The Thames Scramasax


This scramasax was recovered from the Thames at Battersea. It is a single edged short-sword -- a prestige weapon dated to the late ninth century. It is important because it is the only surviving instance of an epigraphical futhorc.

The Futhorc

Engraved along the side of the blade is a sequence of 28 runes, some of them unusual in form:

f u þ o r c g w h n i j r p x s t b e ng d l m q a æ y ea

The Name

In addition to the futhorc, the smith has engraved a personal name Beagnoþ in runes:

B ea g n o þ

Copyright © 1995, Tony Jebson <aj@wg.icl.co.uk>, all rights reserved. Last modified 23/02/95.