AbstractIn the literature about swords, their use has predominantly not been analysed. This article tries to reconstruct some aspects of the use of Viking Age swords from Northern and Eastern Europe. The reconstruction is based on biomechanics, martial arts principles, late medieval fencing books and other written sources, depictions, and material culture, primarily well‐preserved swords. As swords are specialised tools for combat, their design is determined by their function. So by carefully analysing the design, conclusions can be drawn about one of their primary functions, their use in combat. The hilts of Viking Age swords from Northern and Eastern Europe are designed in a way that the pommels are most likely not the end of the handle but a component of it. The blades may be used for thrusting and cutting. The analyses of the distribution of the effective mass and of the pivot points of a sword show that using a sword for delivering powerful chopping/hacking blows is very ineffective; swords are most probably optimised for winding actions.