Wulflund – La Tene Iron Age Celtic Sword – Stage Combat

In 1857 a large hoard of iron age artifacts were unearthed at Lake Neuchatel in Switzerland – among them many swords. The people who created them have been dubbed the ”La Tene” – A Celtic culture, groups akin to them were spread from as far as the Balkans to modern day Spain, Northern Italy and Southern Germany around 250-100 B.C. Though regarded as uncouth barbarians by the Mediterranean cultures, the Celtic people were quite advanced in their blacksmithing skills and made state-of-the-art, lengthy iron blades for their time. Many of these blades and scabbards were well-carved and heavily ornamented, revealing a culture of proud warriors who prided themselves on their skill at arms and equipment.

This sword, made in the Czech Republic, is inspired by the swords found at La Tene. Though the blade is of steel and not iron, it has been intentionally pitted to replicate the look of rough forging. It has the familiar Celtic wooden anthromorphic hilt and a steel crossguard plate. Created for stage combat the edges are left thick and blunt and the blade has been peened to the pommel for strength.