DM9
02-23-2014, 12:46 PM
Recently purchased a Helle Viking, described as being a fairly faithful modern reproduction of a 1000+ year old design (i.e., Viking utility knife). The Helle knife uses modern steel, but Helle claims that the design is grounded in current archeological understanding of the types of tools Vikings actually used. The handle is birch, and the blade is full (rat tail) tang, hammered flat at the butt end of the handle. It is intended to be a user; nice heft, very sharp--no finger guard though, so seems to be more tool than weapon, though the Vikings likely used it for all of the above. Sheath is fitted leather, pukka-style.