Hello everybody.
I'm still pretty new here, but I've been eagerly reading everything I could find about ancient arms and armour. Now I think it's time to do the next important step and actually buy a real sword. And that already is the main point of my post. I've been searching the whole net for nearly a year or something now, I know where I can buy what for how much, but I'd really appreciate the advice of someone who has experience in collecting and purchasing, maybe even handling, swords.
I've read pretty much about Albion Swords, and to be honest I'm really in love with the Solingen. I'm really that close to buying it. But €1200...... That's VERY much money.
So please, everybody who thinks can help me with some advice, let me know. Is Albion really that good, is it worth to spend €1200 on a sword like the Solingen, or are there any alternatives? One last thing: that maybe sounds odd, but I don't want to buy a sword of second choice. I'd rather have only one or two but very valuable ones.

So thanx for the help and auf wiedersehen!

If you want the Solingin and its in stock, go for it.

Its very nice.

If its not in stock, keep searching until it is in stock and pick it up then if you don't find anything better.

Well IMHO I think the solingen is a great sword and well worth the money. I've had mine for a little shy of a year now and am very pleased with it. In fact i have never been let down by albion. I own 7 swords including the squire line great sword I use to train. About the only problem I've had is the grip came undone on the squire. Considering that it sees use 2 to 4 times a week as a sparring tool, I have no problem with re wrapping it. I think even with the price increase I would have purchased my solingen. I can honestly say I have never regretted any purchase from them.This is just my experience with albion though.

Blessings,
Michael

There's obviously an outpouring of love for Albion, and I hope to handle one someday and find out why. I would like to suggest another option though, one that would get your feet wet, as it were.

Like you I waited a long time to buy my first functional sword. Longer, even. I knew about Albion and Del Tin, and saw their work in movies and on TV, but wasn't sure if I could spend so much without holding one in my hand. Then I moved near a place (www.reliks.com) that retails functional swords for Windlass Steelcrafts. Got to handle them, and realised that for a price so very much less than an Albion or the like, I could get a sword that was similar in quality to what a sergeant or mercenary might afford, and have more of them for my collection.

Windlass has a lot of bad press, and probably they deserved it, but almost everything I've handled at Reliks felt usable and solid - most of a proper weight, comfortable balance, and solid for the money. They have obviously improved since those days where collectors formed such a low opinion of them. Most people here will refer to them as MRL (from www.museumreplicas.com) swords, as that is the main U.S. retail company. Hopefully there is a way to get these swords in Austria without having to deal with them being sent from India to the U.S.A. and then to Europe. That amount of shipping would be quite the expense.

Again, Albion is probably among the shining giants of reproduction swords, and I personally look forward to being able to add such high-end pieces to my collection. For a first sword, or a first few that together will still probably cost less than one good Albion, getting an MRL sword is a reasonable alternative IMHO. I own the Shrewsbury and the High Renaissance (the latter no longer offered), and have handled many others in the store. The only grain of salt to take with my advice is that I've never handled an Albion. Perhaps I'd be saying "Windlass who?" if I had.

Good luck, and remember: you can never stop with just one...

Just as an input in case you are debating about going a lower cost route for your first sword, but still want the Albion quality.

I recently recently recieved the Albion Knight, and now fully identify with some forum members who consider it a favorite one hander, or had to buy it after handling it with only the intention of writing a review on the Knight . There are definate similarities between the Knight and Solingen, and I suspect you would have to be an expert to differentiate any handling improvements of the Solingen over the Knight. The Knight lacks just a couple of the finer details in the pommel and gaurd curve of the Solingen. Based on the new prices, the Knight is a bargain at only just over half the cost of the Solingen. The Knight is a pretty combination of classic design, even if it is not based on any specific museum piece.

I am sure you would love either sword if they are the general typology that you want. But, with the Knight you could also purchase a helm or commission a scabbard within the same budget as just the bare Solingen.

Have fun deliberating your first purchase. I know I agonized over mine (Albion Crecey Grete sitting here within eye sight now...) Good Luck!

First of all, thank you for all your replies! It' s great to be among people who obviously share the same passions, or probably insanity is more correct :) . I think I'll really have to sleep a couple of nights more over my decision. But pretty sure it will be the Solingen or the Sovereign to be bought. Since no one of you adviced me against Albions work, I guess they really must be like the Mercedes among sword-makers.. :) .
Mr. Goranov, I don't know if I get the point here; what exactly should my expectations about one of Albions swords be like? It would be nice if you could give me a little info on how that was ment.
And one last question: What's really about that mysterious blade geometry-thing? I found this topic handled like the holy grail of swordmaking. How imprtant is it really? Can I expect a sword with correct or proper distal taper from every swordsmith who is recreating swords? It's just because Albions homepage is the only one I read about this feature. And so excessivly often that I don't really know if this is just for marketing purposes or really something that only Mr Johnsson and the folks at Albion know how to incorporate into a sword? It would be very kind if someone could tell me a bit about that.

In anyway, thanx a lot for your immediate replies, and pfiat eich gott!

Arms and Armor make beautiful functional swords at a lower price than Albion charges. www.arms-n-armor.com Their quality may not match Albion's Museum Line, but it is agurable that they are at the level of the next Gen Line.

Distal Taper is not a marketing invention of Albion, but a thoroughly discussed and investigated subject over the past few years. I'm not the person to explain it. Here is an thread that may get you started - http://forums.swordforum.com/showthread.php?s...stal+taper

Also note that when you wrote down blade geometry and distal taper, you created a link to an explanatory articlr

Proper mass distribution (combinations of thickness, distal taper, profile taper, cross-sections), etc. are critical to good handling and overall performance. There are a pile of threads on balance, mass-distribution, and edge geometry around here. Check out our Spotlight Topics for a lot of information. Angus Trim talks a lot about balance and "harmonics" as does Michael "Tinker Pierce." Arms & Armor talks less about it, though posts by Craig Johnson and their products show they are well aware of how it works. Basically, on any sword costing $500 USD or more, you should expect the maker to have an understanding of how it all works and to have applied that knowledge to the product. For less expensive swords, the makers seem more interested in looks and weight than proper mass distribution. We have well over 100 reviews on our reviews page; each includes a section on handling/performance. Between the spotlight threads and the reviews you should be able to get a good idea of how blade shapes/propoprtions affect performance.

I love the Sovereign. I've handled the Solingen and it's a fine sword. My personal preference is for the Sovereign, but it I were a wealthy man, I'd own both (and a lot of other things). I like the price of the Sovereign better. :) Both swords have been reviewed, as people have pointed out.

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Mr. Arnow, that was very exactly what I wanted to know, so thank you very much!
Is the depicted Sovereign yours? It looks absolutely amazing! The brass guard and the emblem on the pommel are great. Are they optional modifications by Albion? If not, how were they realized?

Thanx and auf wiedersehen!

I've got a Sovereign too. Its a good sword. The bronze guard and pommel are standard. The coin in the pommel is something Chad got elsewhere - a replica coin of Edward I, that fits quite nicely (Strangely, I have one of those coins too)

Just as an FYI: The Sovereign comes standard with a steel cross and either a bronze or steel pommel. The bronze cross was (if memory serves) originally Chad's brain child. Albion had cast (again if memory serves) somewhere between 10 and 20 of these crosses, the sword Chad had built using the first. These all bronze Sovereigns were then sold as a special item during trade shows and promotions over the last year or so. Sadly, Albion has no more of these crosses and (as far as I know) has no plans to make any more.

Chad, that is a very handsome scabbard you've got there. I assume that was the collaborative venture you've been talking about needing the bronze elements made for :cool:

. . . I really wish I could have jumped a little quicker to order my Sovereign in all bronze. . . missed it by a week. . . maybe someday I'll find one out in the secondary market :)

I own the Solingen among others and it is a fine sword well worth the money. Only thing to consider is the handle: it is rather on the thin side. If you like thin handles it is ok. If not you may want to reconsider. You may also wear thicker gloves to compensate this. Apart from the thin handle the solingen is a beautiful and well made sword which will stand repeated use.

If you have questions, mail me - if you are in the vicinity you can come around and have a look at the Solingen yourself.

schöne Grüße

Herbert