The Norman Sword - Making and Decoration

Before we re-visit our ancestors, I thought itThe metals used for this form of decoration
might be interesting to see how they madewere latten, a type of brass. Silver, pewter or tin.
battle-ready swords in Norman times.They had names like "Ulfberht" or "Ingelrif". Often,
It's a mistake to confuse the blacksmith with thethough, it would be something like "Gicelin me
sword smith. The latter is a highly skilledfecit", "Gicelin made me". On the reverse, a
tradesman, specializing just in the manufacture ofreligious inscription might be hammered in.
swords. It took years of experience to be able to"Innominidomini", perhaps. This was done after the
produce a weapon that was both flexible and atsword was ground.
the same time capable of taking hard knocks toOften, tougher steel was welded to the edges by
its edge without chipping.repeated heating and hammering, so that the
The former, no less skilled in what he did, simplysword maintained its flexibility, but remained sharp.
didn't specialize in the sword smith's skills. TheThe next part was tempering and here the smith
blacksmith was more than capable of repairingneeded all his experience and skill. The metal is
helms, shoeing horses, repairing mail, (a mostheated to a considerably lower temperature than
tedious business!). The blacksmith dealt in allwhen it's annealed. He had to know precisely
manner of metal working, while the sword smithwhen to quench the metal. If it were done too
was a specialist.soon, then it would be too hard. Too late, and it
The sword underwent a change of manufacture.would become too soft again.
Until about 900, they were pattern welded. RodsThe medium into which they quenched the metal
of iron and carburized iron were twisted together,generally, varied from smith to smith. Some
repeatedly heated to white heat and beaten out.swore by honey, as they said it created fewer
When the sword was finished and polished, abubbles. Others would use salt water. Yet others
wavy line could be seen running down its length,would run a film of oil on top of the water, saying
giving it a pleasing pattern.that the immediate quench was momentarily
Improvements in steel forging after this date,allayed by the oil.
however, meant that new types of swords couldThe metal crossguard was slotted onto the tang,
be produced. First, the metal was heated andthen two pieces of wood or horn, channeled out
hammered repeatedly, usually over six inchinside to take the shape of the tang were glued
lengths. This was called 'drawing out' the sword.on, covered usually with leather and bound with
This was a long process, for not only did thethongs. The pommel was slotted over the end of
smith have to pay close attention to making surethe tang and hammered home.
the cross section of the weapon didn't becomeThe armourer's workshop itself was usually a
too thin, he also had to give the sword its basicdetached stone building because of the dangers of
shape.fire. The forge had a stone built hearth and an
At the end of this task, the metal was veryassistant or apprentice used hand operated
brittle and had to be annealed. This is a processbellows to supply the draft for the fire, which was
where the steel is softened. It's heated to highof charcoal. There were seldom windows in these
heat, then allowed to cool very slowly. Often itbuildings. A breeze or draft from an outside
was wrapped in thick layers of cloth or leathersource could upset the treatment of the steel.
for this purpose and put aside for 24 hours.Torches gave light, as of course so did the fire.
When they were unwrapped and in their annealedThere are a number of superb sword smiths
state, decorations were hammered into them.around today, but it would be a wonderful thing
First, grooves or fullers were hammered into theirindeed if a sword from the Norman era could be
length. Then, names were hammered in, often thefound in pristine condition
name of the sword smith himself, or his factory.My thanks to Christopher Gravett and Dr.