NOVA: Secrets of the Viking Sword

00:00:01 The Vikings were some of the fiercest warriors of all time

00:03:09 it makes julienne fries, it's wonderful.

00:05:22 NARRATOR: The Vikings spread out from Scandinavia

00:07:26 I don't need a sword, but I have to make them.

00:09:29 NARRATOR: In London, one of the world's leading experts

00:11:35 and allows more carbon to be mixed in evenly.

00:13:32 of any crucible steel production in Europe until 800 years later.

00:15:59 Yeah, very good.

00:17:59 This charcoal will be the carbon source for the steel

00:20:06 The theory is that this is how they did it

00:22:56 with crucible steel weapons.

00:25:04 in the Ulfberht swords originated from Iran.

00:27:28 and hard to forge.

00:29:13 NARRATOR: To choose the best metal for a particular application

00:31:26 NARRATOR: After 11 hours of pounding

00:33:44 and I could feel the blade getting through the cloth

00:35:54 The fact that they went through the labor

00:37:46 LJUNGQVIST: But we have no way of really knowing

00:39:50 the inlaid lettering helped reassure customers

00:42:15 So in this time period

00:44:14 were buried as well and killed as well.

00:46:04 absolutely everything can go wrong.

00:48:37 Those that were spelled "H-cross-T"

00:51:04 FURRER: If the inlay survives all of the grinding