Patrick Kelly posted thoughts on his here: http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=7590

I just bought a Svante from one of my friends (and fellow forumite) and it just arrived in the original Albion packaging. I have loved the sword from the first time I laid hands on it at a practice session and the weapon felt magical in terms of balance. The folks at Albion have created a sword that feels alive in the hand with wicked cutting and thrusting potential. My Landgraf with Gothic Christian Fletcher grip was my favorite until this beast arrived.

The Blue Light started flashing at K-Mart and I picked this up:

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My last sword is an Albion Svante, which arrived on Tuesday. Before that, I received an Albion Munich with a Gothic hilt and a scabbard by Christian Fletcher (I gave her a thread of her own). Also recently, my AT/CF Venetian Sidesword returned to me with a new grip and a matching scabbard.

My next sword (already paid for, but not yet received) is the Bugei Lion Dog daisho. She'll go to Keith Larman for an adjustment to her tsuka before she comes to me.

Sadly, I won't be back in the U.S. until Christmas, when I can see my four new girls for the first time and see the Svante before I send her off to Christian to get her own scabbard. I promise pictures will follow! :D

Sam,

That sounds great. Would love to see lots of pictures of the Munich with the Gothic hilt. I remember you mentioning the Bugei Lion Dog set... will be curious to see pictures and how much it meets your expectations. Who is Keith and what all does he do? Why does it need adjusted?

What month are you in the cue to have your Svante scabbard done by Christian? I'd say the Svante is by far my most favorite sword so far... I guess it should be though! After having a Svante, I can't imagine having as much enthusiasm for the Munich... The Svante sort of raised my expectations I suppose. Anyway, the Gothic Munich is still of interest to me (the blade seems not much beefier than a rapier). The Brescia Spadona is nice and has that very distinct tapered blade, but the blade seems rather thin in some regards and probably wasn't meant for armor? Hopefully Albion will do more swords of that museum level caliber...

Should have done this a good few months ago..better late than never:
My last sword, just in time for Christmas 07, was a A&A English Longsword, and what an excellent wee present it was, a simply delightful sword.

Chris,

My Munich is discussed in this thread: http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=11309

Bill's recent review of the Munich has me very impatient to see my own. (I was expecting Patrick to do an "official" review of the Svante at some point...)

I mention the Knecht in the Munich post. I ended up waving off on that. I was also idly pondering the Dane and the Valkyrja. In the end, I decided that graduate school needed to take priority, so I focused on the two others that I really wanted; the Svante and the Lion Dog. I could be dissapointed about that, but any "worst case" scenario that ends with you owning a Svante isn't too much of a tragedy. ;)

Anyway, Keith Larman is a professional togishi who does work with Bugei on the side. He's shortening the tsuka from 15 inches to 13 inches. James Williams likes very long tsuka, and I just wanted to nip that to a length more comfortable for me. Keith's work can be seen at www.summerchild.com. The blade will retain the basic stock polish. He's just doing the tsuka.

I'm glad to hear you liked the Svante so much. It seems to be a universal opinion. I'm really looking forward to seeing that one in the steel. It sucks listening to your parents rave about your sword when you're stationed overseas in a country where swords are illegal and you can't see it for yourself. Ah, the sacrifices I make for my country. Christian has me in the December timeframe, so I was planning on going home for Christmas, seeing the Svante for the first time, and mailing her to him personally. By the time I come back stateside for good, she should be ready. :D

Incidentally, the reason I wanted the Munich so much was because of Peter's interest in the original Bayerisches sword. Though not a Museum Line sword, the Munich's blade is a pretty precise copy of that one, and Peter had nothing but good things to say about the original.

At some point I should decide which Maestro Line I want, the Meyer or the Liechtenhauer. Leaning towards the Meyer.

My most recent is an Albion Brescia Spadona. It's not too bad but I can't get used to the pommel in actual handling. Sure is pretty though! :cool:

A nice Wilkinson Patent Solid Hilt (i.e. full tang) British Pattern 1897 Infantry Officer's Sword ID'd to Major W.H. Wilkin of the Sherwood Foresters (Nottingham & Derbyshire) Regiment. Wilkin served extensively in the Boer War and World War One. The tang is visible, sandwiched between horn scales and bound with silver wire. The full tang construction enhances the balance of this sword compared to others with normal tangs.





A photo of Wilkin courtesy of the Worcester and Sherwood Foresters Regimental Museum:

I finally received my Darksword Armory Squire Sword and Elf Dagger! Huzzah!

My customized A&A Dürer. An enjoyable project (and a fast one, for once). This will be my last high-end sword for a long time, I'm afraid. I've traded away almost all of my Windlass pieces to reduce my collection down to just a few nice pieces of arms and armour. Might make some knives or convert my proto-mortuary sword to a 15th c. German rugger. There are some other little projects on the horizon.

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What a beautiful piece. I've been so close so many times to ordering the Discerner. I may have to do the payment plan with Albion to do it.

Hollow pommel of my sword was silvered. Cross-guard was silvered too.

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Alexander, looks like a great piece. May I ask where you got it?
Thanks,
Dan

I've been wanting two specific swords, a Del Tin 5155 and a Sal D'aquila Musashi (www.pointgallery.com) for years now, and I got really lucky last April-I bought them both off ebay within 2 weeks of each other! :D

I thought some of you might like to see my latest acquisition - a scabbard made for my NG Knight by Christian Fletcher. Its a beauty, and includes a raised Christian cross at the throat and an etched cross fleury in the chape. Christian made it just like I wanted it, only better. Hope you like it.

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