I have one of the last series I bought last year. It does not have the tripple fuller. It has a nice ballance, I think its about 3lb 3 ounce. POB is about 3 3/4".
If you read the review of the hand and a half Albrecht II at this link:
www.swordsofvalor.com/swordcomparisons.htmlthey mention the sword bending. I had my sword bend and take a set at the same point. It was my fault I bent it really badly.
After straightening it was obviously hurt and would bend again when I 'd give it a serious strike. So I followed Clydes re-tempering process found at this thread
/index.cgi?board=swordreviews&action=display&thread=1170390707
Since then it has stayed straight when I cut heavy with it.
I have mine sharpened (another tale to tell).
It has been really tough. Ive cut heaps of soft targets, as well as meaner ones like 2" branches. I've cut through 8" wide boards of 5/8" MDF.
So it takes some hard hits and hasnt busted. I have full confidence in its structural integrity.
Shootermike had some trouble with his hanwei bastard. I can report no such problems with my hand and half. He has an Albrecht II (the sharp version of the practical hand and half) as well and haven't heard bad feedback from him on that one (Mike??)
The cross guard and pommel are some stainless alloy, and wont rust no matter what. Handle wrap has been good, except when new it needed a touch more epoxy to get the join flush as the last little bit of leather was lifting.
Scabbard fit is quite acceptable. New ones have rings. I had the old one so I had to attach my own ring to it.
I really like mine, I abuse it but thats why I love it. It was cheap and I feel I can do anything with it and really get my moneys worth. I've even done some acid etchings on the blade - my first attempts but they look sweet. So Its very personal now.
So I wouldn't warn you off it. The new one looks fancier, maybe not as historical. I cant imagine the new one to be weaker, although there seems to be less meat in the blade with all the fullering, so the POB may have come back a bit. The new blade probably doesn't lend its self to sharpening as well.
The cool thing about sharpening these - I started with just the last 40cm of blade sharp on one side. As it was my first real sword, this way if I overswung and hit my self or had to catch the blade I was safer. Now I have the whole blade sharp except for the fuller section - that way I can use a hand on the blade if I want.
Great value. Call the guys at global gear and hit them up for their best price and you should get a pleasant surprise. I got mine for 185 with shipping to Perth.