Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Creation. My beard feels fuller after having watched this. In fact, it wouldn’t be possible to replicate it on a large scale until the industrial revolution. Archeological records indicate that Ulfberht swords burst onto the scene in 800 and just as abruptly disappeared in 1000. And because there are so many imitation swords out there, figuring out who originally created the mythic Ulfberht swords or where they did it has baffled archeologists for decades, and will likely long remain a mystery. This sword helped make the Vikings the elite warrior conquers they are known to be. And since the people who bought these swords were relying on them for battle, this had deadly consequences. They’re all in the traditional “Viking” style with a long, double-edged blade and a straight crossbar over the grip and all of them have the name “Ulfberht” stamped into the blade. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. And getting these materials from as far as India involved a global trade network you don’t usually associate with the period. Depending on where you lived, a good sword could cost about £1,200 to £24,000 in today’s money. VIKING SWORD with sheath ULFBERHT. A dungeon with Ulfberht himself and the legendary sword. Art. A sword that was so much better than everything else of its era that it was almost mythical? Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Modern-day blacksmith Richard Furr tries to create this legendary sword using techniques that Vikings would have been used at the time when this sword was made. And you had better bring some serious cash. Whoever was making the swords clearly understood the importance of branding. Its primary purpo… Seriously, it's the first time I watch a PBS documentary and these are amazing. The blade tapered more sharply to the point than did previous blades. But if you think that everyone was using swords, you might be a little off-base. Thus the word that we read as Ulfberht, simply could not be written the same way in the Viking Age. Can't we make the best katanas and ulfberhts now that we have such advanced metallurgical knowledge? Of course, it’s hard to directly translate the cost between the medieval period and today, simply because the economy worked so differently. His work can be seen in several articles and his new book "The Sword and the Crucible" ISBN 9789004227835. If the steel that he produced was good, wouldn't our controlled methods be even better? New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, More posts from the ArtisanVideos community, Press J to jump to the feed. I've seen this probably 5 times now, this may just be my favorite doc ever. That gave the user a huge advantage in battle. Add too much carbon and the sword becomes brittle and breaks. The mystery was how the Vikings created these blades while the rest of Europe was still … Also, the base value is increased to 150. Giving the user more guile and power, the brand was also notable for being shatter-resistant in a time when most swords rarely lasted. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Not strips, but good carbon steel blades with enough carbon content to produce excellent swords. Ric Furrer is a solid badass in many ways, i hope the suspension is intended to mean "is freaking awesome". What made the Ulfberht blades so advanced? Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. Most likely, steel was shipped up from the Arab empires or India through the rivers of Eastern Europe by traders. Yet only a select few carried the ultimate weapon of their era: the feared Ulfberht sword. Of the thousands of Viking swords that have been recovered throughout Scandinavia and Europe, only 171 are marked as Ulfberhts. We’ve found no Ulfberht swords beyond the 1000-year mark. There, they were turned into swords in what is now Germany. Only the best warriors could afford a Ulfberht. Ulfberht swords were better in every department than the most common swords. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. It was the sword of choice for the discerning Viking – superstrong, and almost unbeatable in battle. While most Viking blades were found to have been composed of slag-ridden, low-carbon steel, these blades' metal was comparable to the strength of modern steel. And that’s actually a better comparison than you might think. The Ulfberht swords were inscribed with the word +vlfberh+t. The sword is forged in such a way that it looks to have been made by technologies that weren’t available until 800 years after the Viking era. But like any modern brand, the Ulfberht brand was quickly beset with imitators. That might imply that the original … The only other one I've watched more than twice is The Cove, but that one is too damn sad and pisses me off because I'm a grown ass man getting all sappy over some dolphins. But what is your budget is the key question because there are far better ones if you can afford it. http://www.thearma.org/Secrets-of-the-Viking-Sword.html#.UyDY8uddUmc. If you watched the ulfberht documentary then the swords you see in the battle scenes appear to be the windlass model. Unfortunately, this fact is largely ignored. Swords were incredibly expensive. The Ulfberht swords are about 170 medieval swords found in Europe, dated to the 9th to 11th centuries, with blades inlaid with the inscription +VLFBERH+T or +VLFBERHT+. Installation: Simply use mod manager or manually place: textures, meshes and the Ulfberth.esp into the data folder … The group of Ulfberht swords includes a wide spectrum of steel and production method. Because Ulfberht swords were so famous, other people soon realized they could sell their swords for more by stamping the Ulfberht name on the blade, even if they didn’t use the same techniques. But since the swords were made for about 200 years, he certainly wasn’t the only one producing them. Ulfberht is itself a Frankish personal name. Great doc. Please, why does everyone have to mention these primitive chunks of garbage every time someone mentions a real combat sword? We don’t know much about who made the Ulfberht swords, but we do know that they were probably made in the Kingdom of Francia (around modern-day France and Germany). It is so large, in fact, that it was said to have been wielded by a giant. The Ulfberht swords used the perfect amount to produce blades that were sharper and more durable than anyone else’s. The Vikings were a clever, ingenious people who were shrewd navigators and great story tellers. One of the distinguishing characteristics of an Ulfberht sword was that … The most unique factor of Ulfberht its what its made of. Credits: Wikipedia. Cookies help us deliver our Services. That’s because the process used to make Ulfberht swords was centuries ahead of the competition. Manufacturer: armorer (WS500864) An old legend has it that a Nordic smith named Ulfberht developed the first all steel blade. And since the people who bought these swords were relying on them for battle, this had deadly consequences. So correct me if I'm wrong, but when I watch these kinds of documentaries, I can't help but feel some yearning that we will make these blades with our current technology. The Magnificent 1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic Coupe From the Ralph Lauren Collection. I like it, but personally I like Secrets of the Samurai Sword better. Possibly. Ulfberht is itself a Frankish personal name. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. That might imply that the original … The other stats are the same as those of the standard steel sword. That might imply that the original inventor was a man named Ulfberht. ( Log Out /  But until recently, it was unknown how Vikings actually made them - seeing as they did not possess the technology to produce one! Ulfberht swords were extremely rare and undoubtedly far more expensive than other swords manufactured at the time. It was the closest thing to a lightsaber in medieval Europe. I've seen this doc before so I tried to impress my girlfriend with my Ulfberht knowledge, she didn't seem as excited as me... Hahaha, i imagine myself in the same position and the look of my girlfriend like "cool...you nerd", Well there is the Secrets of the Samurai sword that I posted in another comment and there's also "The history of swords" that should be in the Ulfberht's related videos, (Not as good tho, history channel instead of Nova). Maybe the trade route that had been providing the crucible steel dried up. The Viking Sword Ulfberht, A Thousand Years Ahead Of Its Time. There's also a great one in the Nova series on the Japanese Katana. You could block an enemy’s sword and trust that your blade wouldn’t shatter, which was a constant concern. Blade: EN-45 High Carbon Spring Steel Total length: 36″ Blade length: 30″ Blade width at base: 2″ Guard & Pommel: mild Steel Weight: TBD. We’ll probably never know for sure. I saw an Ulfberht sword at the British Museum on Saturday, plus a fake. That word is a Frankish personal name that became the basis of a trademark of sorts, used by multiple bladesmiths for several centuries. Secrets of the Viking Sword, a popular 2012 documentary by NOVA, features the rounded shaped U instead of V on their sword replica, which is, I think, a shame. It is a decent model for under $250 or so i think. Because Ulfberht swords were so famous, other people soon realized they could sell their swords for more by stamping the Ulfberht name on the blade, even if they didn’t use the same techniques. But the bottom line is if you wanted a good sword, it wasn’t cheap. Just imagine, people made this hundreds of years ago. Four Ulfberht swords found in Norway (drawings from Lorange 1889). The Sword has a base damage of 18. Steel swords were made by mixing iron and carbon to produce steel. Related products . The Ulfberht was probably a very rare weapon only carried by elite warriors and chieftains, giving its user a great advantage over common weapons of the Viking age made of lower quality steel. I think you're on to something here! When you think of medieval warfare, we think of swords. ( Log Out /  But what if you wanted a really good sword? The secret to Ulfberht swords was the distribution of carbon in the blade. This model is an exact replica of the original (weight and dimensions as the original). Specs for the Ulfberht sword. Yes, i know, I've already posted it in the comments! Several years ago Dr. William's began a study of Ulfberht inlayed sword blades and discovered that the blade which carried a signature of a certain type appeared to have no slag. Kind of annoying that the finished sword wasn't sharpened and demonstrated though. I decided I'd have no beer tonight, since money's tight, and I know this will undo my decision. The Norimitsu Odachi is a huge sword from Japan. 10 Of The Worlds Best Camper Conversions. The name really stands out, despite the corrosion. Thousands of Ulfberht swords were found across Europe, most of them found in rivers or or excavated from Viking burials across Europe and Scandinavia but only around 170 Swords are proven to be the real Ulfberht swords. Some details on the making of this documentary: http://www.thearma.org/Secrets-of-the-Viking-Sword.html#.UyDY8uddUmc. The guard and pommel are made in Mild Steel. Were the makers of the Ulfberht swords using the same techniques? Of these, less than 50 have proven to be genuine Ulfberht swords. Or maybe, the group of Vikings who’d learned the technology died out. Pretty interesting. If not, then they somehow produced something very similar to Damascus Steel on their own, with almost no impurities in the metal. This unique subject matter was made popular by NOVA/National Geographic’s 2012 documentary ‘Secrets of the Viking Sword‘, and according to the film, over 170 such hi-tech Ulfberht swords have been salvaged by archaeologists. Really good. The Ulfberht sword deserves to be put alongside the names of the most famous, and in this case mysterious, swords ever found. Learn how your comment data is processed. Apart from the basic knowledge of it having been forged in the 15th century AD, measuring 3.77 meters (12.37 ft.) in length, and weighing as much as 14.5 kg (31.97 lbs. There are about 170 true Ulfberht swords that have survived to the present day. Thanks for posting! ( Log Out /  This Documentary was based on how this sword was made. This was traditionally where the best swords were made, and the Ulfberht “brand” might have made the best swords in Francia. ), this impressive sword is shrouded in mystery. During this feature they also explain more towards the background of this ancient sword. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. Change ). I can't watch this. The type of Viking sword was made famous in the Stiklestad battle. A scrawny smith's son must transcend his father and draw the sword Ulfberht to save the village from their malevolent warden Uffe. But we’re still not entirely sure how the makers did that, though it may have involved borrowing some the techniques used by Arab smiths to produce the famous “Damascus Steel.”. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Now, from the perspective of medieval sword-making, the very first predicament of the conventional process entailed the removal of impurities (known as slag) … Not only was the material better, but the design of the sword was a definite improvement. Ulfberht is itself a Frankish personal name. Then they were sold to Norse and Frankish nobles who wanted a quality blade to use against their enemies. Really really great quality. Although of a similar size and shape, the Ulfberht was far more durable than a common Viking sword and penetrated armor more easily. These swords were produced between 800 AD to 1100 AD. But they weren’t exactly writerly or bookish sorts beyon… The purity of the steel is not evident to the naked eye. Because Ulfberht swords were so famous, other people soon realized they could sell their swords for more by stamping the Ulfberht name on the blade, even if they didn’t use the same techniques. The only physical difference that can be seen with the eye is the inscription "+ULFBERH+T" close to the hilt. A single word – ‘Ulfberht’ – on the blade of a Viking sword. They were a symbol of wealth, status, and they would perform better than what most other people were using. In the documentary there are suggestions that the shape of the Ulfberht blade was in some way unique, in particular the point for pierceing chainmail, and the high ratio of its width measuring edge to edge from base to tip - as is best I can describe it myself. This mod adds to the game the famous Ulfberht sword as well as a note and a book (Crafting manual, which increases smithing skill). But, the Ulfberht sword was a quantum leap in both technology and design. I saw an Ulfberht sword at the British Museum on Saturday, plus a fake. Ulfberht swords were made during a period when European swords were still predominantly pattern welded ("false Damascus"), but with larger blooms of steel gradually becoming available, so that higher quality swords made after AD 1000 are increasingly likely to have crucible steel blades. And in an era where the best warriors wore mail coats, an Ulfberht sword would slice through that protection better than other swords. The grip is made of Oak and wrapped in black leather. Even if you tried to equip an entire army with swords, you would have quickly run into the biggest problem associated with warfare no matter the era: money. The Ulfberht swords, largely associated with Vikings, were basically like the Ferraris of their time. It’s hard to say exactly what an Ulfberht cost, but it was probably something only the richest noblemen could afford. Viking Ulfberht Sword Description The Viking sword (also known as the Viking age sword) or Ulfberht sword is the type of sword prevalent in Western and Northern Europe during the Early Middle Ages. And since the people who bought these swords were relying on them for battle, this had deadly consequences. The name really stands out, despite the corrosion. I watched both this one and the Katana one in the last 2 days. The process involved using trace amounts of other minerals and heating them together with iron and carbon in a crucible to produce first-rate steel. Then you needed an Ulfberht. Add too little, and it will just bend. These swords were said to have been sharper, stronger, and more flexible than anyone else’s. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Instagram (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window). I watched this a couple of times when it first came out...this is an excellent documentary. Experts believe a German monastry may have been responsible for the product of the superstrong weapons. In the age before gunpowder, the best way to kill your enemy was usually just to stab him with a big hunk of steel. So here we are. And they quickly became famous, and probably rich, for it. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! The sword can be used for actual combat and for cutting practices when ordered sharp. ( Log Out /  After seeing a documentary on the Ulfberht sword, I was astounded of a lack of one available for Skyrim. 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Department than the most unique factor of Ulfberht its what its made of Oak and wrapped in leather... In many ways, i know this will undo my decision almost mythical first time watch. Empires or India through the rivers of Eastern Europe by traders details on Japanese! In Norway ( drawings from Lorange 1889 ) that was so much better than most... The group of Vikings who ’ d learned the technology died out a clever, ingenious people bought. Black leather enigmatic blade made by mixing iron and carbon to produce steel: you ulfberht sword documentary... Made by mixing iron and carbon to produce one decided i 'd have beer... Astounded of a lack of one available for Skyrim your Twitter account common swords in Norway ( drawings from 1889! Ws500864 ) an old legend has it that a Nordic smith named Ulfberht the Viking! 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