Petersen Viking Sword Typology

A complete collector’s guide to Jan Petersen’s Viking sword typology — the system that defined Viking Age swords and inspired later classifications.

When collectors, historians, or swordsmiths talk about Viking swords, one name always comes up: Jan Petersen. In 1919, Petersen published De Norske Vikingesverd, a groundbreaking typology that carefully categorized Viking sword hilts into more than twenty types (A–Æ). This system became the foundation of Viking sword studies, and it remains one of the most important archaeological classification tools in arms and armour research today.

Petersen’s work was more than just labeling old blades. By comparing shape, ornamentation, and archaeological context, he gave us a way to trace the evolution of the Viking sword over time, from the earliest Scandinavian forms to the richly decorated weapons influenced by foreign craftsmanship. His typology helps us understand not only the weapons themselves but also the cultural exchanges, craftsmanship traditions, and martial values of the Viking Age.

The influence of Petersen’s typology has been enormous. It directly inspired later classification systems such as R.E.M. Wheeler’s Anglo-Saxon sword typology and Ewart Oakeshott’s medieval sword typology, which expanded the same principles into the broader European Middle Ages. In this way, Petersen’s study of Viking swords laid the groundwork for how we still talk about swords today.

For collectors, reenactors, and students of history, learning Petersen’s typology is like tracing a family tree of the sword. It connects iconic finds, like the Ulfberht blades to regional styles, and shows how the Viking sword evolved into the knightly swords of the high Middle Ages.

Below you’ll find our complete library of articles covering Petersen’s Viking sword types. Each article includes historical background, archaeological references, and examples of surviving swords to help you explore one of the most fascinating weapon traditions in history.