See: Hedenstierna-Jonson, C. Rus’, Varangians and Birka Warriors. The Martial Society, Aspects on Warriors, Fortifications and Social Change from the Bronze Age to the 18th Century.

Figure 95, right hand side.

"The image has been called the ”Birka-falcon”, as the majority of finds have been made there."

"Finds of sword-chapes with stylised falcons are concentrated on the Eastern trade routes along the Baltic and Eastern rivers."

"The homogeneity in design of the chapes and the other grave-goods indicates that their owners belonged to a select group."

Inverting the falcon image reveals the Rurikid symbol.

Recently discussed by ARKADIUSZ MICHALAK & KRZYSZTOF SOCHA, 2017, A SWORD SCABBARD CHAPE WITH A DEPICTION OF A BIRD OF PREY FROM THE SURROUNDINGS OF KOSTRZYN. Slavia Antiqua, LVIII (2017), DOI: 10.14746/sa.2017.58.10