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Gabe559 t1_j0a506l wrote

Do Viking weapons get passed down along Nordic families?

I guess this question can extend to other cultures as well but is it at all common for weapons made during the Viking age to be passed down to Nordic families today? Would also be curious to learn if Samurai swords are passed down within the same family to modern times.

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desolateheaven t1_j0dbfgz wrote

A good sword could be passed down from father to son, or gifted to someone in exchange for favours, or buried with a notable warrior. Many Viking weapons did double duty as humble farm implements, sailing tack etc and thus were recycled rather than inherited. The Vikings did not have particularly high-tech/super-efficient weaponry that would have represented a major investment and frequently lost, abandoned, or cannibalised their own kit. They failed abysmally as archers for example, though they tried it.

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