Albion Dane
Mar 16, 2012 21:14:54 GMT
Post by Sean (Shadowhowler) on Mar 16, 2012 21:14:54 GMT
Review of the Albion Dane Sword
Sean O. Stevens -- Grovetown GA
Fellow member Deepbluedave, who's amazing collection inspires envy in me and many others, already owned one Albion Dane sword. So when he saw another for sale on MyArmory's marketplace... he thought 'hey, wouldn't it be cool to have TWO of them?'
:shock:
So he bought this one... and asked me if I'd like to play with it a little bit before sending it on to him in the land down under. How does one answer such an absurd question?
Hell yes.
Historical overview
This sword is outside my normal area of interest and my very small field of knowledge. So the following bit of information is from Albion's own description of this massive sword.
"Oakeshott indicates that the Type XVIIIe, with its long narrow diamond-shaped blade and even more narrow ricasso, was quite common in Denmark -- with many surviving examples that are either Danish in origin or possibly Italian.
The Danish style of XVIIIe seems to also be characterized by the down-turned quillons and a very long banded grip (either solid metal bands or by wire.)
Our Dane is based on Peter Johnsson's documentation of originals of this type. XVIIIe's are visually imposing, yet still light and swift enough to deliver terrible blows and piercing thrusts.
The grip for the Dane is stabilized wood wrapped with leather and with sections bound with metal wire.
This is a dedicated thruster, but as with many of these thick, stiff and pointy swords, the cutting performance should not be underestimated. This is a sword made for armoured fighting. It is like a great long and sharp-edged awl with a positive massive feel. Not sluggish. Very stiff, nasty and aggressive. An unusual and different type."
Full Disclosure
This is not my sword. I only borrowed it for a while and sent it on its way to its owner, Deepbluedave. However... I have no stake in Albion personally nor Dave attempt to influence my opinion on the blade in any way. Thus the impressions given in this review are my own honest opinions... nothing less, nothing more.
Initial Impressions
When the Dane got here and I took it out of the box... I was of course struck by the size of it. Its not the biggest sword I've ever handled... I owned a Hanwei Lowlander and also a Kensei NoDachi that were larger and heavier... however... being the third biggest sword out of hundreds of swords I've had a chance to lay hands on is still pretty big.
Here is the Dane next to a Hanwei Bushido Katana and a Windlass sword of Roven to give a sense of scale:
The next thing I notice is the blade... which is very attractive in my opinion. I like the shape of of... with the defined ricasso. A Very unique look.
Then... the grip. I have to be honest... I'm just NOT a fan of the grip. I didn't like this part of the sword in pictures when I first saw this sword... and seeing it person did not improve my opinion any. Its wide... oddly shaped... and just kinda fugly to me. :?
Taking the monster in hand and moving it around... you sure do feel the size of the thing. It has a LOT of room for grip and you can make huge, sweeping motions with the blade... it makes you want to charge a line of pikemen or take a man off a horse.
Statistics
]Overall length: 58" (147 cm)
Blade length: 42" (106.7 cm)
Blade width at base: 1.4" (3.5 cm)
CoG: 4" (10.2 cm)
CoP: 24.5" (62.2 cm)
Weight: 4 lbs 10 oz (2.1 kg)
Components
The Blade
Beautiful. Exquisite. By far the strong point of this sword for me. The blade is narrow but thick, with an attractive shape... a long, lean lance of a blade. It has the quality satin finish Albion swords are known for.... not mirror polish, and not rough, just right in my view.
The Ricasso is the center point of this sword for me... with a deep fuller in it providing even more striking looks.
The Grip
Just as the blade is the best feature of this sword in my eyes... the grip is the worst. I HATE
it. The metal wire in sections over the grip... what is the point? It serves no point as far as I can tell except to place a corrosive prone material right where you handle the sword most. :roll: The grip is thick and oddly shaped... very uncomfortable in hand for me.
I just dislike everything about it.
The Guard
I very much like the guard on the Dane. I'm a fan of up-swept guards in general... and this one is well done. Not too flamboyant, not too subdued, perfect. Also, as one expects on an Albion sword, the fit is very good. No rattles, it matches up well at the base of the grip and slots well to the blade base.
Very nice.
The Pommel
Another strong-point for the Dane, a large very attractive faceted pommel. the peen is smooth and very well done as to be virtually invisible. A smack to the face from this bad boy would be most discomforting.
Handling Characteristics
This sword is a big boy sword... so its not nimble or fast by any means.
I've no idea on the correct techniques for handing a sword as large as the Dane... but I found I was most comfortable with and had the best control over the blade with my hands spread as far apart on the grip as I could get them. This gave me the leverage I needed to move this monster around as best I could.
It thrusts very well... point control is very good and you have a lot of reach with it. Swinging the sword I found I was often fighting myself to find the balance between speed and control. To get it up to speed I had to sacrifice control a bit and leave myself WIDE open while returning to a guard position after a cut. Against a skilled swordsmen I would be VERY scared about the gaps in my defense this would leave for them to move in... and in close the Dane would be cumbersome.
I get the feeling one wants to make their strike count while the opponent is on the outside.
Test Cutting
I think the video illustrates some of my points about handling.
The thrusts are well controlled and comfortable... but getting a swing is awkward and recovering afterward is slow. That said... it cuts clean and well every time... even tho I've NO idea of the proper technique, even tho I'm fighting myself on each swing... and even tho its a sword designed to optimize the thrust. That tells me this is a fantastically designed sword... period.
Conclusions
The Dane is not for everyone... but its likely perfect for some.
Its a huge sword... which is its own issue. Moreover, its a huge stabbing focused sword. Yes, it does cut very well... but it is not meant to be a sheering cutting war-sword as most people I know tend to go for. It is meant as a deadly thrusting war-sword that can keep an opponent at distance or combat a polearm.
Albion's strength is making quality reproductions of swords from history... and in that they have again succeeded very nicely. This is a VERY well made sword, and it is based on historical examples... so those who are looking to capture this little piece of history will be VERY happy with it.
For me tho... I can not get past the grip... which I dislike so much. It hampers what would otherwise be my rabid enjoyment of an amazing weapon.
Pros
Albion quality!
Historical precedence well executed.
Awesome example of a hard to find type of sword, under-represented in the market.
Surprising cutting ability for a thrust-focused sword.
Cons
Albion Price.
Uncomfortable and (for me) ugly grip.
Difficult to manage such a large blade.
The Bottom Line
If you are looking for a sword of this type... and can afford it... the Dane will not disappoint. Even despite my misgivings about the grip and my issues with managing a sword of this size with no idea what I'm doing... the Dane is a JOY to cut with... is impressive as hell to look at... and is just a massive cool sword to stand next to. In the time its been at my house... everyone that has come over has been drawn to it. There is something about those huge, two handed War Swords that just grabs peoples attention.
If you want an authentic replica of this style of sword... the Dane is a GREAT weapon. If your less concerned with the historical accuracy... then you might, as I did, find that grip somewhat ruins the enjoyment of what would otherwise by an amazingly awesome monster sword.
Still... there is no denying the quality of the weapon... its an imposing and awesome weapon of war.
Thanks for reading!
Sean O. Stevens -- Grovetown GA
Fellow member Deepbluedave, who's amazing collection inspires envy in me and many others, already owned one Albion Dane sword. So when he saw another for sale on MyArmory's marketplace... he thought 'hey, wouldn't it be cool to have TWO of them?'
:shock:
So he bought this one... and asked me if I'd like to play with it a little bit before sending it on to him in the land down under. How does one answer such an absurd question?
Hell yes.
Historical overview
This sword is outside my normal area of interest and my very small field of knowledge. So the following bit of information is from Albion's own description of this massive sword.
"Oakeshott indicates that the Type XVIIIe, with its long narrow diamond-shaped blade and even more narrow ricasso, was quite common in Denmark -- with many surviving examples that are either Danish in origin or possibly Italian.
The Danish style of XVIIIe seems to also be characterized by the down-turned quillons and a very long banded grip (either solid metal bands or by wire.)
Our Dane is based on Peter Johnsson's documentation of originals of this type. XVIIIe's are visually imposing, yet still light and swift enough to deliver terrible blows and piercing thrusts.
The grip for the Dane is stabilized wood wrapped with leather and with sections bound with metal wire.
This is a dedicated thruster, but as with many of these thick, stiff and pointy swords, the cutting performance should not be underestimated. This is a sword made for armoured fighting. It is like a great long and sharp-edged awl with a positive massive feel. Not sluggish. Very stiff, nasty and aggressive. An unusual and different type."
Full Disclosure
This is not my sword. I only borrowed it for a while and sent it on its way to its owner, Deepbluedave. However... I have no stake in Albion personally nor Dave attempt to influence my opinion on the blade in any way. Thus the impressions given in this review are my own honest opinions... nothing less, nothing more.
Initial Impressions
When the Dane got here and I took it out of the box... I was of course struck by the size of it. Its not the biggest sword I've ever handled... I owned a Hanwei Lowlander and also a Kensei NoDachi that were larger and heavier... however... being the third biggest sword out of hundreds of swords I've had a chance to lay hands on is still pretty big.
Here is the Dane next to a Hanwei Bushido Katana and a Windlass sword of Roven to give a sense of scale:
The next thing I notice is the blade... which is very attractive in my opinion. I like the shape of of... with the defined ricasso. A Very unique look.
Then... the grip. I have to be honest... I'm just NOT a fan of the grip. I didn't like this part of the sword in pictures when I first saw this sword... and seeing it person did not improve my opinion any. Its wide... oddly shaped... and just kinda fugly to me. :?
Taking the monster in hand and moving it around... you sure do feel the size of the thing. It has a LOT of room for grip and you can make huge, sweeping motions with the blade... it makes you want to charge a line of pikemen or take a man off a horse.
Statistics
]Overall length: 58" (147 cm)
Blade length: 42" (106.7 cm)
Blade width at base: 1.4" (3.5 cm)
CoG: 4" (10.2 cm)
CoP: 24.5" (62.2 cm)
Weight: 4 lbs 10 oz (2.1 kg)
Components
The Blade
Beautiful. Exquisite. By far the strong point of this sword for me. The blade is narrow but thick, with an attractive shape... a long, lean lance of a blade. It has the quality satin finish Albion swords are known for.... not mirror polish, and not rough, just right in my view.
The Ricasso is the center point of this sword for me... with a deep fuller in it providing even more striking looks.
The Grip
Just as the blade is the best feature of this sword in my eyes... the grip is the worst. I HATE
it. The metal wire in sections over the grip... what is the point? It serves no point as far as I can tell except to place a corrosive prone material right where you handle the sword most. :roll: The grip is thick and oddly shaped... very uncomfortable in hand for me.
I just dislike everything about it.
The Guard
I very much like the guard on the Dane. I'm a fan of up-swept guards in general... and this one is well done. Not too flamboyant, not too subdued, perfect. Also, as one expects on an Albion sword, the fit is very good. No rattles, it matches up well at the base of the grip and slots well to the blade base.
Very nice.
The Pommel
Another strong-point for the Dane, a large very attractive faceted pommel. the peen is smooth and very well done as to be virtually invisible. A smack to the face from this bad boy would be most discomforting.
Handling Characteristics
This sword is a big boy sword... so its not nimble or fast by any means.
I've no idea on the correct techniques for handing a sword as large as the Dane... but I found I was most comfortable with and had the best control over the blade with my hands spread as far apart on the grip as I could get them. This gave me the leverage I needed to move this monster around as best I could.
It thrusts very well... point control is very good and you have a lot of reach with it. Swinging the sword I found I was often fighting myself to find the balance between speed and control. To get it up to speed I had to sacrifice control a bit and leave myself WIDE open while returning to a guard position after a cut. Against a skilled swordsmen I would be VERY scared about the gaps in my defense this would leave for them to move in... and in close the Dane would be cumbersome.
I get the feeling one wants to make their strike count while the opponent is on the outside.
Test Cutting
I think the video illustrates some of my points about handling.
The thrusts are well controlled and comfortable... but getting a swing is awkward and recovering afterward is slow. That said... it cuts clean and well every time... even tho I've NO idea of the proper technique, even tho I'm fighting myself on each swing... and even tho its a sword designed to optimize the thrust. That tells me this is a fantastically designed sword... period.
Conclusions
The Dane is not for everyone... but its likely perfect for some.
Its a huge sword... which is its own issue. Moreover, its a huge stabbing focused sword. Yes, it does cut very well... but it is not meant to be a sheering cutting war-sword as most people I know tend to go for. It is meant as a deadly thrusting war-sword that can keep an opponent at distance or combat a polearm.
Albion's strength is making quality reproductions of swords from history... and in that they have again succeeded very nicely. This is a VERY well made sword, and it is based on historical examples... so those who are looking to capture this little piece of history will be VERY happy with it.
For me tho... I can not get past the grip... which I dislike so much. It hampers what would otherwise be my rabid enjoyment of an amazing weapon.
Pros
Albion quality!
Historical precedence well executed.
Awesome example of a hard to find type of sword, under-represented in the market.
Surprising cutting ability for a thrust-focused sword.
Cons
Albion Price.
Uncomfortable and (for me) ugly grip.
Difficult to manage such a large blade.
The Bottom Line
If you are looking for a sword of this type... and can afford it... the Dane will not disappoint. Even despite my misgivings about the grip and my issues with managing a sword of this size with no idea what I'm doing... the Dane is a JOY to cut with... is impressive as hell to look at... and is just a massive cool sword to stand next to. In the time its been at my house... everyone that has come over has been drawn to it. There is something about those huge, two handed War Swords that just grabs peoples attention.
If you want an authentic replica of this style of sword... the Dane is a GREAT weapon. If your less concerned with the historical accuracy... then you might, as I did, find that grip somewhat ruins the enjoyment of what would otherwise by an amazingly awesome monster sword.
Still... there is no denying the quality of the weapon... its an imposing and awesome weapon of war.
Thanks for reading!