1. Generally, no. The era of high-quality functional swords is only about a decade old, so it's hard to say for certain, but I have never heard of somebody selling a sword for more than they paid, especially not with pieces that have many identical 'brothers and sisters'. There may be some exceptions where they are irreplaceable customs, like pieces made by the late Jody Samson. But generally no.
(Now, obviously this does not hold true for antique pieces. THOSE will increase in value overtime if they are well-cared for. But contemporary swords? No.)
2. Depends on the quality and scope of scabbard you want, but yes. Plenty of craftsman make scabbards for Albion Swords that don't cost more than the sword. My personal favorites are Sonny at the Valiant Armoury Custom Sword Shoppe:
custom-sword-shoppe.com/and Christian Fletcher:
www.christianfletcher.com/Christ ... bards.html
Keep in mind that extra doodads will kick up scabbard prices considerably. Both of those craftsman have basic wood-cored scabbard packages under $400. Sonny's includes risers and a rainflap, while Christian's does not. Christian's buckles and belts are nicer than the Valiant offerings, but his wait-list is much longer.
With scabbards, as with swords, you generally get what you pay for, but you CAN get very nice scabbards for less than the price of an Albion swords. My dream scabbards usually do cost that much though. :lol:
Here's a recent example of a Valiant Armoury scabbard for an Albion, though it would command a higher price than the basic package:
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=4348And a similar example from Christian Fletcher:
www.christianfletcher.com/Christ ... ign.html#0
Some examples of their more "basic" offerings.
Valiant Armoury:
custom-sword-shoppe.com/forum/vi ... f=29&t=294
Christian Fletcher:
www.christianfletcher.com/Christ ... IIa.html#0
I've handled scabbards from both craftsman (as well as a few Albions) and I can say without a doubt that their scabbards would do justice as a home to any high-end weapon, at whatever level of complexity you choose.
3. Most displays are indeed wall-mounted or tabletop versions, some are free-standing floor models as well. The only elements they need be subjected to are the ones within your home, which should be just fine if you take the time to properly maintain your swords.
These don't have to be custom-made. United Cutlery is the standard in ready-made wall displays, and they have quite a few options out there, like this ubiquitous wall rack:
www.kultofathena.com/product.asp ... ay+-+Black
I really like hangers that are all but invisible and let the sword stand out as the star, like this Hanwei hanger:
www.kultofathena.com/product.asp ... ord+Hanger
Other people take things a step further and display their swords with locking cases. These are either custom-made or re-purposed gun units.
4. I actually just purchased an Albion Squire a few days ago. It won't ship to me for at least a week, but I could certainly give you some impressions then.
I've wanted an Albion single-hander for a while, and there are a lot of factors that influenced the decision to go with a Squire-- I could elaborate upon them more in a PM if you would like. It suffices to say that I have only heard good things about those swords, other than some small nit-picks to do with preferences.
However...while I applaud you for sparing no expense on your first sword, I would be cautious about committing too many funds to a purchase before you know what exactly you WANT in a sword. I would hate for you to buy something expensive and then discover it's not quite your cup of tea, even though it's a superb sword for its type. Especially since high-end swords are hard to re-sell quickly, and as I mentioned in the first point you usually must take a loss.
I bought and traded and sold swords for more than eight years and handled dozens and dozens of swords before I felt comfortable buying a high-end piece sight-unseen. You never know if you'll love a sword until you have it in your hands, and pricey ones require you to put quite a few eggs in one basket, so to speak. I've handled enough swords from enough manufacturers now that I have a very good idea about what I'm getting into when I make a purchase, and I know very specifically what I want in my swords, so I feel like risks are not huge when I buy expensive pieces now to fit my needs. Otherwise I'd be very nervous. In your position I'd want to try out a few different lower-end pieces to find out what pushes my sword buttons before committing to a high-end one.
Of course that's just me. I have heard of people who just jumped in with both feet into pricey swords and went from there very satisfied. Different strokes for different folks. I myself feel like I know WHY I appreciate my nicer swords
because of the time I spend learning with weapons that could be more easily traded and replaced.
Good luck with your first sword and the many that will follow! Ask more questions if you have them.
)
