14 DAY TRIAL // Weapons come in two main types: the practical ones, and the ones that are only good for decoration. Admittedly, only reasonably good fighters will be able to tell the difference, and smiths of course, but the difference definitely exists.
Ironically, decorative pieces are the ones that usually end up with most of the limelight. Hollywood can be blamed for that, as can art and history museums.
One such decorative piece, a sixth century Scandinavian sword, recently got duplicated down to the smallest etching.
How? By means of 3D printing technology. A modern-day Norwegian teacher, Nils Anderssen, wanted to pay homage to that era, so he pulled on his expertise in 3D design, game development and 3D printing love to create a copy of a double-edged iron sword with a bronze hilt.
It took him two years to figure out exactly how to pull it off, but he did it. Making thorough measurements of the sword, he used 3D Studio Max to create the design and, finally, asked i.materialize to create the object itself.
The sword was made from several parts which Anderssen then smoothed and gilded. The only big change compared to the original object (made in Snartemo in Southern Norway centuries ago) was that he filled the hollow hilt with wood, for better stability and assembly.
