Why change to the Spatha?

[Tarbicus]

I think you are confusing the saga description of swords having to be replaced (during battle of Svolder, for example) because they had become dull (which must be taken with a grain of salt anyway unless the other side were really heavily armoured) with the roman tale of gauls straightening swords out during battle (which I've also taken with a grain of salt).

J. Kim Siddorn, Viking Weapons & Warfare, Tempus Publishing. The reason old swords were valued so highly was precisely because they managed to survive intact for so long. He puts the modern equivalent price of some swords at £250,000 to be made. Kormak had to fight a duel with Bersi... "He had an iron sword of his own, but thought he would have a better chance if he didn't have to stop and straighten it under his foot every third blow (!)." He then goes to find Skeggi to borrow the sword Skofnung.