Ca. 900-1000 AD. Viking. A beautifully preserved iron sword of the Petersen Type X style, with a double-edged bevelled, pointed blade and wide shallow fuller groove; short guard, rectangular integrated grip and a hemispherical pommel. The blade is decorated with incised letters. The sword was an elite weapon during the Viking period, and only the most well-off warriors – the cavalry – would have been able to afford one. Such swords were used both by the Vikings and Khazars. The elite status of swords during the Viking age is made clear both by their presence in some of the richest graves as well as a law of Charlemagne, the Holy Roman Emperor, which requires soldiers who could afford to maintain a horse to be equipped with a sword. Mounted on a custom-made stand. Excellent condition. For more information on Viking swords, see Peirce, I. & Oakeshott, E. (eds.) (2009). Swords of the Viking Age. Boydell & Brewer Ltd.; for more information on this type of sword see also: http://www.vikingsword.com/petersen/ptsn158x.html Size: L:795mm / W:90mm; 975g. Provenance: Property of a European collector. Formerly in the collection of Earl Mitchell, London 1990s.