The
Seax of Beagnoth (also known as the
Thames scramasax) is a 10th-century
Anglo-Saxon seax (single-edged
knife). It was found in the
River Thames in 1857, and is now at the
British Museum in
London. It is a prestige weapon, decorated with elaborate patterns of inlaid copper, bronze and silver wire. On one side of the blade is the only known complete inscription of the twenty-eight letter
Anglo-Saxon runic alphabet, as well as the name "Beagnoth" in runic letters. It is thought that the runic alphabet had a magical function, and that the name Beagnoth is that of either the owner of the weapon or the smith who forged it. Although many Anglo-Saxon and
Viking swords and knives have inscriptions in the
Latin alphabet on their blades, or have runic inscriptions on the hilt or scabbard, the Seax of Beagnoth is one of only a handful of finds with a runic inscription on its blade.