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Post by mcapanelli on Apr 25, 2014 13:12:12 GMT
Damn you Will Swiger!! ![:D](//storage.forums.net/forum/images/smiley/grin.png) I was on the shelf about ordering that one. I didn't want brown but it was just there. I'd like to get one withy an oxblood grip but since you did me a favor and removed the temptation I can get back to my quest for a Cluny.
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Post by john570 on Apr 25, 2014 13:22:18 GMT
I was think oxblood as well.
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Post by William Swiger on Apr 25, 2014 16:02:18 GMT
If that one had not been on KOA, I would have ordered one with a red grip. Brown would have been my 2nd choice. The Albion red grips are pretty nice.
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Post by Rabel Dusk on Apr 25, 2014 16:10:13 GMT
So which model is the last Albion that you want?
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Post by William Swiger on Apr 25, 2014 16:25:34 GMT
The Maximilian is the last one I will buy.
There are a couple high end ones like the Lady Vivamus and Søborg but will not spend the money for a new one. I have 34 already from Albion.
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Sean (Shadowhowler)
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Post by Sean (Shadowhowler) on Apr 25, 2014 16:26:05 GMT
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Post by john570 on Apr 25, 2014 16:30:26 GMT
I want one!!!!
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Post by William Swiger on May 1, 2014 15:27:41 GMT
Received my Alexandria today from KOA.
For those asking about the grip, I can easily get both hands on the grip but there is almost no gap between the hands. I have medium sized hands. If you have large hands, griping the pommel is an option and the pommel is comfortable.
The sword is well balanced and very attractive. I do not find it heavy at all. The grip is comfortable. Blade is sharp.
Now the negative. The sword did not ship in the Albion box and was wrapped in paper like most KOA shipments. The blade finish is about the roughest I have seen on the over 35 Albion swords I have owned. Very obvious large sanding marks and some swirls on the blade. Not a high level of finish. There are around 15 places on the blade that do not match the overall finish. Much brighter than the finish in what looks like irregular spots. Has a couple darkish spots. Some grinding is visible the last few inches of the blade on both sides. The brown leather dye has some light areas.
To be honest, this looks more like a pre-owned Albion than a brand new one. It is not horrible but much less finished than all the others I have purchased. IMHO - not worth the price I paid given the shortcomings on this particular sword.
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Post by john570 on May 1, 2014 15:40:25 GMT
At that price I'd return it and ask for a new one.
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Post by Bryan Heff on May 1, 2014 15:41:45 GMT
Pictures! Where are the PICTURES! Sucks that the finish is questionable. I wonder if they are going through a rough spot with QC or something here lately. You used to never hear of any issues with quality but this does not sound too good at all. Then there was forumite The Mu? who recently had issues with his SL Knightly sword. Didn't somebody post somewhere that they have a or some new guys in the shop doing the grinding?
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Post by William Swiger on May 1, 2014 15:50:50 GMT
It is not defective in any way and I will not return it. It really is a nice sword but without seeing the finish on another Alexandria or Principle, the finish minus the bright spots might be normal. It is just the lowest finished blade I personally have seen from Albion. If you go to the link at KOA, the pics is the one I bought. You can see some of the issues if you enlarge the pics. www.kultofathena.com/product.asp ... 7%27+Sword Maybe since a vendor had the sword, it could have been scratched or scuffed somewhere but I doubt it. Pics later -wife is home. :oops: It actually reminds me of my Windlass Erbach I used to own but pointier and stiffer.
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Sean (Shadowhowler)
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No matter where you go, there you are.
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Post by Sean (Shadowhowler) on May 1, 2014 18:27:43 GMT
Heh... :lol: Do you have something like a 'Don't ask, don't tell' policy with the wife on all the money you spend on swords? She has no idea how much... and if she knew she would flip her lid... but what she doesn't know won't hurt her sort of thing? Sad to hear about the finish on your sword. Your comments on the grip bare out what the numbers suggest... I would go for the Principe myself, I have large hands and like a lot of room.
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Post by William Swiger on May 1, 2014 19:04:15 GMT
She would cut my balls off before I could blink. :-(
Yeah - the finish is disappointing on this sword. Nice sword and I like it but was expecting it to have the usual flawless Albion blade....
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Paul
Member
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Posts: 1,771
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Post by Paul on May 1, 2014 20:49:24 GMT
Sorry Bill, that finish would really bug me and if it were me I'd send it back. I recall that the first Principe Patrick Kelly received was noted as a bit below the albion standard, this was corrected by albion. I've had 3 new Albion's and my recent Principe was the best finish I have seen, I may have gotten lucky.
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Post by mcapanelli on May 1, 2014 23:48:14 GMT
I don't know Bill, I'd send it back. I'd actually be more concerned it didn't ship in the white box than over the finish. The Albion I received form KoA came in the white box and as far as I know its the only thing Albion uses to ship their swords.
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Post by William Swiger on May 2, 2014 3:36:03 GMT
I thought that was strange as well as I have bought a few from KOA and they came in the original box. It is not that bad - just not what you would normally get finish wise on the blade.
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Post by mcapanelli on May 2, 2014 14:47:21 GMT
I don't know man. My spider senses are tingling on this one. Maybe it was a demo sword? Or taken in "as new" condition in trade? I've never heard of an Albion not coming in that white box.
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Post by William Swiger on May 2, 2014 15:09:02 GMT
Sword has not been cut with and no handling signs on the grip. Maybe they mailed it in one of their boxes to make more off the shipping.....
The Albion box might have been damaged in shipment to KOA. Might explain some of the imperfections on the blade finish.
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Post by john570 on May 3, 2014 11:34:16 GMT
I'm thinking either the principe or Alexandria might be the next sword I get off my top ten list. I wonder how the principe would look with an Alexandria style grip with all the risers. If I sent it to Ernie.
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Paul
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Post by Paul on May 3, 2014 12:32:56 GMT
I wonder what A&A would charge for a custom version of this sword type, along the lines of the Alexandria with a longer grip, I'd also have it a bit thicker for increased stiffness and a more reinforced point. And maybe a tad less width.
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