Longsword Review #2: An Array of Albions 

Thanks, that's a wonderful compliment, considering this exactly what my filmographer and I are trying to accomplish (even with, currently, zero budget) - useful content, and high-quality delivery! As for the Steward, one of my students has one of those. Definitely like that sword, as I do the Ringeck. Just be wary of course that the thrustier the sword, the more it will make you work in the cut!

TZLongsword​Way I figure it, if I get a thrusty sword to go with my current XIIIA greatsword, it will balance my practice. Besides, if I can get the mechanics right, I can use any sword I want, feasibly :)

Thanks for the compliment, and I hope you enjoy your longswords when you get them!

Hey, Flint, thank you! We've been meaning to do an in-depth review of the Viceroy soon, just have been focusing on a few other side projects in the meantime. But its high on the list - stay tuned!

Thank you! Actually, thank my filmographer..!

As a training sword for cutting i would not suggest it for the same reasons as the Alexandria. I own one, and it cuts so insanely well that my friend, who has no experience whatsoever with swords, was able to cut a soaked straw beach mat most of the way through his first go (albeit not particularly cleanly). That said, from a collection standpoint it is a really incredibly wonderful piece.

The Albion Baron falls into the "great cutter but might be a little self-correcting" category. I use one in competition cutting, but prefer other weapons for general-purpose "dry" practice with sharps. Sword wind volume for the Baron is on the lower side. (very flat, wide blade and the fuller doesn't add much to the sword wind) The grip is comfortable. I have somewhat large hands and don't feel the need to scrunch them up when I cut. The Fiore and the Crecy can have that issue a bit if your hands are on the larger side, although I've come to actually really like a smaller grip, once I got the hang of it. The wheel pommel is nice. I like wheel pommels, but that's another story. The Pommel's got a crusader's cross engraved in the side if you're into that type of thing (I'm not). Historically, it's a Sword of War that predates the early Liechtenauer manuscripts by about a century or two (give or take) and it can be good for practicing most early KdF techniques, but it's not at all good for techniques involving half-swording. It's a good sword for a medium-to-large-build person, but people with smaller builds may find it a bit on the unwieldy side -- due to a combination of it's weight, the length, and it's wobbilyness. (not a good word, but I mean the general tendency of a sword to flex when changing the plane or edge of the cut) tl;dr: Well-constructed and well-designed sword on the mid-range albion (just over $1k) line. Very nice cutting sword for a mid-large-sized fencer, although not fantastic for sword-wind. Not ideal for half-sword techniques, but surely usable for study of KdF.

Toby Hall hi your post on the Baron is quite interesting. Ever tested the Talhoffer ?

Thank you, and it's on the list! Specifically a video about the Albion Count and the Steward. Stay tuned!

You're very welcome, and thank you! As for the Earl, it isn't a poor cutting sword, it's just one of those middle-of-the-road longswords in terms of cutting, so I don't usually recommend that one to absolute beginners (because of the additional resistance from the hollow ground profile). However, it is a very capable cutter in good hands, and I definitely love it for its aesthetics as well. I've been meaning to do a full review of the Earl and the Regent in another comparative video. I just need to get my hands on a Regent. And another Earl (the one in the video is owned by a soldier friend currently serving in Kuwait). But stay tuned, it's going to happen!

@@TZLongsword_HEMA When?

I'll bump those comments towards the filmographer/editor. Although we had full-length shots of all the swords they just didn't end up in the cut. That's a good note, however, for future videos: we'll try to make sure we've got redundant takes at different lengths for editing purposes. As far as my focus point that was mostly just where my filmographer was having me look ;) But we can play with that for future vids also.

You looking away from the camera is not unpleasant, but it's a bit unusual, at least on RU-vid. It makes me expect to see an interviewer that never appears.

Ah. Fair point haha. Makes more sense when you describe it that way..

Well, ultimately, a person has to find the sword(s) that suits them and their style of combat!

Haha cheers! Here's hoping I've got a few more new things produced in that time ;)

Scuffing is not uncommon, even with 'softer' media like soaked tatami. That's just a part of actually using the things. The light grey scotchbrite pads are -- I believe -- exactly what Albion uses to finish their swords, so you're doing well with them.

Thanks for your reply and your expertise.

To say that the Viceroy is weighted towards the tip is by not to say that it's not agile; it just feels a bit heavier than more slender swords. One of the benefits of swords balanced like this (again, not "swords" that feel like a brick sack of s***, but are just more massive overall) is that it better teaches one to effect movement with the body, rather than relying just on arms. I definitely recommend it, and know of many others within the HEMA community who are quite happy with theirs as well. Cheers!

TZLongsword Thanks for the quick reply. Sounds like it might be a decent choice for me, and I certainly do like the aesthetics. I'm a bit of a snob in that way, I want beauty AND functionality/reliability. I hate buying or settling for sub-par stuff. If I can bother you a bit more, have you had any contact with the Albion Regent? That is one of the others at the top of my list. upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4f/Albion_Regent_Medieval_Sword_8_%286092639712%29.jpg My main question about the Regent is how practical is that pommel shape from a functionality/handling perspective? I love it aesthetically, but I have seen techniques that involve placing the palm of the hand over the pommel, and twisting or otherwise manipulating the sword. Looks like that shape might be a hinderance.

Kyle Edwards the regent is nearly the same sword as the Earl, which is reviewed in this video. They're both hollow-ground XVIIIb blades, and handle similarly. One thing about the regent is that some people dislike the feel of the fishtail pommel as it can potentially dig into your hands/wrists a bit as you swing, but your milage may vary.

What Toby said, in terms of the Regent and Earl being the same blade with different furniture. Having said that, what I didn't mention explicitly in the video is that those XVIIIb-type swords are a bit resistant in the cut due to the hollow ground blade profile. All things being equal it would probably fall between the Crecy (XVIa-types) and the Fiore (XVa-types) in terms of general ease in cutting.

Thank you!

Doc Mengele Gaddhjalt is a great sword. It was my first Albion, too. It is definitely a fun pumpkin slayer. Of the Albions I've owned, Gadd, Thegn, Laird, Castellan, Lancaster and Landgraft I think I'd take the Castellan in the time machine. The Lancaster would be my second choice and then the Landgraft. I'm not so much a practioner, and the Castellan and Lancaster both had a very versatile feel. I loved cutting with the Gadd and the Thegn, though, and the Laird has a great rep as a cutter, but I haven't gotten to swinging it much yet.

Haha perhaps in the future. We'll just keep accumulating bloopers and unleash them all at once!

Honestly I'd probably go with one of my various Big Sticks. My reasoning? Living tissue and bone is considerably softer than dead/dried bone.. so I'd rather smash the dead and save the sharp steel for the living ;)

Haha thanks, Keith!

Haha my editor just said: "Hey! The 90s are cool again in the States!"

FTL Soundtrack.