UlfsmóðR - The Wrath of the Wolf

[Vinícius Ferreira Arruda]

This was a very pleasant commission to work on for me. I could practice a little more of inlaying and the results got better than i could anticipate, even if I have much to evolve in this art.

The blade was mostly done by stock removal, but the tip and the tang were forged prior to the grinding. It was made using 1070 steel.

The hilt is of a variation of Petersen's type L and it's components are made in mild steel and the inlays are nickel silver. The twisted wires are also nickel silver. It was then oil coated and lightly heated to make it look darker, so the contrast with the cooper-alloy would be even more visible. It is also a good way to prevent rust.

My signature this time went on the inside of the lower guard, as the blade carries my maker's name. And on the pommel is asymmetrical in decoration: one side carries a similar decoration to the guards and the other a "double Týr" bind rune.

The idea of peening it on the pommel cap is also a historical method, but I made it mainly because it would be more secure than peening the upper guard and attaching the pommel cap to it.

The handle is pine wood wrapped in cord and then covered with pig skin.

The scabbard is also pinewood, as well as it's belt-bridge. It is lined inside with natural wool and covered with linen cloth. The chape is also mild steel and the bridge is held by leather strips. All the decorations were made to fit a late ninth century fashion, although it is a simplification of the Borre style rather than a more elaborate version.

The runes on the blade are inspired mainly on inscriptions of later, 10th and 11th century blades commonly made in Latin language such as Ingelri or Gecelin, but also inspired on the famous Tizona of El Cid and the Cortana from the legend of Holger Danske when it comes in the naming process of it. The use of the runes or local language was a choice of the owner, although I'm aware of only a single sword with runic inscriptions from the period (according to Petersen, B1622), but I have no access to what is written on this exemplar.

They read:

ik er ulfsmoþRin (Ek er UlfsmóðrRinn - I am the Wrath of the Wolf)

hioruarþR kirosi mik (Hjörvarðr gerosi mek - Hjörvarðr made me)

They are all written in old norse and I used the danish long-twig young futhork to write them.

The sword was exposed at one of the biggest blade shows here in Brazil, where it was awarded the prize of Best Sword of the show and is indeed a proud weapon to display, as well as is swift and powerful to wield.

As usual, I wrote a short tale for this blade that can be read here: http://vferreiraarruda.blogspot.com.br/2017/08/ulfsmor-wrath-of-wolf.html

I hope you like it. And here are the stats of it.

Overall length: 94,0cm

Blade length: 79,7cm

Blade width: 5,4cm

Blade thickness at the guard: 0,5cm

PoB: 17,2cm

Length of the grip: 10,3cm

Weight: 1,150kg

[Phil Ullrich]

Well done!  So many great details

[Alan Longmire]

I like the patina on the blade!

[Karim]

Those inlays are cool and look well executed, like it

[Chris C-S]

Beautiful. Also +1 on inlays.  

[GEzell]

Excellent work man, that is an epic sword.  The inlay and patinas give it a lot of personality.

[Justin Mercier]

I like the extra pointy tip on the blade, makes the blade itself almost late-roman spatha  like

[Joshua States]

Fabulous work sir!

Now I'm off to read the story.....

[Clifford Brewer]

Four bagger fer sure.....

[Howie]

I agree, beautiful inlay work.