This investigation was carried out to establish the compositions and the fabrication of ferrous metal swords, in the Pre-Medieval period and to discover if the different methods of construction which are observed had any significant effect on the properties of the blades, apart from affecting their appearance. Blades with patternwelded structures, made by a technique which emerged in the late La Tene period, using twisted strips or rods, were originally of fine appearance. As little is understood of their mechanical properties, this investigation was designed to show if patternwelding merely improved the appearance of a blade or if its properties were also enhanced.