Albion Talhoffer Review
Dec 24, 2015 0:28:52 GMT
Post by Caboose on Dec 24, 2015 0:28:52 GMT
Apologies for the low quality pictures. Pictures were taken on a cell phone, and there's not a lot of natural lighting since it's winter. I'll probably update this at some point with more/better pictures.
Introduction
Several months after getting my Albion Steward, I started thinking about getting another Albion. I wanted more of a full on longsword, rather than a bastard sword like the Steward was. I considered a few other models, such as the Sempach, the Earl, and the Principe, but the Talhoffer was significantly cheaper than the rest, and its specs appealed to me more.
Historical Overview
I'm not the most knowledgeable when it comes to history. I could tell you that Hans Talhoffer was a German fencing master, and that this type of sword would have been around from the 13th century, all the way up to the 16th century, and was designed to combat full plate armor.
For those that want more, here's the description Albion uses on the Talhoffer page:
Hans Talhoffer was a fencing-master in southern Germany in the 15th century. He is the author several Fechtbücher, illustrated treatises describing methods of fighting with various weapons, including unarmed combat (grappling), dagger, long sword, pole weapons and mounted combat. He is a contemporary of fencing-master Paulus Kal (whose manuscript may contain hints of professional rivalry between the two). Talhoffer taught within the tradition of Johannes Liechtenauer.
Talhoffer's Fechtbuch (ca 1467) is universally acknowledged as one of the great texts of the Medieval German Masters.
Oakeshott describes the Type XV as a strongly tapering, acutely pointed blade of flattened diamond cross-section. The sub-type XVa is often longer and slimmer than the Type V, but with the primary difference being the longer grip. This type of sword was referred to as an epée bâtarde or "bastard sword."
Initial Impressions
The sword was purchased through Kult of Athena. Packaging was excellent. It came in a white box with two foam inserts to keep the sword in place. There was an additional foam pad where the pommel was resting. The blade was wrapped in oiled saran wrap, with a plastic tip cover on the tip. The space between the foam inserts was then filled with brown packing paper.
It took 4-5 months for it to ship out, which was within the quoted time period.
Specifications
Albion and Kult of Athena disagree slightly on the exact specs. I don't have calipers or an electric scale, so I can't measure those myself.
The Blade
The blade is a diamond cross section, and is very thick towards the guard. There is a significant distal taper, but it is still fairly thick at the tip. The blade also has very significant profile taper, leading to a very acute, but very thick point that would be excellent for penetrating between the gaps of plate armor, through mail and cloth armor. The blade is stiff enough that I can only flex it the smallest amount by hand, but it does flex.
The Albion makers mark is well done. For some reason it is much larger than on my Steward. The PoB is also exactly where the makers mark is.
The blade has a good appleseed edge, and is sharp enough to easily cut paper.
It does ring when struck, but not nearly as loudly or as long as my Steward.
The Grip
The grip is leather over wood, with cord imprints and risers. Pretty standard. Overall, the grip is comfortable, long enough, and looks good. I find the riser in the middle of the grip makes the grip look a lot less boring. The grip is shaped well enough that I don't find it hard to tell edge alignment.
I chose a red grip for my Talhoffer. Most of the pictures I saw of the Talhoffer online showed it with a black grip, but I thought a red grip would look really good. I also toyed with the idea of getting the waisted grip, but I picked the tapered grip in the end. I'm quite pleased with how the colour came out, but there's definitely a few things about it that I am less than happy about.
For starters, the seam is black, making it very noticeable. It could be from the gluing process, but it's definitely a complaint I've heard several times before regarding Albion in recent years.
Also, the seam sticks up slightly from the rest of the grip.
It looks like the leather was put on before it was fully dry. There are noticeable dye stains on the guard and pommel.
It feels like the shape of the bottom part of the grip is asymmetrical. If I hold it on one side, the cross section feels circular. If I turn it around, I can definitely feel a flat plane.
At the top of the grip on one side, there is a small gap where you can see the wood of the grip.
The bottom of the leather seem asymmetrical. It is thicker and goes down further on one side.
Honestly, a lot of the stuff I mentioned is very small nitpicking. But there are enough small problems that I feel a bit let down.
The Guard
The crossguard is circular in cross section with flared ends.The guard widens at the center, and the center of the guard has a central ridge that leads into the central ridge of the blade. I really like the shape, it's a fairly complex shape with a lot of detail, but it doesn't look overly busy or complicated.
The fit of the guard to the blade is excellent.
There is a disappointing number of pitting on one half of the guard. (I forgot to take a picture, but theres 5 or so pits all in one small area).
There is also a spot on the end of one of the quillons where it looks like someone slipped with a grinder.
On one side, the central ridge of the guard is not straight. On the other side, it does not line up with the central ridge of the blade.
There is also some flaws in the polish near the center of the guard. There are some noticeable lines in the finish, where it looks like whoever was doing the polishing changed directions and didn't bother to blend it in.
The Pommel
The pommel is a type of scentstopper pommel, and is octagonal in cross section. I was slightly worried that the corners of the octagon would be slightly sharp and dig in to the hand. However, I was pleased to discover that the edges are ever so slightly rounded over. It is rounded just enough that it is very comfortable to hold, but without making the edges look undefined. It doesn't look overly big from the pictures, but it's a big son of a gun. I wouldn't be surprised if it weighed at least a pound. I'm sure it contributes a great deal to the excellent balance of the sword. The pommel is excellent at providing additional grip length for extra leverage.
The pommel is very well shaped, so that it is comfortable to hold in a variety of different grips. I find it equally comfortable to place my offhand entirely on the pommel, or half on the pommel and half on the grip, or entirely on the grip.
The peen is very clean.
There is one small pitting, which I don't really mind. But there is also some lines in the finish, just like in the guard, which I find disappointing.
Handling Characteristics
Despite being heavier than my Steward by about half a pound, the Talhoffer actually feels a bit lighter when moving between guard positions. It really does not feel like 3.5 pounds, no doubt because of the low PoB. The Steward does feel more agile in the cut, but the Talhoffer isn't a cut oriented sword. Trying to cut with the Talhoffer feels almost a bit floaty. As expected, it does have excellent point control. The center of rotation isn't right at the point, but a little ways back.
Trying to use the Talhoffer in one hand is possible, but not really ideal. Cuts are doable, but recovery is slow. If I had to use this with one hand, I'd only use it for thrusting.
Test Cutting
This is not a cut oriented sword, and I'm not the best cutter in the world, since I rarely get to do any test cutting. Despite that, I didn't really have much trouble cutting Tetra packs and small water bottles with this sword. I don't think I flubbed a single cut. I did have to hit with much further down than with my Steward, and the cuts were not quite as clean as my Steward, but it still performed surprisingly well. I'm sure someone who is more experienced with cutting could get even better results.
Conclusion
The Talhoffer is a good example of its type. It feels nice in the hand, and looks very nice if you don't look too closely. However, if you really take a close look at it, there are a lot of things that could use some improvement, and are a bit of a let down, considering the price and the reputation of the company.
Pros:
- Feels very good in the hand
- Cuts well for its type
- Good proportions
Cons:
- Price
- Lots of small nitpicks
Thanks for reading!
Introduction
Several months after getting my Albion Steward, I started thinking about getting another Albion. I wanted more of a full on longsword, rather than a bastard sword like the Steward was. I considered a few other models, such as the Sempach, the Earl, and the Principe, but the Talhoffer was significantly cheaper than the rest, and its specs appealed to me more.
Historical Overview
I'm not the most knowledgeable when it comes to history. I could tell you that Hans Talhoffer was a German fencing master, and that this type of sword would have been around from the 13th century, all the way up to the 16th century, and was designed to combat full plate armor.
For those that want more, here's the description Albion uses on the Talhoffer page:
Hans Talhoffer was a fencing-master in southern Germany in the 15th century. He is the author several Fechtbücher, illustrated treatises describing methods of fighting with various weapons, including unarmed combat (grappling), dagger, long sword, pole weapons and mounted combat. He is a contemporary of fencing-master Paulus Kal (whose manuscript may contain hints of professional rivalry between the two). Talhoffer taught within the tradition of Johannes Liechtenauer.
Talhoffer's Fechtbuch (ca 1467) is universally acknowledged as one of the great texts of the Medieval German Masters.
Oakeshott describes the Type XV as a strongly tapering, acutely pointed blade of flattened diamond cross-section. The sub-type XVa is often longer and slimmer than the Type V, but with the primary difference being the longer grip. This type of sword was referred to as an epée bâtarde or "bastard sword."
Initial Impressions
The sword was purchased through Kult of Athena. Packaging was excellent. It came in a white box with two foam inserts to keep the sword in place. There was an additional foam pad where the pommel was resting. The blade was wrapped in oiled saran wrap, with a plastic tip cover on the tip. The space between the foam inserts was then filled with brown packing paper.
It took 4-5 months for it to ship out, which was within the quoted time period.
Specifications
Albion and Kult of Athena disagree slightly on the exact specs. I don't have calipers or an electric scale, so I can't measure those myself.
Albion | KoA | Me | |
Overall length | 46.375" | 46" | 46" |
Blade length | 36.25" | 36" | 36" |
Blade width | 1.875" | 1.85" | 1.875" |
Grip length | N/A | 6 7/8" | 6 7/8" |
Weight | 3 lbs 5 oz | 3 lb 9 oz | N/A |
PoB | 3 1/4" | 3 3/4" | 3 1/4" |
Thickness | N/A | 8.6mm - 4.3 mm | N/A |
The Blade
The blade is a diamond cross section, and is very thick towards the guard. There is a significant distal taper, but it is still fairly thick at the tip. The blade also has very significant profile taper, leading to a very acute, but very thick point that would be excellent for penetrating between the gaps of plate armor, through mail and cloth armor. The blade is stiff enough that I can only flex it the smallest amount by hand, but it does flex.
The Albion makers mark is well done. For some reason it is much larger than on my Steward. The PoB is also exactly where the makers mark is.
The blade has a good appleseed edge, and is sharp enough to easily cut paper.
It does ring when struck, but not nearly as loudly or as long as my Steward.
The Grip
The grip is leather over wood, with cord imprints and risers. Pretty standard. Overall, the grip is comfortable, long enough, and looks good. I find the riser in the middle of the grip makes the grip look a lot less boring. The grip is shaped well enough that I don't find it hard to tell edge alignment.
I chose a red grip for my Talhoffer. Most of the pictures I saw of the Talhoffer online showed it with a black grip, but I thought a red grip would look really good. I also toyed with the idea of getting the waisted grip, but I picked the tapered grip in the end. I'm quite pleased with how the colour came out, but there's definitely a few things about it that I am less than happy about.
For starters, the seam is black, making it very noticeable. It could be from the gluing process, but it's definitely a complaint I've heard several times before regarding Albion in recent years.
Also, the seam sticks up slightly from the rest of the grip.
It looks like the leather was put on before it was fully dry. There are noticeable dye stains on the guard and pommel.
It feels like the shape of the bottom part of the grip is asymmetrical. If I hold it on one side, the cross section feels circular. If I turn it around, I can definitely feel a flat plane.
At the top of the grip on one side, there is a small gap where you can see the wood of the grip.
The bottom of the leather seem asymmetrical. It is thicker and goes down further on one side.
Honestly, a lot of the stuff I mentioned is very small nitpicking. But there are enough small problems that I feel a bit let down.
The Guard
The crossguard is circular in cross section with flared ends.The guard widens at the center, and the center of the guard has a central ridge that leads into the central ridge of the blade. I really like the shape, it's a fairly complex shape with a lot of detail, but it doesn't look overly busy or complicated.
The fit of the guard to the blade is excellent.
There is a disappointing number of pitting on one half of the guard. (I forgot to take a picture, but theres 5 or so pits all in one small area).
There is also a spot on the end of one of the quillons where it looks like someone slipped with a grinder.
On one side, the central ridge of the guard is not straight. On the other side, it does not line up with the central ridge of the blade.
There is also some flaws in the polish near the center of the guard. There are some noticeable lines in the finish, where it looks like whoever was doing the polishing changed directions and didn't bother to blend it in.
The Pommel
The pommel is a type of scentstopper pommel, and is octagonal in cross section. I was slightly worried that the corners of the octagon would be slightly sharp and dig in to the hand. However, I was pleased to discover that the edges are ever so slightly rounded over. It is rounded just enough that it is very comfortable to hold, but without making the edges look undefined. It doesn't look overly big from the pictures, but it's a big son of a gun. I wouldn't be surprised if it weighed at least a pound. I'm sure it contributes a great deal to the excellent balance of the sword. The pommel is excellent at providing additional grip length for extra leverage.
The pommel is very well shaped, so that it is comfortable to hold in a variety of different grips. I find it equally comfortable to place my offhand entirely on the pommel, or half on the pommel and half on the grip, or entirely on the grip.
The peen is very clean.
There is one small pitting, which I don't really mind. But there is also some lines in the finish, just like in the guard, which I find disappointing.
Handling Characteristics
Despite being heavier than my Steward by about half a pound, the Talhoffer actually feels a bit lighter when moving between guard positions. It really does not feel like 3.5 pounds, no doubt because of the low PoB. The Steward does feel more agile in the cut, but the Talhoffer isn't a cut oriented sword. Trying to cut with the Talhoffer feels almost a bit floaty. As expected, it does have excellent point control. The center of rotation isn't right at the point, but a little ways back.
Trying to use the Talhoffer in one hand is possible, but not really ideal. Cuts are doable, but recovery is slow. If I had to use this with one hand, I'd only use it for thrusting.
Test Cutting
This is not a cut oriented sword, and I'm not the best cutter in the world, since I rarely get to do any test cutting. Despite that, I didn't really have much trouble cutting Tetra packs and small water bottles with this sword. I don't think I flubbed a single cut. I did have to hit with much further down than with my Steward, and the cuts were not quite as clean as my Steward, but it still performed surprisingly well. I'm sure someone who is more experienced with cutting could get even better results.
Conclusion
The Talhoffer is a good example of its type. It feels nice in the hand, and looks very nice if you don't look too closely. However, if you really take a close look at it, there are a lot of things that could use some improvement, and are a bit of a let down, considering the price and the reputation of the company.
Pros:
- Feels very good in the hand
- Cuts well for its type
- Good proportions
Cons:
- Price
- Lots of small nitpicks
Thanks for reading!