This is a fine example of a Petersen-style K Viking sword 800-900 AD.The blade is made of steel with a brass-decorated hilt. The guard has a horizontal garland pattern decoration, and the pommel is constructed with lobes and is decorated with copper alloy inlaid roping. Viking swords can be attributed their superiority to other European swords of their time because of Eastern superior steel-producing techniques. The Vikings traveled where other Western Europeans did not. For example they traveled to the Black and Caspian Seas via rivers. Their trade route to Iran was via Sweden. The Vikings were so successful that they are credited with helping establish the Kingdom of Kiev in 864 CE, which is the nucleus that medieval Russia grew from. The Vikings traveled to better themselves through trade.