After forever the forge is back in action. Trying to find a trip to Denmark/Germany. no customs just what is on here is available for now. Not back to knives yet. Hammer arm is a bit rusty yet.
prēowthwīl (to blink) (the time it takes to blink)
Bonus 1:
Hagosteald (an unmarried warrior of royal descent) (bachelor)( liegeman) (owner or one who lives on fenced land of their family) sometimes acts as a personal name. Alternate:Hægsteald.
Old English: hæġsteald, hagulstead, hagosteald ⇒ Old English: Hagustealdesēa ⇒ Old English: Hagustealdeshām English: Hexham Middle English: hassel, haselle Old Saxon: hagalstad Old High German: hagalstalt, hagastolt Old Norse: haukstalda
Hilda Roderick Ellis Davidson is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine. Great detail and everything kept in context. I do love comparatives though I am biased.
Odin’s spear was Forged by the Dwarves and bargained for by the Jotun God Loki as a gift to Odin. In Sigrdrífumál A Valkyrie (Pronounced Val-Kyria) shared lore with Sigurd including that the Runes are carved on Gungnirs tip . It is said that the spear cannot miss it’s mark and some lore suggests it was hewn from the wood of Yggdrasil itself.
So a lot has happened, life death etc… I have moved into a new house and my shop also has moved with me. I am setting it up now and I hope I will start to have time to post more articles. I think a few more culturally based postings will be fun as well.
I have the largest selection of made to order items yet and tons of in stock items! Please check out my Ebay and Etsy.com for the new items including some items on Ebay not available on Etsy.
The history of the Nordic people begins in Central Asia and the Russian steppe when the Indo-Europeans start migrating west into modern-day Europe. During the great migration a branch of the IE moved into present day Scandinavia and became isolated most likely due to climate disruptions. Human beings have occupied Scandinavia for at least 11000 years. It is in the forest and frozen mountains that the Nordic people get the distinct cultural/linguistic identity known as Germanic. After developing a unique culture the Germanic people begin moving south for less turbulent weather and cross the Baltic and North seas into Germany, Poland and Jutland. The migration age tribes founded the modern Nordic countries we know today like Scandinavia (Norway-Sweden-Denmark), Germany and England to name a few.
The culture of the Norse was actually already 1000 years or older when the Viking age began and a new wave of Germanic people again started crossing into Europe and Britain carrying largely the same migration age culture, legal systems, Runic codex and religious beliefs as the previous migrating tribes. Some of the identifying markers of Nordic culture is complicated knot work, exceptional metal/wood work, seafaring/boat building and design, metaphoric poetry and spoken word, grand feasting halls, ancestral worship and equal rights for women. A fact reviled by Roman authors when facing the Teutons in the Alpine regions during the migration age. I use the term Norse as a general description of the larger Germanic culture from its Dutch origin “Noors” “People from the north” because Germanic culture originates in Scandinavia/Denmark.
Runes:Glossary:
We Norsemen have an indigenous alphabet called Runes or the Elder Futhark, The header of my blog is in Anglo-Saxon Futhorc set and many variations exist as the system evolved out of the Elder Futhark. Runes were typically used for marking ownership such as Hermeric owns this knife or Olaf is buried here but many large inscriptions do exist. Each sign also has a divine meaning with immense power behind it. I have often called the Runes the language of the universe. I personally believe in the power behind the Runes. The origin of the Futhark is a mystery, theories exist but none satisfy in explaining the origin. It was largely accepted that a Mediterranean origin like Etruscan might explain it but no early finds exist near the Mediterranean, they all exist in Denmark , Northern Germany and Scandinavia. Now it is theorized that Western Germany/Denmark may be the original zone of expansion and Scandinavia being less explored has some very old inscriptions and “could” be the originator of the Runic script. Some have linked the Runes with the Hallristningar symbols carved in Neolithic Sweden/Norway which adds a new layer of age and interest to the story. The divine description in the Norse Lore is that Allfather Odin pulls them from Ginnungagap as he is hanging from Yggdrasil. A full article on Runic origins and theory will be presented in an upcoming post.
Sites of Elder Futhark discovery in Europe. Common Germanic would be the language. All German languages were mutually intelligible at this time.
Geography:
Nordic Bronze Age. 1700-500 BC
Pre-Roman Iron Age in Germania/Scandinavia 5th/4th – 1st century BC
Germanic Migration 750BC-1AD.
Red= Before 750 BC
Orange= New settlement by 500 BC
Yellow= New settlement by 250 BC
Green= New settlement by 1AD.
………………………………………………………………..
Stone Age Connection to Germanic Culture:
Stone Age Carving from Norway.
Complex Nordic Bronze age carving of obvious similar creation as the design above.
Rock carving form Norway (Over 6000 years old) Showing unique artistic elements.
Norway 1200BC
Many images on these stones dating from 6000 years ago tothe Iron age depict many traditions found in Germanic and later Viking age culture such as waging war on boats, farming/herding, fishing, ship design, beings in Germanic religion and symbols found throughout Nordic culture prehistoric to modern. When looking at these images one could understand how the Runes may have evolved out of it stylistically. The exact culture responsible is unknown in some cases but elements can be traced to later Nordic customs.
STONE CARVING PHOTO’S ARE FROM WIKIPEDIA. Copyright to respective owners.
A small gallery of images and symbols. Art of my own creation is marked.
Irminsul: Ancient German totem most likely of Yggdrasil (World tree) Symbol is associated with The Saxons and a Deity called Irmin who is most likely Odin under one of his alias/regional names. (Photo by Varus111) Reconstructed Irminsul in Hildesheim Germany.
Thor-Thunor: Nordic Thunder God. Viking age bronze statue.
Helmet replica from the Sutton-Hoo find. Adorned with glorious plates referencing Nordic customs, legendary figures and amazing detailed metal work. (Not my photo)
Stone carving designs from Gotland Sweden. Copyright Call Of Steel 2012.
Gotland Sweden Stone Carving: Pre Viking. Copyright COS 2012.
Viking age stone carving from Gotland Sweden:Viking age. Copyright COS 2012.
Anglo Saxon decoration. Copyright COS 2012.
…………………………………..
In summary I hope this post gave at least some idea of Norse culture. It is near and dear to my heart as I descend from these mighty folk and try as an artist to keep some element of the old ways alive and well into the future.
Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more Blacksmith and historical posts.
My original 60 grade rebar article has been very popular because it covers the general questions on rebar from a field testing stand point however it largely has left out the more commonly found 40 grade, so I decided to tackle it head on in this update to REBAR: HOW AND WHY.
The 2 daggers above were forged from a single piece of random grade 40 domestic rebar. I decided to torture test the hardness, strength and consistency of grade 40 after the success with grade 60. The results were 100% positive in the fact that this material water hardened so well I myself could not believe it. I made 2 daggers out of it with identical results and then quench hardened a non worked portion to test randomly in my vice. I place the round undeformed piece in my vice and attached a wrench to it attempting to bend it. It was so hard that not only did it barely bend under pressure it actually return to shape when it finally did flex. After this testing it still appears that tempering is not 100% needed but this is my own preference. Viewing my experiments in whole I have yet to have any negative result from making blades out of either 40 or 60 grade and the hardening ability/carbon has been high in all pieces I have tested and all tests have been on totally random pieces. One piece actually snapped when I continued to forge below temp.
My steel rating:
Workability: A+
Hardening: B+
Durability: A+
I again highly recommend at least testing this your self and seeing if you get the same results.
I will be making a rebar Scandi and it will be featured in a future article with testing data.
Remember that field testing material has far more value than internet myth and metal working lore that up to this point has been flat-out wrong.
Katala spelled in Elder Futhark. Chiseled pre hardening.
Typically a Runic engraving on a blade served as a name tag and name of the blade itself . The blade above is named “Katala” it is an Athame or Witches Dagger. If I had the blade for myself I would have written “Katala” Hröð owns me” naming the blade and owner. So if your setting out to cut Runes this is a good start for having something in mind when you begin.
Athame: A tool used by a Witch, Sorcerer or Shaman for various energy practices and rituals. Done in Nordic style with chiseled Runic marks.
Recycled Wrought Iron with Visigothic influence. ATHAME.
Wrought Iron Athame with Chiseled Runes.
Wrought Iron Athame with Antler handle.
Recycled Steel: Wroughr iron Athame with brushed finish.Cold chiseled Runes. Heat Steel to orange and allow to cool fully for best result.
Hand stamped Runic engraving. (Cold chiseled in to steel while still soft)
The most important trick to cutting Runes is being very relaxed and realizing that most Runic engraving are very freehand. This is not latin script so please by all means be creative with your engraving and try a nice organic format. It will end up looking truly authentic. Any High carbon steel tool that makes a perfect vertical line will do nicely for chiseling and remember to soften your steel before attempting. Runes are combinations of straight lines for this exact purpose of cutting them into metal, wood and bone.
Stone Age Carving from Norway.
The Call Of Steel 