Forging a Viking Broad Sword: from start to finish - Swordsmithing! (Broad Seax)

I started making this sword in 2017 and now it's finally complete. This video will show how to make a viking broad sword or viking seax since it's a single edged sword in this case.
The seax was a weapon common during Anglo-Saxon times but was also in use during the early Viking-age. While mostly a simple weapon produced locally by many blacksmiths, more elaborate pattern-welded seaxes have been found as well. You will see how I am forging a Viking pattern-welded broad seax. I am showing all the necessary steps for forging a seax; starting from preparing the material, to drawing out the bevel on the anvil to heat treating and polishing it.
A detailed explanation of pattern welding: www.provos.org/p/pattern-weld...
Pattern Welding Explained T-Shirts:
RedBubbgle: rdbl.co/2BSFDkr
Tee-Spring: bit.ly/3hOnhC7
A big thank you to the following Patreon patrons:
Andrew Hecker
Lucas Gourbeyre
Nils Anderssen
Ryan Hobbs
Wayne Agostino
Patreon: / nielsprovos
Subscribe: / mintwart
Follow me on Twitter: / nielsprovos
Like me on Facebook: / nielsprovos
Filmed on a Sony PXW‑FS7. Color grading in DaVinci Resolve.
#swordsmithing
#blacksmithing

[@Jayboyd1260]

Nearly ten years ago I began watching a series of videos named something to the effect of the "serpent in the sword", the series had sizable breaks between vidoes, and to my my dismay I was unable to finish the series, as my computer crashed, and I basically forgot the name of the series. By the KZbin algorithm I have finally found your channel again, and see that you have finished the series (I think). I just want to say thanks to you Mr. Niels, your videos started my obsession with craftsmen type videos which have served as incredible therapy for me.

[@NielsProvos]

Unfortunately, it's still not quite done yet but I am glad that you enjoyed the videos and that they got you into watching more people make things.

[@thesixfootsixblacksmith4772]

Completing a twisted bar sword successfully even with access to today’s modern power tools is an almost impossible task. It boggles the mind to think of how skilled the dark and middle aged European blacksmiths were to have created the swords they did without the tools of today. Back then, a master blacksmith must have worked years as an apprentice, probably from a very young age, and also would have needed a team of skilled workers beneath him to pull off such a feat without wasting expensive and difficult to come by high carbon steels. As you say in the video no one truly knows exactly how certain steps of the build were completed back then or what types of tools they had access to. I’ve also read the process was not uniform throughout Europe as not all blacksmiths studied under the same master and also lived and worked in separate communities, which means they most likely had very different processes and techniques. Thank you for disclosing the amount of time it too you to make this sword. A year is understandable even for a skilled blacksmith like yourself that has a full time job and only a small amount of time each week to dedicate to these builds. Amazing video! Thank you for putting the time in to be so thorough with your explanations.

[@kaber759]

Amazing work...I'm glad to see blacksmiths on here that don't just use a grinder for 90% of the work

[@NielsProvos]

It’s still 50% of the work 😢

[@nativeflight7079]

I really like how you narrate your videos with eloquent statements packed with knowledge. Thank you

[@BlackEmperorGaming]

I remember watching this series years ago. YOU ARE A GENIUS! Do not ever doubt your craftsmanship!

[@Chlorate299]

What a marvellous piece, it's great to see the final product after so long.

[@JustPaladinNow]

i have to say thats really amazing with how little flux you use per i understand the need for flux but usually you see such large clumps but its really refreshing to see this level of skill

[@NielsProvos]

Thank you. That’s really kind of you to say. I am glad you enjoyed the video.

[@Nman923]

Your videos never cease to impress. Keep up the great work!

[@TerenceGoh21]

You're the only one that takes lotsa time explaining lotsa stuff to us newbies. Thanks mate and have a great year.

[@NielsProvos]

Glad you like the videos. Happy New Year!

[@kimfucku8074]

Very skillfull! This really makes you wonder how ancient smiths came up with this idea of forgewelding and twisting!

[@anmaro3678]

Your video ROCKS! So well done. I was enthralled. People never really appreciate or understand how long something of this magnitude takes to make. Also the care and planning. I am recommending this to my husband to watch as well!! Keep up the awesome work Niels!

[@NielsProvos]

Thank you. It is a lot of work :-)

[@lsubslimed]

I've missed your videos, Niels, they're so clear, concise, educational, and explained and demonstrated in a professional manner without all the extra and unnecessary "bells and whistles". Thanks for taking us along with you as you continue to explore and learn the various methods and techniques of early bladesmithing; there's still nobody quite like you on YT. The sword turned out beautifully too, and I also loved the graphic showing the resulting pattern of a twist billet ground to different depths, I can see that being used a learning reference quite often. That would also be pretty neat shown as twisted W's ;)

[@NielsProvos]

Ws would be interesting to explore

[@silverkinjal]

Your technical skills are truly extraordinary. So Much knowledge . This is a real art and Science

[@fstopPhotography]

That was a very well made mini documentary on the making of your swords.

[@davidcamilli170]

Very informative video. Interesting also the fact that you approached this challenge with extreme humility and on the other hand you did a terrific job. I like your style! Well done!!

[@NielsProvos]

Thank you. That's very nice of you to say.

[@holle2585]

Beautiful workmanship, in a beautiful video. Well done.

[@stevemackelprang8472]

Been following along for quite a while, showing my support with a purchase. Thank you!

[@NielsProvos]

Thank you. I hope you like the graphics. When I wear the t-shirts, I always get questions about what the patterns mean. A good conversation starter.

[@crazydougthewolf]

Great work, Niels! I always enjoy your videos and get a great deal of inspiration from them.

[@NielsProvos]

Glad you like this one. It really was a long time in the works.

[@motordude67]

Great and informative video! As you say in the film, it is incredible how they could make this 1000 years ago with the tools back then. Just the issue of getting good quality steel/iron was problematic. But these weapons were quite common in Norway in the viking age. There has been found about 3500 swords in Norway alone, dating from the viking era. Considering that the population in Norway in 1000AD was about 100000 people, that is a great number of swords relative to the population.

[@bfnurgf1]

Great blade. I appreciate how informative you are about the process. Thank you for the video.

[@DanGadd]

Its been quite a while since i last watched your vids, so im glad to see that your still uploading

[@NielsProvos]

I do. It's just slow as this is not my work but just a weekend hobby.

[@edgarderschmied4497]

wow. . I was hand sanding a simple wooden knife handle while watching... I think there's enough work left zo watch some more of your videos ;)

[@garyharmon1155]

Absolutely beautiful work, thank you for sharing

[@KeithLburns]

This is such a great video to watch before starting your own blacksmithing journey

[@NielsProvos]

Glad you like it!

[@stokermeister3]

Beautiful work I loved the serpent in the sword video 😍😁

[@doge4855]

Fantastic craftsmanship! Great video, thanks

[@SugarcreekForge]

Very nice work, Niels. I had to come back to watch this again. I am always inspired by your work and you are a great "explainer". Thanks for always giving insight into what you are doing and why you are doing it. Happy Easter!

[@NielsProvos]

I am glad you are enjoying them. I have been having some challenges in finding time for making these videos but the kitchen knife video that is upcoming should be fun.

[@SugarcreekForge]

@@NielsProvos I know that they are very time consuming to make, my friend. Thank you for the effort you put into them. I will be watching for the kitchen knife!

[@EddieJarnowski]

Great video. I would like to see a closeup of the pattern on the sword though.

[@fiddibelow]

Vakkert a sword no man today deserves. its beauty is at such a level I doubt even haraldr hårfagri would carry it to battle in fear of scratching it.

[@prussianforging6394]

Best blacksmith channel!!

[@stevesyncox9893]

I put a piece of wrought between two twisted bars. It came out great!

[@NielsProvos]

That’s great. What did you make with it?

[@kunstfuhrer]

fine one, thanks for showing how you have get the sword straight after the tempering

[@Tridentie]

"I will see you in another video very soon" Our perspective of time seems to be different. Niels please don't break my heart.

[@NielsProvos]

Soon is really up to a lot of interpretation. This is meant to be in Niels time.

[@Locahaskatexu]

@@NielsProvos Quality takes time :) I quite enjoy whatever you throw our way. By the by, I was recently re-watching your wolfstooth spear video, and was wondering whether that method could have been used to create relatively cheap and "mass" produced swords? i.e. forge out a bar of steel of sufficient quality, and then fold it around a low carbon steel/iron centre. Would such a sword work at all? or would it just be structurally flawed to such a degree that it wouldn't even be usable?

[@NielsProvos]

Yes. Common construction for Japanese swords.

[@DrOhcysp]

still curious as to when the serpent sword will be done..

[@michaelslack5269]

Thank you sir for sharing your wonderful work.

[@kjetilhauge9593]

Impressive work!

[@deanmacka4975]

Pretty cool stuff mate, great job bud✅

[@MultiRugman]

I loved the video and outcome! Absolutely amazing!

[@NielsProvos]

Glad you enjoyed it! I am working on the next one!

[@samir.ebrahim]

First video on this channel I've watched, and I love it

[@NielsProvos]

Glad you enjoyed it! Let me know how you like the other videos!

[@Sallibotz]

Fantastic work. Kept me engaged the entire time. Brand new subscriber here.

[@NielsProvos]

Great. Check out some of my other videos. I hope you’ll like them.

[@charleslake8231]

Very well explained thank you

[@0GregorSchultz0]

whaaaat?! Nice to see you again :)

[@jamiecorrigan3241]

Mr Peter Johnsson's Video 'The Viking Sword What It Was And Was Not' Is AMAZING In its way and a 'MUST SEE' if his video does not go viral there is no justice. But do not forget to read the most recent comments !!!

[@maximusironthumper]

Good work!

[@pierrecaillou9167]

thanks for all advices

[@stevesyncox9893]

Fantastic stuff. Thank you so much! I aspire.

[@vladimirkovacevic1656]

thats beautiful seax,you are awesome bladesmith Niels

[@NielsProvos]

Thank you. Glad you liked it.

[@452jman]

Nicely done 👍

[@danthemakerman]

Cool giveaway. I always get a kick out of your sense of humor.

[@jamestanner614]

Nice work!

[@oldeays5085]

Great Work!

[@luisrafael420]

Great video!

[@mattsimmons3259]

Beautiful

[@oneshotme]

Wished you would have given us a better and closer look at the blade. Very beautiful blade I'm sure and great job making the sword!! Enjoyed your video and gave it a Thumbs Up

[@NielsProvos]

I have some photos I can share.

[@frankbags462]

I love these videos

[@Mr-hz8gq]

That was most excellent sir

[@zuberqureshi4960]

good work man👍

[@timjones6231]

I love your videos. They are very informative

[@NielsProvos]

Thank you. I am glad to hear that.

[@timjones6231]

@@NielsProvos I have yet to try a pattern welded sword or knife

[@PedroTalavera-qd8lh]

Very nice

[@ozonethegreat6948]

Great vid. OSHA would have a field day with your shop lol

[@RedBeardOps]

Oh yeah.. subbed. Thanks for sharing sir.

[@NielsProvos]

Glad you liked it.

[@johnsmith-dd1hl]

a close up of the pattern is a must!!! Never saw the pattern at all after eching was very disappointing

[@theoneandonlyowl3764]

Lovely work. It really does leave you marvelling at how they achieved such feats in centuries past. I can't imagine the price paid for such a sword in those days... the days, weeks, months and labour involved; unless we have it all wrong. It's possible, by doesn't seem likely. We are smarter... aren't we?

[@NielsProvos]

The one thing to keep in mind is that back then this was likely a full time job with helpers. Where I meander in my way, they had thousands of hours of experience perfecting the approach.

[@johniibaam6443]

A true artisan !

[@pablocuellar8424]

Quite good machete mate !

[@nacidocoqui]

10:08 Okay, so pause watching this on my phone, time to put this bad boy on the big screen!

[@aserta]

Only at 10 minutes in? Son, this be Niels Provos...you always watch it on the big screen!

[@angusgreeneyeslefay9485]

Mighty Gods of Aesir ,i would kill for the Mjolner you have on the torc.

[@bmwsid1]

it would have been nice to see a close-up of the final etch!

[@funkycowsx2]

Cool.

[@en136]

Sehr inspirierend.

[@garysmith4425]

Beautiful work I miss my forge .

[@NielsProvos]

I have not been able to find time myself recently as well 😢

[@OuroborosArmory]

Nice filming.. I have never actually noticed that line..

[@KageStelhman]

Something that you might find useful for straightening a warped blade is Shimming it on either side of the warp when you clamp it to the mild steel bar. Also Tempering A long blade to 450f is usually sufficient to give it a nice spring temper.

[@NielsProvos]

Thanks. That's a good point. I sometimes shim with US quarters. I also had experiences where shimming created a warp in the opposite direction that was really difficult to remove :-)

[@davidnagore725]

Great stuff! Do you have a video of the seax you were tapping your hand with at the end?

[@NielsProvos]

Not really but you can see it in a little bit more detail in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l5vGaY1pbbyFqcU

[@Budivedder]

Nice sword

[@RovingPunster]

Great video ... although the "closeup" near the end wasnt quite close enough to really show the pattern to best effect. Enjoyable and informative +1 😁 N00b question: why draw out and then forge weld long pieces together ? Wouldnt the chances of success be better if you forge welded them before drawing them out, or would that adversely affect the pattern ?

[@shura0107]

Drawing out the billets also lets him size the patterns. Since he has to manipulate several billets to create the pattern, it's best done at a larger size, so it's easier to handle, and there is more surface area to forge weld. Sometimes, the metal doesn't close all the way, creating a cold shut, and a larger billet gives more leeway to grind out the cracks or shuts that a thinner billet doesn't have.

[@RovingPunster]

@@shura0107 Thanks for explaining. 👍 Just to ammend my question a little further ... yeah, it seems like fairly common practice to take off a little from each end when forge welding since delaminations seem most likely to occur there, so it appears to make sense that a billet would benefit somewhat by being longer to minimize the material losses with removing the ends in each pass ... but it also seems like that benefit only helps to a certain point, beyond which the chances for a delamination somewhere in the middle would seem to increase. If there is such a 'sweet spot' (i.e., range of optimal ratios of length vs width/height) i'd love to hear some thoughts on it, because i've yet to see a video that covers stuff like that. Gratitude in advance to anyone willing to take a stab at that ... assuming it's even a thing. Cheers.

[@aurvangar9811]

Congrats! Nice work sir. By the way, is Clang t-shirt about the game that never was released?

[@NielsProvos]

Yes, it is precisely that game. Good idea but never saw fruition.

[@ThrowingItAway]

use a belly board on your band saw, it's much safer and frees up both hands to guide the material while not having to push towards the blade.

[@rees4905]

Niels this is impressive as hell. We need to get you a PhD in swordmaking.

[@NielsProvos]

Haha. I think I would have to work my way up to Bachelor first :-)

[@charlessageii2220]

Incredible. Might I ask you what that is you are using for a twisting jig?

[@NielsProvos]

It's something I built to making twisting easier.

[@KaiCrafted]

Lovely blade, thanks for sharing. Is that the Architecture of Trees on your desk?

[@NielsProvos]

No. The book is called an Elegant Puzzle. It's by Will Larson.

[@KaiCrafted]

@@NielsProvos Neat, thanks!

[@jesuschristislord7754]

Why is this so therapeutic?

[@michaelli7381]

The music gave it a nice touch to the video! Mind if I ask what is the name of it?

[@NielsProvos]

Where there are a number of different songs on it.

[@michaelli7381]

@@NielsProvos There're all good but the one that really stands out to me is around 27:20

[@MVHiltunen]

This video for the first time answered a question that has been bugging me: Swords are made to specific size and must not be too heavy. The starting material billet is significantly heavier than the end product, and all forging work reduces the mass slowly through scaling. But much of the forging is done to hammer out kinks and shapes that you could never predict so you can't know beforehand how much scaling you'll get. And I never see the blacksmith do any "weight finalization" by cutting an excess piece off one end. So how come they end up with the weight and size they wanted? Now according to this, any excess material is left as thickness, and is removed through belt grinding. Am I correct in this?

[@NielsProvos]

You definitely want to make sure you got the basic shape right as that determines the balance of the sword and the overall weight. Grinding is definitely the way to fine tune this. It's also important to keep in mind that that the guard and pommel will add weight back.

[@mrlil5328]

I saw every video from your series...awesome! ...but were do you get your necklace...don`t say you have it done by yourself :/

[@NielsProvos]

It was made by a friend of a friend for a museum.

[@sachawilliams7731]

It seems like a lot of material, compared to the final product. Do you think that smiths back then used less? Considering they had to do everything by hand.

[@NielsProvos]

It's probably actually quite similar. Of course back then even more work was required to make the material. A sword like this would be a fortune.

[@JustinTopp]

I feel like historically the twisting would’ve been done by holding it with tongs and tong clamps very tightly. An apprentice holds one side the smith holds the other and they twist opposite directions could be wrong. Lovely work!

[@NielsProvos]

There is some evidence for twisting torques using special tools if I recall correctly.

[@JustinTopp]

Niels Provos hmm. I saw some twisting bars made of mild steel or wrought iron back in the day. It was a 18” ish bar bent in an s shape with the ends of the s extending to hold onto. It fit two sizes of bar stock

[@mattgraham4025]

Beautiful sword. Where did you get your Thors hammer knecklace? I would like to get myself one.

[@NielsProvos]

It’s a replica that was made for a museum. I have not found anything else like it.

[@bass321head]

I really like your necklace your wearing in this video.did you make it

[@NielsProvos]

It was made by a friend of a friend.

[@charliey1007]

Nice video @niels provos, though you should improve on your hammering skills as throughout the video you just lightly tapped the metal rather than striking it.. it’s not glass, it’s metal.. though that’s just my opinion, everyone forges differently.. Also when quenching in oil you need to dip it in and out like a tea bag, not slowly with minimal movements, as the heat from the hot blade will form a heat bubble like thing around the blade so the quenching will be uneven and the metal will warp.. so doing it by dipping it fast, in and out will get rid of the bubble that constantly forms around it and renewing the oil contact, resulting in an even quench..

[@seanhenning3019]

I’m just seeing this video and the craftsmanship is outstanding. Just curious am I the only one that noticed at the end when he was cutting the water bottle there was a jungle size marijuana plant Casually right behind him 😂

[@user-gw1sh9qc2s]

I'm in Auckland. Where do you get nice bars of high carbon rectangle steel?

[@NielsProvos]

I mail order them from the New Jersey Steel Baron. Aldo Steel.

[@bradhilton2283]

That totally Rawks

[@willywantoknow2563]

How heavy is that peddinghaus anvil? Contemplating if 50kg is enough or the extra $$$ for 75kg

[@NielsProvos]

I am pretty sure it's 150 pounds, so a little bit less than 75kg. I wouldn't go less than that.

[@merrittmcdowell8675]

Do you have a sales page for items you forged?

[@NielsProvos]

Sorry. I don’t sell my work.

[@stevenwillard8436]

Fantastic work! …though it seems you were a bit camera-shy with the end result.

[@NielsProvos]

It’s hard to film the pattern in natural light and I don’t really want to feature myself too much in these videos 😉

[@timrobinson513]

How did they forge without any welding in the past?

[@MrWTPunk]

Sand is a flux

[@lsubslimed]

If you're referring to his using a mig welder to temporarily tack weld and hold the pieces together before forge welding, you can also use something like bailing wire (or even the metal from wire coat hangers) or similar to tightly wrap the billet together at different areas along its length, then just snip them off once all the layers are welded and keep on forging. The way Japanese bladesmiths forged their "tamahagane" billets by carefully arranging and stacking their smaller pieces onto a "plate" made up from the same steel and then they would cover the entire things with rice paper, mud, and rice straw ash to help hold everything together as well as the protect all the layers from oxidation. Then they carefully and slowly heat it in the charcoal up to make sure nothing falls off and then get it all to stick during the forge welding. Basically, there are numerous ways and methods for forge welding without a modern welder. For a handle on the billet without a welder, one way is to just make one of two of the individual steel layers extra long to stick out from the main billet in order to give their tongs something to hold onto.

[@JustinTopp]

Covered in mud or when you heat two pieces of metal hot you can pull them out drop them on top of each other than hit with a hammer and it will weld

[@xrayheath]

Nice, but why do the pattern welding if you didnt show the pattern? I didnt see a herringbone damascus.

[@NielsProvos]

I show it towards the end of the video.

[@alexeyvakukh9776]

Супер!!

[@Riles11500RT]

Very well narrated and very educational and enjoyable. Huge disappointment though with no close up of the blade and pattern. Video went blurry for much of the end work showing the blade. Frustrating!

[@Dragon_Werks]

Do you take commissions for custom work? How can I contact you privately to discuss a commission?

[@NielsProvos]

I don’t take commissions. Do you have a price range in mind? I’d be happy to introduce you to people who do this professionally.