Hurstwic: Other Viking Weapons
One supply means that atgeirr, kesja, and höggspjót all seek advice from the same weapon. A more careful reading of the saga texts doesn't help this idea. The saga text suggests similarities between atgeirr and kesja, that are primarily used for thrusting, and between höggspjót and bryntröll, which have been primarily used for chopping. Regardless of the weapons might have been, they appear to have been more practical, and used with higher energy, than a more typical axe or spear. Perhaps this impression is because these weapons have been sometimes wielded by saga heros, resembling Gunnar and Egill. Yet Hrútr, who used a bryntröll so effectively in Laxdæla saga, was an 80-yr-previous man and was thought not to present any actual risk. Perhaps examples of these weapons do survive in archaeological finds, but the features that distinguished them to the eyes of a Viking are usually not so distinctive that we in the modern period would classify them as totally different weapons. A cautious reading of how the atgeir is used within the sagas gives us a tough thought of the dimensions and form of the pinnacle necessary to perform the strikes described.
This dimension and shape corresponds to some artifacts discovered within the archaeological file which can be often categorized as spears. The saga text also provides us clues in regards to the length of the shaft. This data has allowed us to make a speculative reproduction of an atgeir, which we've got used in our Viking fight training (right). Although speculative, this work means that the atgeir really is special, the king of weapons, both for vary and for attacking possibilities, performing above all different weapons. The lengthy reach of the atgeir held by the fighter on the left could be clearly seen, compared to the sword and one-hand axe in the fighter on the appropriate. In chapter 66 of Grettis saga, an enormous used a fleinn against Grettir, usually translated as "pike". The weapon can be referred to as a heftisax, Wood Ranger Power Shears shop a phrase not otherwise recognized in the saga literature. In chapter 53 of Egils saga is an in depth description of a brynþvari (mail scraper), normally translated as "halberd".
It had a rectangular blade two ells (1m) lengthy, but the Wood Ranger Power Shears shop shaft measured only a hand's size. So little is thought of the brynklungr (mail bramble) that it is usually translated merely as "weapon". Similarly, sviða is sometimes translated as "sword" and typically as "halberd". In chapter fifty eight of Eyrbyggja saga, Þórir threw his sviða at Óspakr, hitting him within the leg. Óspakr pulled the weapon out of the wound and threw it back, killing one other man. Rocks were typically used as missiles in a fight. These effective and readily available weapons discouraged one's opponents from closing the distance to battle with standard weapons, and so they could be lethal weapons in their own proper. Prior to the battle described in chapter 44 of Eyrbyggja saga, Steinþórr chose to retreat to the rockslide on the hill at Geirvör (left), where his males would have a ready provide of stones to throw down at Snorri goði and his males.
Búi Andríðsson by no means carried a weapon aside from his sling, which he tied round himself. He used the sling with lethal results on many events. Búi was ambushed by Helgi and Vakr and ten other men on the hill known as Orrustuhóll (battle hill, the smaller hill within the foreground within the picture), as described in chapter 11 of Kjalnesinga saga. By the time Búi's provide of stones ran out, he had killed four of his ambushers. A speculative reconstruction of using stones as missiles in battle is proven on this Viking combat demonstration video, a part of an extended battle. Rocks had been used during a struggle to complete an opponent, or to take the combat out of him so he could be killed with typical weapons. After Þorsteinn wounded Finnbogi together with his sword, as is informed in Finnboga saga ramma (ch. 27) Finnbogi struck Þorsteinn with a stone. Þorsteinn fell down unconscious, permitting Finnbogi to cut off his head.
