I try to live my life like a warrior should. It may sound cheesy but I believe a lot of the same ethics and values are just as applicable now as they were in the 11th century. I like the idea of being self sufficient and having the skills to take care of my family. Vikings loved puns and humour and so do I. I even like the idea of silver arm bands for money and plan to make myself one this winter.

I like Viking weapons like my Norse Hawk. It is really very very versatile ,it is a weapon a projectile weapon ,a axe/hatchet and even a hammer and a lever.

I like Saxon and Viking Seax's
This is more of a Laengseax(long seax).


Not all of them had the wharncliffe style blade.


One of my fave Viking sayings is "a man without a knife is a man without a life.

I never knew that, they were some of the first to vandlize art and leave grfitti too. so the humor makes sence.

I remember reading a viking tombstone (actually the translation beside it)
To those of you who give all away while alive, let me take my axe and smash your head.

I guess the guy believed in being self sufficient

I have done some reading and I guess all the puns and wordplay in the sagas make translation very difficult. It is really hard to tell what is a straight translation and what is some obscure viking pun.

What made me start this thread was looking around my den and seeing all the swords and hawks and bows and arrows and knives and armour and partially finished knives and books on knives ,bows and weapons. I thought throw a couple bearskins in here and a Viking would feel right at home. I need a few more elk heads and sword stands made out of antlers though.

I don't have a horse or a longship but I do have my truck and my bike/quad. I feel pretty cool with my bow and norse hawk cruising through the bush on my quad in my armour even if it is carbon fibre and ABS rather than chainmail.

My favorite Viking joke involves Gunnar, a big Icelandic farmer who was the premier fighter of his age. He was involved in a feud, and a bunch of warriors came out to his farm to ambush him. Everything looked quiet, so they told one man to reconnoiter. “Climb up his roof and look through the smoke hole. See if Gunnar is home.”

It’s hard to sneak when you’re climbing a thatched roof. Gunnar heard the guy, and poked his spear through the thatch and through the Viking. He tumbled off the roof and staggered back to his buddies. They asked him “Well? Is Gunnar home?”

He said, “I don’t know if Gunnar is home. But his spear is.” Then he dropped dead.

Unsub, I did not know any of these things. Thanks for sharing, I love history, especially about warriors and other fighters.

There's a project for you Unsub...You should try making some chainmail... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

It's not that difficult, just takes a little time and some skill. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Great Seax Unsub <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />


Here is a pic of my Del Tin lombard Seax.





Funny how some designs are just timeless.....





Yep......you should make a shirt I'v made a dozen there not that hard just takes some time. It's would be a Great Winter project <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I was thinking of using the mail on fireplaces.
Or leather armour and fur. Swords and chainmail were more for tribal chiefs than your average Viking. Leather armour an axe and a spear were much more common.
Spears were vitally important and if you have ever fought with one you will see why. They were not usually thrown unless they were designed for that.

Most battles were fought with the shield wall. This was extremely brutal and tiring. Often one side would try to break through the wall by throwing a volley of axes and following up with a brutal attack.
You were not considered a man until you had stood in the shield wall.

If you are interested in stuff like this but don't like wading through dry history texts I highly recommend Bernard Cornwell's historical fiction like "the Winter King". He wrote the "Sharpe" novels which are also very good. Sean Bean did the Sharpe series on TV.


If you are ever in eastern Canada there is a viking settlement from the 11th century that has been excavated and a replica built so you can see what it was like. Apparently it was problems with the Scraelings(what they called indians) which is why they left. Most likely it was caused by the Vikings having metal which the natives coveted. Apparently when the Vikings would build fishing camps on the coast of Newfoundland the indians would wait until they left and tear apart the entire settlement looking for any scraps of metal. The Vikings had to rebuild every season.

I follow the highland code, just like my forefathers in scotland
Ard Choille!
http://www.clangregor.org/

Right on Macgregor ,it gives you a connection to your history and your clan that most people don't have in this day and age.

I think that your family history is very important
after all if anyone is gona be there for you its your family
beutifull custom btw