For reference, here are two other swords ordered as "red" - good bit of variation. I actually like that, since I want a good bit of variation in my collection, but the color selection can really only really be a rough guide when ordering.


The Regent (accompanied by the Vinland, which is campaign worn):
[ Linked Image ]

The Knight:
[ Linked Image ]


From the examples I saw in Atlanta and from what Mike said about what he's seen recently, my Regent is pretty red, with the Ritter (which I don't have a good crisp pic of) being more normal. Magenta is darker, what the old oxblood would be, and what my Knight probably is closer to. The current oxblood has tended to be a reddish-brown. I don't remember which pieces were gripped with those colors there...

A couple of weeks ago the Bastard's grip started making funny creaking sounds and got a bit loose.
Without opening it, I figured the wood must have had a fault in it, and couldn't stand the daily 15-45 minutes of punishment.
Nobody's fault, just a case of "sh*t happens".

I told Mike about it, and asked if I could buy a piece of leather and new pieces of wood, so I could rewrap it myself.
However, Mike said that Albion really wanted to take a good look at it, as it shouldn't have happened, and asked me to send it back to them.
So I did just that.
Got it back today with a brand new shiny grip. Albion paid the shipping both ways, and I got lucky and didn't have to pay tax, so the whole operation cost me exactly nothing.

What can I say? Very, very Albion. I feel like I owe them.