Review: Custom Albion Munich Edit: Cutting vid!
Dec 3, 2016 15:08:28 GMT
Post by Lukas MG (chenessfan) on Dec 3, 2016 15:08:28 GMT
Review: Albion Munich
This exact sword has been reviewed already by Bill but I figure a second impression won‘t hurt. This will not be a full review, just what I consider should be said about the sword. Bill's review is here: sbg-sword-forum.forums.net/thread/40274/albion-munich
I have a special connection to the Albion Munich. When I first came across medieval swords and Albion, this was the sword that 16-year-old me desperately wanted. I couldn‘t afford it, of course, and this eventually let to me making swords. These narrow-bladed longswords are my favorite type of sword and no original represents this culmination of medieval sword design better than the longsword at display in the „Bayerisches Nationalmuseum“ in Munich. I have seen the sword in person and it truly is magnificent. Albion‘s Munich is as far as the blade, the proportions and the handling is concerned, an exact replica of that original. Only the extensive decoration and complex leather work was not reproduced in order to keep it reasonably priced.
I got this sword from Bill and that is the second reason I treasure it... it will remind me most of him and the hours we spent in his „man-cave“ with his extraordinary collection. Good times ;)
Now, this sword as pictured here is not represantative of the way it comes from Albion. I of course couldn‘t leave it alone and had to customize it.
The blade was properly sharpened and hand polished. Two original medieval coins from 1509 and 1515 were added to the pommel. Though the original sword is most likely from 1450-1480, I referred to Albrecht Dürer‘s engraving „Ritter, Tod und Teufel“ from 1513 and used coins from that time period.
The coin dated to 1515 is from southern Germany (the city of Kempten), the slightly older one from Poland and shows Sigismund I‘s crown. I would have preferred coins from Nürnberg of course (Dürer‘s hometown) but this is what I could get in the right size.
The guard on the Munich is very plain. I wanted to give it a little bit more flair so I filed in some bevels as is typical for this type of guard. The original also has them (though only on one side?). I also added a cross-leather to the guard. The original sports a tubular chape but I‘ve always preferred the flap-type. This is consistent with the sword shown in Dürer‘s artwork, as that one also appears to sport a D-shaped cross leather. The chape is decorated with simple punched-in crosses. Goes well with the rest of the sword I think.
Stats:
Overall length: 126.5cm
Blade length: 95cm
Handle length: 25cm
Blade width (at base): 4cm
Blade width 1“ from tip: 0.9cm
COG: 12.5cm
COP: 57cm
Blade thickness at base: 8.6mm
Blade thickness at CoP: 6.2mm
Blade thickness 1“ from tip: 3.8mm
Weight: 1465g
Aesthetics:
This is an Albion so the entire sword is well shaped and finished. I did find something to nit-pick though. The decorative lines in the guard (now covered by the cross-leather) were quite uneven (one reason I thought of adding a rain guard in the first place!) and the grip had some noticeably black strips that stood out against the oxblood dye. I darkened the whole grip a bit to hide that. The sharpening job was wholly unsuitable but that‘s old news with Albion.
Overall, the proportions and shape of this sword speak for themselves. As I said earlier, this is a supremely elegant and harmoniously shaped sword and Albion does the original justice.
Handling & Performance:
Being an exact functional replica of a very high quality original, it‘s hard to find something negative about the handling and performance of this sword. For the type of combat and style of fighting it is intended for, the Munich is as perfect a sword as any I‘ve used before. It has good presence in the bind and cuts with authority, offers excellent point control and overall very smooth and agile handling characteristics. The blade is very stiff and allows the awl-shaped point to penetrate any reasonable target with ease. The massive blade is also quite durable and not at all slight or vulnerable as the narrow profile might suggest.
Now, as for what most people want to know about this sword (and I‘m very curious about myself): cutting performance.
It is obvious that this slender XVIIIb is not a cutting-oriented blade type. It is narrow and has a thick spine, both leads to a less-than-optimal angle on the main bevels. So naturally, the cutting performance is nowhere near that of a wider-bladed XVIIIa or other cutting-oriented blades.
It is, however, a perfectly adequate cutter. Cutting a bit further down from the point and with good technique, newspaper rolls the size of my forearm can be cut through cleanly. Even if it doesn't make it all the way through, the blade always leaves deep gashes that would be absolutely enough for a serious (fight-stopping) wound.
I have no doubt the blade will go through tatami without issue, looking forward to testing that.
Short update: I have now cut some tatami mats with the sword and am happy to report that it was absolutely no problem. Clean, effortless cuts. Not with the tip, of course, but a few inches from the point the blade happily went through full mats. I once messed up the edge alignment and though it naturally didn't cut the mat, the enourmously rigid and very substantial blade hardly vibrated at all and toppled over the stand. I would not want to get hit with the sword, with or without proper edge alignement. The mere percussive impact the sword delivers must not be underestimated. Despite its slender and seemingly delicate profile, it is one of the stoutest and most durable swords I've ever used.
Conclusion:
I am very attached to this sword. Functionally, it is a wonderful weapon and just what a HEMA longsword enthusiast likes. As a swordmaker, I very much value the skill that went into creating the original and of course such an exact replica. Personally, I value it as something I‘ve long been dreaming of and also something that reminds me of a good friend.
Overall, this may be the favorite sword in my collection. I try not to get too attached to my own blades as they always end up being sold sooner or later. This one I know will always stay with me.
Cheers and thanks for reading!
This exact sword has been reviewed already by Bill but I figure a second impression won‘t hurt. This will not be a full review, just what I consider should be said about the sword. Bill's review is here: sbg-sword-forum.forums.net/thread/40274/albion-munich
I have a special connection to the Albion Munich. When I first came across medieval swords and Albion, this was the sword that 16-year-old me desperately wanted. I couldn‘t afford it, of course, and this eventually let to me making swords. These narrow-bladed longswords are my favorite type of sword and no original represents this culmination of medieval sword design better than the longsword at display in the „Bayerisches Nationalmuseum“ in Munich. I have seen the sword in person and it truly is magnificent. Albion‘s Munich is as far as the blade, the proportions and the handling is concerned, an exact replica of that original. Only the extensive decoration and complex leather work was not reproduced in order to keep it reasonably priced.
I got this sword from Bill and that is the second reason I treasure it... it will remind me most of him and the hours we spent in his „man-cave“ with his extraordinary collection. Good times ;)
Now, this sword as pictured here is not represantative of the way it comes from Albion. I of course couldn‘t leave it alone and had to customize it.
The blade was properly sharpened and hand polished. Two original medieval coins from 1509 and 1515 were added to the pommel. Though the original sword is most likely from 1450-1480, I referred to Albrecht Dürer‘s engraving „Ritter, Tod und Teufel“ from 1513 and used coins from that time period.
The coin dated to 1515 is from southern Germany (the city of Kempten), the slightly older one from Poland and shows Sigismund I‘s crown. I would have preferred coins from Nürnberg of course (Dürer‘s hometown) but this is what I could get in the right size.
The guard on the Munich is very plain. I wanted to give it a little bit more flair so I filed in some bevels as is typical for this type of guard. The original also has them (though only on one side?). I also added a cross-leather to the guard. The original sports a tubular chape but I‘ve always preferred the flap-type. This is consistent with the sword shown in Dürer‘s artwork, as that one also appears to sport a D-shaped cross leather. The chape is decorated with simple punched-in crosses. Goes well with the rest of the sword I think.
Stats:
Overall length: 126.5cm
Blade length: 95cm
Handle length: 25cm
Blade width (at base): 4cm
Blade width 1“ from tip: 0.9cm
COG: 12.5cm
COP: 57cm
Blade thickness at base: 8.6mm
Blade thickness at CoP: 6.2mm
Blade thickness 1“ from tip: 3.8mm
Weight: 1465g
Aesthetics:
This is an Albion so the entire sword is well shaped and finished. I did find something to nit-pick though. The decorative lines in the guard (now covered by the cross-leather) were quite uneven (one reason I thought of adding a rain guard in the first place!) and the grip had some noticeably black strips that stood out against the oxblood dye. I darkened the whole grip a bit to hide that. The sharpening job was wholly unsuitable but that‘s old news with Albion.
Overall, the proportions and shape of this sword speak for themselves. As I said earlier, this is a supremely elegant and harmoniously shaped sword and Albion does the original justice.
Handling & Performance:
Being an exact functional replica of a very high quality original, it‘s hard to find something negative about the handling and performance of this sword. For the type of combat and style of fighting it is intended for, the Munich is as perfect a sword as any I‘ve used before. It has good presence in the bind and cuts with authority, offers excellent point control and overall very smooth and agile handling characteristics. The blade is very stiff and allows the awl-shaped point to penetrate any reasonable target with ease. The massive blade is also quite durable and not at all slight or vulnerable as the narrow profile might suggest.
Now, as for what most people want to know about this sword (and I‘m very curious about myself): cutting performance.
It is obvious that this slender XVIIIb is not a cutting-oriented blade type. It is narrow and has a thick spine, both leads to a less-than-optimal angle on the main bevels. So naturally, the cutting performance is nowhere near that of a wider-bladed XVIIIa or other cutting-oriented blades.
It is, however, a perfectly adequate cutter. Cutting a bit further down from the point and with good technique, newspaper rolls the size of my forearm can be cut through cleanly. Even if it doesn't make it all the way through, the blade always leaves deep gashes that would be absolutely enough for a serious (fight-stopping) wound.
I have no doubt the blade will go through tatami without issue, looking forward to testing that.
Short update: I have now cut some tatami mats with the sword and am happy to report that it was absolutely no problem. Clean, effortless cuts. Not with the tip, of course, but a few inches from the point the blade happily went through full mats. I once messed up the edge alignment and though it naturally didn't cut the mat, the enourmously rigid and very substantial blade hardly vibrated at all and toppled over the stand. I would not want to get hit with the sword, with or without proper edge alignement. The mere percussive impact the sword delivers must not be underestimated. Despite its slender and seemingly delicate profile, it is one of the stoutest and most durable swords I've ever used.
Conclusion:
I am very attached to this sword. Functionally, it is a wonderful weapon and just what a HEMA longsword enthusiast likes. As a swordmaker, I very much value the skill that went into creating the original and of course such an exact replica. Personally, I value it as something I‘ve long been dreaming of and also something that reminds me of a good friend.
Overall, this may be the favorite sword in my collection. I try not to get too attached to my own blades as they always end up being sold sooner or later. This one I know will always stay with me.
Cheers and thanks for reading!