond, B. British Artefacts vol.2 Middle-Saxon and Viking, Witham (in press). Very fine condition, stabilized and conserved. Provenance: found Cambridgeshire, England.

Iron, 775 grams, 90.2 cm overall length. This is a good example of a swordsmith’s craftsmanship, with a long tongue-shaped blade, large pommel and substantial lower guard. It dates from the 11th-12th century AD and is of the Kazakevicius transitional type T/Z, derived from the Viking Period types in use in the eastern Baltic into the 12th century. Swords of this period and type are generally a rarity in mediaeval archaeology. The blade is relatively narrow for its length with a distinct medial fuller. The blade is 42.87 mm wide at the lower guard, tapering to 16.06 mm at a location about 1cm above the tip. The fuller narrows gently, parallel to the edges of the blade. The pommel with its exaggerated, lobed medial feature is derived from the 10th century format displayed in Petersen’s Type S (Wheeler’s Type III) which features a trilobate pommel design with a bulbous larger central lobe flanked by smaller bulbs, above a rounded-section horizontal upper guard. The lower guard, with its pronounced downward curvature, is closer to the profile found in Petersen’s Type Z. The swollen central lobe of the pommel is paralleled by a median protrusion on the guard. The pommel is constructed as a ferrous metal casing over a hollow core, with a small part missing to the outer edge of one side. The guard is itself a hollow iron casting, probably originally filled with an organic material. The sword is long-bladed but light and manoeuvrable; its large pommel counterbalances the blade well, making it a useful weapon for fast cut-and-thrust fighting. References: Jones, L., Oakeshott, E. &Pierce, I. Swords of the Viking Age, Woodbridge, 2002; Kazakevicius, V. The Medieval Sword Found in the Nevežis River (Kedainiai Town) in Lietuvos archeologija vol. 28, 2006 and by the same author The find of an East European sword quillon in a barrow in Visétiskés, Änyksciai district, Lithuania in Fornvännen, vol. 87, 1992. Very fine condition. Ex an old private collection. An XRF ancient metal test certificate from Oxford X-ray Fluorescence Ltd accompanies the piece.