Oakshott Type X -The Bayeux

The Oakshott Type X sword used by the Normans when they defeated the Saxons at Hastings in 1066 is just one of the finest weapons of war ever crafted.  At 36 3/8 inches long and 1.12 kilos the sword had just enough mass to break a man or his shield without exhausting an averaged sized warrior in battle. The sword had ample combat range on foot or on horseback and enough blade width to resist shattering with a blow.

The Norman sword evolved from earlier Viking swords that turned superior metal forgings into a lighter, stronger sword that gave the Vikings a real advantage over their adversaries. Never underestimate the force multiplier of technology in warfare.

The Bayeux reproduction by Albion is a work of art. My all time favorite was a variant named Hastings X that is no longer being made.