OK, this has been bugging me for ages, and now I have found this forum there is a community I can ask, huzzah!

Many years ago when I still live in the UK there was an episode of Time Team when the gang was investigating some Saxon archeology and they found a skull with a nasty sword slash across the back of the head, most likely from a horse mounted swordsman. As the episode progressed they made a replica Saxon sword, based around a core of three twisted iron rods. When the sword was finished it had the most beautiful woodgrain pattern in the iron.

My question is this: where can I get some more information about that episode? Is it available on DVD (if it is, you can sign me up for a copy already). Are there any good resources on sword construction of this type, as I would love to find a good blacksmith and try and get one like it!

Thanks for any help you can give.

You're probably thinking of the excavation at Bawsey:

Click here

You will need a very good, or a specialist Blacksmith to make one like shown in the program.

Thanks guys, that brilliant. I guess it would take a very specialist smith as it was a difficult looking technique, but the results were uttetly beautiful!

Now all I have to do is see if it is on any of the Time Team DVDs.

Thanks again!

I think you're describing a pattern-welded sword. They are Saxon swords, made by forging layers of steel together, like a plait.
When it's finished, you get a beautiful flame-type pattern on the surface of the blade.
There's one man I would go to for one fo these, and that's the wonderful Hector Cole. He makes the most beautiful examples I've seen, but he is a very busy man... good luck!

Wasn't there a very similar thing on Meet the Ancestors some years ago?