Precise weights of hacksilver are quite common in archaeological digs and treasure hoards, and the Norse used touchstones to verify purity of gold and silver. They were serious about trade. If memory serves, viking comes from their term for going raiding, but they also explored the rivers and seas around Europe. The Normans descended from vikings. The Vernagian Guard in Byzantium were usually vikings.
You probably know all that already, of course.
The vikings settled not only Iceland, Greenland, and Nova Scotia, according to some dedicated true believers, they made it all the way to Minnesota. I have seen the stone, but I can neither verify nor disprove its authenticity myself. It does, however, come from an era with a lot of fraudulent finds and hoaxes.
Edited for autocorrect typos
I actually watched a documentary partially about the Vikings that, purportedly, made it to what are now the United States of America, (Newfoundland, Canada was also mentioned), I wish I could recall what it was called. What's clear though, is that they travelled far and wide and they influenced many different peoples.
I knew about the stuff in your first paragraph but it's taken time for me to uncover those, and other, things which has been an enjoyable journey. That's the thing about history, in researching one thing many more pop up which is why it's a never-ending thing for me. I don't mind though, it gives me some great ideas on where to travel and what see when I'm there.
I think the Vikings were lateral thinkers who were happy to weigh up something before discounting it or moving on it and that led them to spread range out there and I also think they had the ability to see opportunity, chase it down and pivot if/when required. It would be considered good business strategy these days.
Thanks for commenting.