Re-watching the 13th Warrior, where Ahmed turns the sword he is given into a curved scimitar. Could this really be done with early medieval smithing?
In very short, no, a blade transformation as depicted in the 13th Warrior would not have happened for several reasons. Let us evaluate the whole scenario and see why or why not the scene would not have occurred.
Blacksmithing Ability
The ability of Scandinavian blacksmiths during the Viking age has been the subject of some academic debate over recent years. However, recent analysis of Ulfberht swords shows that not only did Scandinavian smiths actively trade for the highest quality steels (crucible steel) from Eurasia, the swords made from this steel were then (at times) exported *back* to the Islamic states which were the source of the original metals. While not every sword made for Vikings was of such a high level of craftmanship, it was safe to say that a high degree of skill was present among the swordsmiths of Scandinavia during the 10th century of the film. Smithing ability would not be a barrier.
It is worth noting that the specific technique shown on film is not likely the best way for this particular adaptation: reprofiling of an existing blade, cutting down a broken tip, putting a new edge on an existing edge are all reasonable transformations on an already healthy blade. Attempting to turn one type of sword into a new type of sword short of melting down the steel, is not likely (as will be discussed below).
Adapting swords blades for the needs of the customer
The practice of having a sword produced entirely in one location did occur, but trade was very much a fact of the ancient world, and this extended to swords as well. It was not uncommon for a blade to be made in city or area, renowned for their blade making skills (think of the famed swords of Toledo or Damascus) and then shipped en mass “naked” to be hilted, and scabbarded in the local style. Across the centuries various cities and nation states have all risen as various centers of industry including that of sword production. As mentioned previously the 10th century was a time where the reputation of Scandinavian smiths was great enough that swords from the Viking world were being exported in some instances.
There are many accounts in the Viking sagas for custom sword production, and individual or specific specifications to be included on the swords. For a customer to come to a smith and ask for a specific request would not be unreasonable (assuming he could afford the blade…and allow for the time needed for the sword’s creation).
Historical swords types: The types of swords in use in Scandinavia during the 10th had very wide blades, which typically had broad channels or fullers running down the middle allowing them to be very light for their breadth (These corresponded to Geibig Types 2-5 blade).They also had short single handed hilts, with grips which constricted the hand into a tight “hammer grip”. These came in a variety of styles (as shown in Petersen’s classification)
But were universally single handed swords, with blades around 28”-32” long.
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/24832
By contrast the swords used by the film Vikings are all closer to the size of 15th century Longswords, with two handed grips. This style of sword was unknown in the Viking age, and is a fantasy design.
You ask about Ahmad ibn Fadlan’s “Scimitar”, (side note, while this term may indeed describe such a fantasy sword, it has fallen out of use for historical swords, as it does not describe any particular sword design, but instead refers to curved blades of non-European and more specifically non-Christian origin); at the time of the film, Arab swords were straight and double edged, not terribly dissimilar from those found in Europe.
http://iainnorman.com/articles-2/25
Curved swords did exist in the 10th century, and were found on the sabres of the nomadic horsemen of Eurasia such as the Magyars, Pechenegs, and Khazars. These same Turkic sabres would become popular through the Islamic world following the Mongol invasions of the 13th century, and become nearly universally wide spread by the late 15th century producing such famous curved swords such as the Ottoman Kilij, the Persian Shamshir, the Afghan Pulwar, and Indian Tulwar.
While it is likely that it is these later Islamic swords which the filmmakers were tying to intone with Ahmad’s design, they would have been a completely foreign concept in the 10th century. In addition, the ability to mechanically convert a double edged, deeply fullered straight sword such as a Viking age sword, into a that of a sabre with complex distal taper, would be nigh impossible.
Bonus!
As an example that is perhaps the closest blade that has the ‘spirit’ of what the movie scene portrays, here is an example of a German blade, which was taken by Japanese smiths, and converted to a small Japanese ‘Katana’: in this case, an Aikuchi dagger from the 17th century.
https://collections.royalarmouries.org/object/rac-object-54908.html
References:
ULFBERHT BLADES: NEW ANSWERS TO OLD QUESTIONS
Ann Feuerbach, History of Antique Arms RESEARCHES 2016, Vol I
Viking Age Ironworking: The Evidence from Old Norse Literature
Mark E. Hall 1995, Kroeber Anthropological Society Papers
