Fig. 789.—Hilt of a double-edged iron sword, ⅖ real size, inlaid with silver, found with a spear-point of iron.—Södermanland, Sweden. ] The scabbards were of wood, covered with skins, often richly ornamented with gold and silver. The men carried them in a belt across the shoulder, which by means of a double button could be lengthened or shortened. The luxury of the ornamentation on their weapons corresponds with that of the countries whence the forefathers of the race claimed to come.[92] “Eyvind Urarhorn was in the winter at the Yule-feast with King Olaf, and received rich gifts from him, Brynjolf Ulfaldi was also there, and got as Yule-gift from the king a gold ornamented sword, and also a farm called Vettaland, which is a very large farm” (St. Olaf’s Saga, ch. 60). “There were in the house not a few gold ornamented swords. Sigvat made a stanza, in which he said he would accept a sword if it were given to him by the king. The king took one and gave it him; the hilt was bound with gold, and the guards were gold ornamented; it was a very costly weapon” (St. Olaf’s Saga, 172). [Illustration: ⅓ real size. Fig. 790.—Hilt of a double-edged sword inlaid with silver; in a tumulus with an axe.—Norway. ] [Illustration: ⅓ real size. Fig. 791.—Hilt of a sword. Hilt of iron ornamented with carved and raised notches, the first of bronze, the latter of silver, partly destroyed.—Norway. ] The swords were carefully tested before use. “Thórólf took his own sword and gave to Thorstein; it was a fine and well-made sword. Thorstein took it, drew it, and catching its point, bent the blade between his hands so that the point touched the guard; he let it spring back, and it did not straighten again. He gave it back to Thórólf, and asked for a stronger weapon....” (Svarfdæla, ch. 2). [Illustration: Fig. 792.—Hilt of sword ornamented with silver and gold. ½ real size.—Scania, Sweden. ] [Illustration: Fig. 793.—Double-edged sword handle. ½ real size.—Götland. ] From the following we see how careful the people were in polishing their swords, so that they might be very bright:— “Thorir was the herdman of King Olaf, and was greatly honoured. As a token of it the king gave him the sword which his kinsmen had owned for a long time and been very fond of. It was called Thegn; it was both long and broad, sharper than any other, and three times polished” (An Bogsveigi’s, Saga, ch. 1). [Illustration: Fig. 794.—⅛ real size. Found in a tumulus with an axe, the teeth of an iron comb for weaving linen, &c., and a glass bead.—Norway. ] [Illustration: Fig. 795.—⅛ real size.—Norway. ] [Illustration: Fig. 796.—⅛ real size. Found with a file in a round mound, a fragment of a shield-boss, three arrow-heads, a horse’s bit, a gimlet, the end of a chain, &c.—Norway. ] [Illustration: Fig. 797.—⅖ real size. Single-edged sword of iron, found with a spear-head of iron, &c.—Norway. ] [Illustration: