Seax Dagger, Damascus steel blade, horn hilt, leather sheath

Seax Dagger with Damascus steel blade, black leather sheath and horn grip, 9th century

Reconstructed after finds from the 9th century, with a hand-forged high carbon steel blade. Genuine horn handle with elaborately ornamented pommel.

The delivery includes a leather sheath with two belt loops, as the seax was worn horizontally.

Damascene version:
- 512 layers Damascus steel blade
- Hilt made of horn and brass
- Overall length: approx. 47 cm
- Blade length: approx. 31 cm
- Weight: approx. 900 g (approx. 1.1 kg with sheath)

The terms Damascus steel or pattern welded designate a compound steel forged out of two or more different types of steel. It is named after its birthplace, the Syrian city of Damascus, a former stronghold of the patterned steel production. As a common practice, a harder high carbon steel and a milder low carbon steel are repeatedly forge welded and folded together. The high carbon steel ensures a higher hardness, a better temperability and longer lasting edge retention, whereas the milder steel confers greater blade flexibility and tensile strength. This procedure, which arose in a time where steel qualities were often low and inconsistent, enables to combine the positive attributes of the various steel grades. Besides, the different shadings generated by the varying carbon content of the alternating layers engender strikingly beautiful patterns, such as the twisted motif called Torsion Damascus pattern or the Rose Damascus pattern. Undoubtedly, these unusual patterns partly explain why inherent magical properties were attributed to the Damascus steel blades of the Middle Ages. Such a damascene sword blade is for example depicted as a bloody worm or a poisonous snake in the Edda.

Please note:
We do not sell this product to customers under the age of 18. Please provide your birth date when ordering. We'll also need a copy of your ID-card or passport by email, scan, fax or mail.