The Nordic warrior frequently carried several light throwing spears into combat. This style displays the narrow, sharply pointed head designed to pierce mail. Several spears might be carried in the shield hand in a charge. These were thrown as the distance closed, leaving the warrior free to use his sword or axe in hand-to-hand fighting. This decorated spearhead demonstrates the Viking’s creative mix of art and war, whereby weapons often carried intricate patterns, created using the “Niello” process. This involved using an alloy of several metals (notably silver) mixed with sulfur which was rubbed into an incised pattern and then fired. Where the alloy is rubbed into the engraving it remains black, while the rest of the surface is polished to a bright finish. Our decorating process uses a little more technology but still provides a lustrous, permanent Niello-like effect. A suitable shaft is best found, as with the originals, in the wild. 15 3/4" overall