Albion Squire Line XIIA & Tritonworks sheath
Jul 17, 2008 14:01:14 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2008 14:01:14 GMT
First off, I did not buy this sword new. I bought it off Alex Ren on myarmoury because he needs to pay bills. I know, sad sad world we live in...
(The dagger is a DSA Norman Dagger. Did not come with sword, that was mine, got it new.)
Anyway just thought I should write about the 'other' entry level swords, the Squire line swords. Keep in mind, this sword is modified. Albion does not sharpen these swords unless you pay extra for them to do so. Alex had this sharpened by Russ Ellis of Tritonworks. I must say despite this, I was dissapointed by his sharpenning skills. Now I do not know how long ago this custom order was done, Mr. Ren did not inform me, but the sharpenning is a good bit uneven and quiet wavy in certain places on the blade. It is not the worst sharpenning job, I mean it is still far better than what I am currently capable of .
The bevel is clean and there appear to be no scratches from sharpenning. But the bevel is still highly uneven in numerous places on the blade. I will probably have to get that worked on slightly still I must say the scabbard despite appearing to be a low end Maelstrom is very high quality as is the belt. I've put it on a couple of times over the back and around the hip and it is super comfy and well suspended. The sword is very tight in there. There is also a neat lip that opens up when you put the sword in the scabbard, really neat. Makes the slit for the scabbard seem invisible when the blade isn't in there!
As far as rigidity and edge strength, this sword has it! I attacked a small tree with it near my house with light to medium blows to see how the edge would fare and it did VERY well! No edge damage at all! The edge was still sharp enough to cut down a few tree branches as shown in the following two pictures.
I have also cut several plastic objects with this sword to see how it would are against a wide range of targets. Results were so so. Granted I have poor form I could not for the life of me slice a small water bottle. Milk jugs were easy as was an large plastic orange juice container but the smaller lighter targets just seem to get batted away. Again, the bevel on this sword isn't the best and it would probably do a lot better with some extra work smoothing out that bevel.
Now I have tired one handed and two handed cuts. You can use this sword with one hand but it really shouldn't be. It is just light enough that if you had to, you could for one good cut. It is 3.6 pounds according to my bathroom scale. I was able to cut one handed into that orange juice container I mentioned ealier. Due to the angle of the cut I did not slice in half but that's because I cut with the tip so I didn't pass through the entire jug but I came close! It did slice the whole way through of what I did cut and the jug stayed in place on the cutting stand. No batting or anything!
As far as structural integrity goes, the blade is nice and tight. I did notice a few creaks in the wooden handel during certain swings. Nothing too serious but serious enough to consider having a cord wrapped grip added to make the grip stronger. Speaking of which I understand this is a Squire line Albion but I still think they could have done a rough cord wrap. I mean, new this sword is now $440 new or so and doesn't even come sharp!
Other than that the sword is well built. Edges are nice and even, fuller is fairly straight, crossguard and pommel are of good quality, and the peen is very nice! Only thing is I think, I'm still not sure but the tip appears to have a slight bend, oh 2 to 3 degrees or so when held level. I'm not sure if is there or not, may be my lousy eyes but I see it occasionaly. Also, the sword is pretty rigid but does have good flex in it as a cutting sword of this type should have.
When the pommel is struck with your palm there is some mild movement but nothing out of the ordaniry. Though did want to note that there is uneven movement when you strike it from top side of the pommel to the bottom. One side vibrates more than the other which I thought was quiet odd but none the less I don't think that is an indicator of anything other than possibly how the blade was peened.
I will try to get some cutting videos in the future possibly but I can't guarantee it. So anyway here are the rest of the pictures for you to oggle at.
s113.photobucket.com/albums/n206/StevenJ61/?action=view¤t=SquireGreatSwordXIIA01.jpg
s113.photobucket.com/albums/n206/StevenJ61/?action=view¤t=SquireGreatSwordXIIA02.jpg
s113.photobucket.com/albums/n206/StevenJ61/?action=view¤t=SquireGreatSwordXIIA03.jpg
s113.photobucket.com/albums/n206/StevenJ61/?action=view¤t=SquireGreatSwordXIIA04.jpg
s113.photobucket.com/albums/n206/StevenJ61/?action=view¤t=SquireGreatSwordXIIA05.jpg
s113.photobucket.com/albums/n206/StevenJ61/?action=view¤t=SquireGreatSwordXIIA06.jpg
s113.photobucket.com/albums/n206/StevenJ61/?action=view¤t=SquireGreatSwordXIIA07.jpg
s113.photobucket.com/albums/n206/StevenJ61/?action=view¤t=SquireGreatSwordXIIA08.jpg
Historical Accuracy 5/5 (There are a few XIIa samples at myarmoury that look very similar to this sword. The tapering is also quiet correct as is the length of the fuller and weight.)
Handling 4.5/5 (It is a good heavy sword, still heavy though but I perfer it that way. It can take more abuse but it still does make the sword a bit on the slow side but that is to be expected. Weight is well within reason too considering its size.)
Structural Integrity 5/5 (Peened, solid! Not whippy!)
Fit and Finish 4/5 (Again, wish Albion shipped these with a cord wrap and sharpened but oh well! These can be fixed in the after market! Also Albion will sharpen them for extra.)
Value for your Money 4/5 (Despite not being sharpenned stock it is a good project blade. You could buy one new, ship it to some one like Brian, have it sharpened and add a cord wrapped hilt and have sword the equivelent of the Baron which is almost exactly the same for $100-$200 less.)
Over all 4.5/5
So overall, good sword I'd say!
(The dagger is a DSA Norman Dagger. Did not come with sword, that was mine, got it new.)
Anyway just thought I should write about the 'other' entry level swords, the Squire line swords. Keep in mind, this sword is modified. Albion does not sharpen these swords unless you pay extra for them to do so. Alex had this sharpened by Russ Ellis of Tritonworks. I must say despite this, I was dissapointed by his sharpenning skills. Now I do not know how long ago this custom order was done, Mr. Ren did not inform me, but the sharpenning is a good bit uneven and quiet wavy in certain places on the blade. It is not the worst sharpenning job, I mean it is still far better than what I am currently capable of .
The bevel is clean and there appear to be no scratches from sharpenning. But the bevel is still highly uneven in numerous places on the blade. I will probably have to get that worked on slightly still I must say the scabbard despite appearing to be a low end Maelstrom is very high quality as is the belt. I've put it on a couple of times over the back and around the hip and it is super comfy and well suspended. The sword is very tight in there. There is also a neat lip that opens up when you put the sword in the scabbard, really neat. Makes the slit for the scabbard seem invisible when the blade isn't in there!
As far as rigidity and edge strength, this sword has it! I attacked a small tree with it near my house with light to medium blows to see how the edge would fare and it did VERY well! No edge damage at all! The edge was still sharp enough to cut down a few tree branches as shown in the following two pictures.
I have also cut several plastic objects with this sword to see how it would are against a wide range of targets. Results were so so. Granted I have poor form I could not for the life of me slice a small water bottle. Milk jugs were easy as was an large plastic orange juice container but the smaller lighter targets just seem to get batted away. Again, the bevel on this sword isn't the best and it would probably do a lot better with some extra work smoothing out that bevel.
Now I have tired one handed and two handed cuts. You can use this sword with one hand but it really shouldn't be. It is just light enough that if you had to, you could for one good cut. It is 3.6 pounds according to my bathroom scale. I was able to cut one handed into that orange juice container I mentioned ealier. Due to the angle of the cut I did not slice in half but that's because I cut with the tip so I didn't pass through the entire jug but I came close! It did slice the whole way through of what I did cut and the jug stayed in place on the cutting stand. No batting or anything!
As far as structural integrity goes, the blade is nice and tight. I did notice a few creaks in the wooden handel during certain swings. Nothing too serious but serious enough to consider having a cord wrapped grip added to make the grip stronger. Speaking of which I understand this is a Squire line Albion but I still think they could have done a rough cord wrap. I mean, new this sword is now $440 new or so and doesn't even come sharp!
Other than that the sword is well built. Edges are nice and even, fuller is fairly straight, crossguard and pommel are of good quality, and the peen is very nice! Only thing is I think, I'm still not sure but the tip appears to have a slight bend, oh 2 to 3 degrees or so when held level. I'm not sure if is there or not, may be my lousy eyes but I see it occasionaly. Also, the sword is pretty rigid but does have good flex in it as a cutting sword of this type should have.
When the pommel is struck with your palm there is some mild movement but nothing out of the ordaniry. Though did want to note that there is uneven movement when you strike it from top side of the pommel to the bottom. One side vibrates more than the other which I thought was quiet odd but none the less I don't think that is an indicator of anything other than possibly how the blade was peened.
I will try to get some cutting videos in the future possibly but I can't guarantee it. So anyway here are the rest of the pictures for you to oggle at.
s113.photobucket.com/albums/n206/StevenJ61/?action=view¤t=SquireGreatSwordXIIA01.jpg
s113.photobucket.com/albums/n206/StevenJ61/?action=view¤t=SquireGreatSwordXIIA02.jpg
s113.photobucket.com/albums/n206/StevenJ61/?action=view¤t=SquireGreatSwordXIIA03.jpg
s113.photobucket.com/albums/n206/StevenJ61/?action=view¤t=SquireGreatSwordXIIA04.jpg
s113.photobucket.com/albums/n206/StevenJ61/?action=view¤t=SquireGreatSwordXIIA05.jpg
s113.photobucket.com/albums/n206/StevenJ61/?action=view¤t=SquireGreatSwordXIIA06.jpg
s113.photobucket.com/albums/n206/StevenJ61/?action=view¤t=SquireGreatSwordXIIA07.jpg
s113.photobucket.com/albums/n206/StevenJ61/?action=view¤t=SquireGreatSwordXIIA08.jpg
Historical Accuracy 5/5 (There are a few XIIa samples at myarmoury that look very similar to this sword. The tapering is also quiet correct as is the length of the fuller and weight.)
Handling 4.5/5 (It is a good heavy sword, still heavy though but I perfer it that way. It can take more abuse but it still does make the sword a bit on the slow side but that is to be expected. Weight is well within reason too considering its size.)
Structural Integrity 5/5 (Peened, solid! Not whippy!)
Fit and Finish 4/5 (Again, wish Albion shipped these with a cord wrap and sharpened but oh well! These can be fixed in the after market! Also Albion will sharpen them for extra.)
Value for your Money 4/5 (Despite not being sharpenned stock it is a good project blade. You could buy one new, ship it to some one like Brian, have it sharpened and add a cord wrapped hilt and have sword the equivelent of the Baron which is almost exactly the same for $100-$200 less.)
Over all 4.5/5
So overall, good sword I'd say!