C. 900 AD. Viking age. Medieval Scandinavian, pointed iron knife; expertly cleaned and conserved with hand-carved, reconstructed bone handle depicting a dragon. Knives were a vital part of everyday life in the Viking world, where forks were not used, and everyone had to carry their own knife, both for self-defence and for eating. The item is extremely well preserved and has been professionally cleaned; it comes on a custom-made stand. Please note that the handle is a hand-made modern reconstruction based on medieval originals and using traditional techniques.Size: L:405mm / W:75mm ; 305g; Provenance: From an old British collection formed in the 1990s; previously acquired in Germany.