The Cawood Sword
Mystery surrounds this Viking sword which has survived virtually intact for nearly 1,000 years.

Please note: The Yorkshire Museum is home to an extensive and varied collection of items and artefacts. Whilst we make every effort to display a

broad spectrum of our collections it is not always possible for all our collections to be on display at once. Please check the latest exhibitions to find

out what collections are currently on display or contact us on 01904 687687.

The Cawood Sword is only the fifth sword of its type to be found and is by far the best preserved.

It was discovered in the River Ouse, near Cawood Castle, North Yorkshire, in the late 1800s and its condition is so good that some strange wording

can still be seen along its blade.

There are capital letters from the Roman alphabet on one side and from the Lombardic alphabet on the other, but they do not spell any known words.

Archaeologists believe the words make up a religious phrase to give the sword’s owner extra strength in battle.

The sword dates from 1100, the end of the Viking period and the beginning of the Medieval period, and is very similar to another sword found in

Norway, which has Runes written down its blade, a Viking language.

Mystery also surrounds how the sword ended up in the river. Cawood Castle was the summer palace for the Archbishop of York and in earlier times

was a Viking lord’s manor house.

Overall Length: 36” Blade: 30”
Retail Price: $440.00
$264.95

In Stock!
Blade:
Weight: 2 lb 7 oz
Edge: Sharp
P.O.B.: 4 5/8”
Thickness: 5.3 mm – 3 mm
Width: 49.8 mm
Grip Length: 4 ”
Pommel: Peened
The Hanwei Cawood Sword has a blade of 5160 High Carbon Steel. The guard and pommel are of steel and the grip is overlaid with brown leather.

The hard-core grip is overlaid with brown leather and has a steel throat and chape.

The celebrated Cawood Sword, named after its discovery location near Cawood Castle in England, is regarded as one of the finest and best-

preserved examples of an 11th century Viking sword in existence. Preserved in the mud of the bed of the River Ouse for almost a millenium, the

sword has now found a permanent home in the Yorkshire Museum, where it is a leading attraction. What is almost certainly a sister sword was

unearthed in Norway in 1888, giving a valuable clue to the Cawood Swords origin.