Review: Albion Yeoman
Jun 20, 2012 8:15:40 GMT
Post by Lunaman on Jun 20, 2012 8:15:40 GMT
Albion Yeoman
Zach Luna, Boulder CO
Introduction
I like my swords with acute points. Always have. But it's only recently that I've taken an interest in those with exceptionally wide blades.
About a year ago I was in Paris to see a special exhibition on swords at the Cluny museum and I had the opportunity to handle an Albion Yeoman at one of their interactive exhibits. I became fascinated by the compact power of the XIV blade, and ever since I've longed for any opportunity to experience it again, in any of the XIVs of that dimension and blade shape. So when forumite StevenJ put his Yeoman up for sale recently, I wrung my hands deciding whether or not to shift around some funds and grab it, and I thought I had lost the opportunity when someone else claimed it quicker. But as luck would have it, that deal fell through and Steven put it back up for sale. This time I pounced. I wasn't going to miss that opportunity twice! :lol:
Historical overview
To paraphrase Chad Arnow’s excellent article, Oakeshott's type XIV was the last of his medieval sword types characterized by broad and flat blades designed primarily for cutting, and it was one of the first types to have an acute tapered point to better probe the gaps in early forms of coat-of-plates armor that were beginning to appear in the mid-13th century and early 14th century. The type XIV was a one-handed weapon with a short blade and grip and strong profile taper down to an acute point, but it had a wide blade base that allowed the sword to retain strong cutting power in a compact package. This blade type was extremely popular from 1270 to 1350, though only a few specimens are left.
This particular sword by Albion is not a direct reproduction of one particular historical sword, but it is instead based on the attributes of several and represents an 'idealization' of a historically accurate type XIV medieval sword. Its named is based the mounted archers of the 13th century with the social status of farmers who might have carried such a blade as a sidearm. The sword of a working man, neither peasant nor aristocrat.
Full Disclosure
I bought this sword second-hand with my own money. I received no incentive from Albion and have no affiliation with them.
Initial Impressions
The sword arrived in a big cardboard box protected by generous helping of packing paper, but as this was a personal transaction I didn’t include photos since it doesn’t say anything about the product itself.
My initial impression was immediate respect for the blade as a weapon. It was very "sensible." Short and maneuverable, but not too small. Powerful and sweeping, but not too heavy. Accurate and pointed, but not too light. Shapely and attractive, but not too flashy. It was as if someone decided first that the sword was to be of a compact size and then attempted to cram in as many "bang for the buck" compromises as possible into the total package.
The next impression was of an almost mischievous eagerness. Finally able to swing this sword around freely, I couldn't stop slicing at the air. I've never held another sword where I was as urgently tempted by "impulse cuts" as this one. Every time I passed a dead branch or an overgrown patch of thistle or a throw pillow or a clothesline or a piece of fruit I seemed to think "I should try to cut that, I bet I could." This is a dangerous mindset and shouldn't be indulged for risk of injury, but that voice seemed much louder than usual. It was as if the sword wanted to prove itself as soon as possible.
Statistics
*Shown below an Atrim 1557/xviii.1 for scale.*
Weight: 2lbs 7 oz (according to KOA. I have no scale to verify at present)
Overall Length: 34 inches.
Blade Length: 27 & 3/4 inches.
Grip Length: 4 inches.
Blade Width (At Base): 3 inches.
Blade Width (One inch from tip): 5/8ths inch.
Center Of Balance: 3 & 1/2 inches from guard.
Center Of Percussion: ~17 inches from guard.
Components
The Scabbard
Albion does not include scabbards with their swords, but the previous owner included a scabbard from a DSA Gothic Dageese that adequately serves as a blade-holder. I strapped the sword into a baldric to carry it around, but the Yeoman is compact enough that it could be easily carried strapped to the hip at a steep angle, which would be more appropriate for this 14th century sidearm.
The Blade
This blade means business.
The Yeoman sports a wide tapering blade that is as subtle as it is brutal. There is a slight flare at the base where the blade is a full three inches across, then the profile levels out into a more linear taper, and in the last third the taper becomes convex as the edges curve down to meet at the acute tip. One's first impression is of a simple and efficient triangle, but on closer inspection the shape is revealed as an elongated leaf.
A wide fuller spans the first two thirds of the blade, until it fades into a fully lenticular tip section.
The point is serviceable, but not delicate in either width or thickness. It looks 'sharp' without looking 'pointy.'
[img
The finish is Albion's usual satin. The sword arrived with some minor staining and scratches from the years, but after some polishing and some tidying with a standard grey scotchbrite, they've all but gone. The edge is blended with the primary bevel and cleanly slices paper.
The Guard
Like the blade, the guard is both straightforward and subtle.
The guard is curved in profile and square in cross-section, but slightly flared. The guard swells a bit in the center and at the termination of each quillion, adding another element of understated curve to the assembly.
The fit of the blade is superb, and the inlet clearly describes the lenticular cross-section of the blade itself.
The Pommel
The pommel is a nice wide type K wheel. Slightly flattened, its bevel is ground with a concave surface, which allows the heel of the hand to slide smoothly past.
The hilt components are individually affixed to the tang and the assembly is capped by an unobtrusive domed peen. It's finished well.
The Grip
The grip is quite nice.
Oval in cross-section, the grip swells slightly in the middle in both directions, filling the palm nicely. The termination of the grip matches well with the thickness of the guard and pommel at either end.
The seam on the brown leather barely registers to the eye and is undetectable by feel.
The cord-imprinted grip is enhanced by three risers--one at each end and one in the grip center. These give good purchase on the surface and inspire a confident grip.
Handling Characteristics
The Yeoman is very 'handy' and gives the impression of a mean close-quarters weapon when swung. It is not as fast as the 1557, but it is quite agile, and it holds a greater proportion of its mass close to the hand than the Atrim. To continue the comparison, I am always surprised by the tremendous cutting power of the 1557 and even though I know that it could easily claim an arm or leg, that isn't what one would expect from it the first time you pick it up. With the Yeoman there is no surprise--you immediately have every confidence that it contains the potential for devastating cuts. What's surprising in that case is the sword's nimbleness, whereas anyone who lifts the feather-light 1557 will realize its dancerly qualities immediately. Two slightly different sides of the same shortsword coin.
The sword flows and tracks beautifully into the cut, the wide blade giving extra feedback on edge alignment. The point is easy to control and very accurate--though its reach is somewhat limited. The Yeoman is a very capable and complete weapon on its own, but it seems to beg for something to accompany it. A buckler in the off-hand would be oh-so-sweet.
Altogether, the sword feels like the perfect archer's sidearm: Never taking the spotlight, solid and sturdy, not a primary means for offense, waiting patiently at your side. But when things get hairy it's ready in a flash and completely reliable. Sensible. Don'l leave home without it!
Test Cutting
Don't have cutting stands at my flat and my old computer died, so I can't show you a video at the moment. But I did slay some bottles and cartons and noodles with it. The sword performed well, and could certainly do even better in the hands of an accomplished swordsman. I caught a couple aftermath shots when I took the blade to one of my favorite targets: jumbo pool noodles.
Behold the cleanliness of the carnage.
Conclusions
This sword is an impressive piece. It has a quiet dignity and a barely restrained ferocity all at once. If this style of blade appeals to you I would wholeheartedly recommend it or one of its sibling blades. The pros are lengthy and the only real cons are price and availability.
Thanks for reading.
--Luna
Zach Luna, Boulder CO
Introduction
I like my swords with acute points. Always have. But it's only recently that I've taken an interest in those with exceptionally wide blades.
About a year ago I was in Paris to see a special exhibition on swords at the Cluny museum and I had the opportunity to handle an Albion Yeoman at one of their interactive exhibits. I became fascinated by the compact power of the XIV blade, and ever since I've longed for any opportunity to experience it again, in any of the XIVs of that dimension and blade shape. So when forumite StevenJ put his Yeoman up for sale recently, I wrung my hands deciding whether or not to shift around some funds and grab it, and I thought I had lost the opportunity when someone else claimed it quicker. But as luck would have it, that deal fell through and Steven put it back up for sale. This time I pounced. I wasn't going to miss that opportunity twice! :lol:
Historical overview
To paraphrase Chad Arnow’s excellent article, Oakeshott's type XIV was the last of his medieval sword types characterized by broad and flat blades designed primarily for cutting, and it was one of the first types to have an acute tapered point to better probe the gaps in early forms of coat-of-plates armor that were beginning to appear in the mid-13th century and early 14th century. The type XIV was a one-handed weapon with a short blade and grip and strong profile taper down to an acute point, but it had a wide blade base that allowed the sword to retain strong cutting power in a compact package. This blade type was extremely popular from 1270 to 1350, though only a few specimens are left.
This particular sword by Albion is not a direct reproduction of one particular historical sword, but it is instead based on the attributes of several and represents an 'idealization' of a historically accurate type XIV medieval sword. Its named is based the mounted archers of the 13th century with the social status of farmers who might have carried such a blade as a sidearm. The sword of a working man, neither peasant nor aristocrat.
Full Disclosure
I bought this sword second-hand with my own money. I received no incentive from Albion and have no affiliation with them.
Initial Impressions
The sword arrived in a big cardboard box protected by generous helping of packing paper, but as this was a personal transaction I didn’t include photos since it doesn’t say anything about the product itself.
My initial impression was immediate respect for the blade as a weapon. It was very "sensible." Short and maneuverable, but not too small. Powerful and sweeping, but not too heavy. Accurate and pointed, but not too light. Shapely and attractive, but not too flashy. It was as if someone decided first that the sword was to be of a compact size and then attempted to cram in as many "bang for the buck" compromises as possible into the total package.
The next impression was of an almost mischievous eagerness. Finally able to swing this sword around freely, I couldn't stop slicing at the air. I've never held another sword where I was as urgently tempted by "impulse cuts" as this one. Every time I passed a dead branch or an overgrown patch of thistle or a throw pillow or a clothesline or a piece of fruit I seemed to think "I should try to cut that, I bet I could." This is a dangerous mindset and shouldn't be indulged for risk of injury, but that voice seemed much louder than usual. It was as if the sword wanted to prove itself as soon as possible.
Statistics
*Shown below an Atrim 1557/xviii.1 for scale.*
Weight: 2lbs 7 oz (according to KOA. I have no scale to verify at present)
Overall Length: 34 inches.
Blade Length: 27 & 3/4 inches.
Grip Length: 4 inches.
Blade Width (At Base): 3 inches.
Blade Width (One inch from tip): 5/8ths inch.
Center Of Balance: 3 & 1/2 inches from guard.
Center Of Percussion: ~17 inches from guard.
Components
The Scabbard
Albion does not include scabbards with their swords, but the previous owner included a scabbard from a DSA Gothic Dageese that adequately serves as a blade-holder. I strapped the sword into a baldric to carry it around, but the Yeoman is compact enough that it could be easily carried strapped to the hip at a steep angle, which would be more appropriate for this 14th century sidearm.
The Blade
This blade means business.
The Yeoman sports a wide tapering blade that is as subtle as it is brutal. There is a slight flare at the base where the blade is a full three inches across, then the profile levels out into a more linear taper, and in the last third the taper becomes convex as the edges curve down to meet at the acute tip. One's first impression is of a simple and efficient triangle, but on closer inspection the shape is revealed as an elongated leaf.
A wide fuller spans the first two thirds of the blade, until it fades into a fully lenticular tip section.
The point is serviceable, but not delicate in either width or thickness. It looks 'sharp' without looking 'pointy.'
[img
The finish is Albion's usual satin. The sword arrived with some minor staining and scratches from the years, but after some polishing and some tidying with a standard grey scotchbrite, they've all but gone. The edge is blended with the primary bevel and cleanly slices paper.
The Guard
Like the blade, the guard is both straightforward and subtle.
The guard is curved in profile and square in cross-section, but slightly flared. The guard swells a bit in the center and at the termination of each quillion, adding another element of understated curve to the assembly.
The fit of the blade is superb, and the inlet clearly describes the lenticular cross-section of the blade itself.
The Pommel
The pommel is a nice wide type K wheel. Slightly flattened, its bevel is ground with a concave surface, which allows the heel of the hand to slide smoothly past.
The hilt components are individually affixed to the tang and the assembly is capped by an unobtrusive domed peen. It's finished well.
The Grip
The grip is quite nice.
Oval in cross-section, the grip swells slightly in the middle in both directions, filling the palm nicely. The termination of the grip matches well with the thickness of the guard and pommel at either end.
The seam on the brown leather barely registers to the eye and is undetectable by feel.
The cord-imprinted grip is enhanced by three risers--one at each end and one in the grip center. These give good purchase on the surface and inspire a confident grip.
Handling Characteristics
The Yeoman is very 'handy' and gives the impression of a mean close-quarters weapon when swung. It is not as fast as the 1557, but it is quite agile, and it holds a greater proportion of its mass close to the hand than the Atrim. To continue the comparison, I am always surprised by the tremendous cutting power of the 1557 and even though I know that it could easily claim an arm or leg, that isn't what one would expect from it the first time you pick it up. With the Yeoman there is no surprise--you immediately have every confidence that it contains the potential for devastating cuts. What's surprising in that case is the sword's nimbleness, whereas anyone who lifts the feather-light 1557 will realize its dancerly qualities immediately. Two slightly different sides of the same shortsword coin.
The sword flows and tracks beautifully into the cut, the wide blade giving extra feedback on edge alignment. The point is easy to control and very accurate--though its reach is somewhat limited. The Yeoman is a very capable and complete weapon on its own, but it seems to beg for something to accompany it. A buckler in the off-hand would be oh-so-sweet.
Altogether, the sword feels like the perfect archer's sidearm: Never taking the spotlight, solid and sturdy, not a primary means for offense, waiting patiently at your side. But when things get hairy it's ready in a flash and completely reliable. Sensible. Don'l leave home without it!
Test Cutting
Don't have cutting stands at my flat and my old computer died, so I can't show you a video at the moment. But I did slay some bottles and cartons and noodles with it. The sword performed well, and could certainly do even better in the hands of an accomplished swordsman. I caught a couple aftermath shots when I took the blade to one of my favorite targets: jumbo pool noodles.
Behold the cleanliness of the carnage.
Conclusions
This sword is an impressive piece. It has a quiet dignity and a barely restrained ferocity all at once. If this style of blade appeals to you I would wholeheartedly recommend it or one of its sibling blades. The pros are lengthy and the only real cons are price and availability.
Thanks for reading.
--Luna