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Post by William Swiger on Dec 14, 2019 1:39:59 GMT
I have always been a fan of Albion swords and have owned most of them over the years. I have noticed the last few I have received are not as nicely finished blade wise as they used to be. For some reason, they are not getting the blades as well finished as in the past. The recent swords seem to have dark places from the CNC process that are not buffed out. Looks like darkish marks on some places. Not sure if this is from the CNC process. Almost looks like burn lines if that makes sense. These places are not rust or anything like that. Swords are still some of the best production ones out there but just not the same as I was accustomed to receiving.
Bought from KOA.....lol
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stormmaster
Member
I like viking/migration era swords
Posts: 7,714
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Post by stormmaster on Dec 14, 2019 1:46:32 GMT
im guessing old experienced cutlers leaving and new inexperienced new guys coming in that are learning
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Post by Lord Newport on Dec 14, 2019 1:52:03 GMT
I have always been a fan of Albion swords and have owned most of them over the years. I have noticed the last few I have received are not as nicely finished blade wise as they used to be. For some reason, they are not getting the blades as well finished as in the past. The recent swords seem to have dark places from the CNC process that are not buffed out. Looks like long grind marks on some places. Swords are still some of the best production ones out there but just not the same as I was accustomed to receiving. Are these swords new from the factory? |
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Zen_Hydra
Moderator
Born with a heart full of neutrality
Posts: 2,659 
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Post by Zen_Hydra on Dec 14, 2019 1:54:41 GMT
I have always been a fan of Albion swords and have owned most of them over the years. I have noticed the last few I have received are not as nicely finished blade wise as they used to be. For some reason, they are not getting the blades as well finished as in the past. The recent swords seem to have dark places from the CNC process that are not buffed out. Looks like long grind marks on some places. Swords are still some of the best production ones out there but just not the same as I was accustomed to receiving. When did you start noticing this phenomenon? The Sovereign I got directly from Albion this Summer was pretty much flawless. Are you buying through Albion, or via a third party like Kult of Athena? |
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Post by William Swiger on Dec 14, 2019 3:12:16 GMT
I have always been a fan of Albion swords and have owned most of them over the years. I have noticed the last few I have received are not as nicely finished blade wise as they used to be. For some reason, they are not getting the blades as well finished as in the past. The recent swords seem to have dark places from the CNC process that are not buffed out. Looks like long grind marks on some places. Swords are still some of the best production ones out there but just not the same as I was accustomed to receiving. Are these swords new from the factory? Yes - new. Like long places that are darker than the rest of the blade. |
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Post by William Swiger on Dec 14, 2019 3:14:09 GMT
I have always been a fan of Albion swords and have owned most of them over the years. I have noticed the last few I have received are not as nicely finished blade wise as they used to be. For some reason, they are not getting the blades as well finished as in the past. The recent swords seem to have dark places from the CNC process that are not buffed out. Looks like long grind marks on some places. Swords are still some of the best production ones out there but just not the same as I was accustomed to receiving. When did you start noticing this phenomenon? The Sovereign I got directly from Albion this Summer was pretty much flawless. Are you buying through Albion, or via a third party like Kult of Athena? KOA. |
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Zen_Hydra
Moderator
Born with a heart full of neutrality
Posts: 2,659
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Post by Zen_Hydra on Dec 14, 2019 3:28:15 GMT
When did you start noticing this phenomenon? The Sovereign I got directly from Albion this Summer was pretty much flawless. Are you buying through Albion, or via a third party like Kult of Athena? KOA. Interesting. You aren't the first person I've seen with this complaint about a KoA purchased Albion. I'm hesitant to suggest it's anything more than coincidence, but it does seem noteworthy. |
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Post by Gunnar Wolfgard on Dec 14, 2019 14:19:04 GMT
im guessing old experienced cutlers leaving and new inexperienced new guys coming in that are learning Probably a big part of it. Not to bust anyone's chops but I've seen from having owned a business for 25 years good help is hard to find. Few younger people today take pride in their work, it's just a paycheck which they feel it's not what they're worth. Another possibility, does anyone know if Albion is getting their steel from China these days ? Good way to cut down costs and increase profits. I can tell you one thing for sure, I don't like their new website. |
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Post by Rabel Dusk on Dec 14, 2019 15:25:50 GMT
I bought 2 Albions through KOA this year, a Talhoffer and a Lancaster. No problems with their finish.
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Post by Lord Newport on Dec 14, 2019 19:19:06 GMT
When did you start noticing this phenomenon? The Sovereign I got directly from Albion this Summer was pretty much flawless. Are you buying through Albion, or via a third party like Kult of Athena? KOA. I think you should be more fully disclose you your original post that you "bought Albion swords new from KOA" and not Albion. There was someone in the middle and its not fair to impugn Albions quality control since you did not get the swords directly from them. |
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Post by William Swiger on Dec 14, 2019 19:26:43 GMT
Well - KOA gets them directly from Albion and sells them new. They are an authorized distributor of Albion swords. It should not make a difference whether they are mailed from Albion to the customer or mailed from KOA to the customer.
Anyway, the burn/dark marks could not have been made by sitting in a box on a KOA shelf. These marks are not rust and do not polish out. To be clear, I have bought from both Albion and KOA for years and was just making an observation on the last 2-swords I received.
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Post by Bryan Heff on Dec 14, 2019 22:15:18 GMT
Bill has forgotten more about high end swords than most of us will ever know. Just my personal observation. There have been reports in the last 2 to 3 years of the quality control possibly slipping a bit at Albion.
Wonder if the CNC bits need sharpening and they're heating up the metal or something?
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Post by Lord Newport on Dec 15, 2019 0:28:43 GMT
Well - KOA gets them directly from Albion and sells them new. They are an authorized distributor of Albion swords. It should not make a difference whether they are mailed from Albion to the customer or mailed from KOA to the customer. Anyway, the burn/dark marks could not have been made by sitting in a box on a KOA shelf. These marks are not rust and do not polish out. To be clear, I have bought from both Albion and KOA for years and was just making an observation on the last 2-swords I received. I would suggest you take some high quality photos of the areas of issue and send them to Mikie at Albion. I am sure they will stand behind their product. If they really bother you, Ill buy your defective Albions for what you paid for them...  |
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Post by William Swiger on Dec 15, 2019 0:49:50 GMT
Bill has forgotten more about high end swords than most of us will ever know. Just my personal observation. There have been reports in the last 2 to 3 years of the quality control possibly slipping a bit at Albion. Wonder if the CNC bits need sharpening and they're heating up the metal or something? Bryan, I am pretty sure you nailed it with the heating issue. They do look like burn marks. Not black but more grayish. Sure the guys at Albion did their best to get them out. The one prior to this last one had me wondering if it was maybe staining of some type but now I am sure it is from the CNC process. Swords are still fine and not a major deal for me. |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2019 0:59:05 GMT
Albion’s are so overpriced and overrated. There literally nothing but milled stock 6150 steel, that is then ground to shape, tempered, and polished, with cast fittings. There made with quality material and craftsmanship, but there is no time actually put into them. There good swords compared to everything else, but definitely not the best by far.
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stormmaster
Member
I like viking/migration era swords
Posts: 7,714
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Post by stormmaster on Dec 15, 2019 7:15:37 GMT
all the sword blanks are milled out via cnc and i think fittings too but then hand finished, hence the slight differences from piece to piece, i think personally they are they are the best production sword makers out there and worth the price, if anything i sometimes think they are underpriced, as many custom smiths at relatively similar price points with albion will tell u the difficulty of competing with them as 1 man operations
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Post by Lord Newport on Dec 15, 2019 7:27:28 GMT
Albion’s are so overpriced and overrated. There They're literally nothing but milled stock 6150 steel, that is then ground to shape, tempered, and polished, with cast fittings. There They are made with quality material and craftsmanship, but there is no time actually put into them. There They are good swords compared to everything else, but definitely not the best by far. Ok, Ill bite... what swords DO YOU OWN and why are they better than Albions offerings? Oh wait.. just did a little research, you are "user1576" who buys Piece of crap iron bar swords, over values them and tries to trade them for, how did you phrase it.... "Albions or other high end swords"... LMAO If Albions were truly over priced, there would not be a 1-2 year wait to get one...but of course you dont know that because economics is not your strong suit either. Clearly the collective wisdom of the sword community, putting their money where their mouths are (unlike YOU ) feel that Albions are well worth the money. You know nothing about sword design/construction or you wouldn't have commissioned and own the 7.5 lb long sword you have been trying to sell and no body wants to buy. Coming into this thread to crap on Albion swords coming from where you are is a pathetic cry for help.... You dont like Albion's because you cant afford them... |
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Post by legacyofthesword on Dec 15, 2019 9:46:15 GMT
Albion’s are so overpriced and overrated. There literally nothing but milled stock 6150 steel, that is then ground to shape, tempered, and polished, with cast fittings. There made with quality material and craftsmanship, but there is no time actually put into them. There good swords compared to everything else, but definitely not the best by far. Ok, Ill bite... what swords DO YOU OWN and why are they better than Albions offerings? Oh wait.. just did a little research, you are "user1576" who buys Piece of crap iron bar swords, over values them and tries to trade them for, how did you phrase it.... "Albions or other high end swords"... LMAO If Albions were truly over priced, there would not be a 1-2 year wait to get one...but of course you dont know that because economics is not your strong suit either. Clearly the collective wisdom of the sword community, putting their money where their mouths are (unlike YOU ) feel that Albions are well worth the money. You know nothing about sword design/construction or you wouldn't have commissioned and own the 7.5 lb long sword you have been trying to sell and no body wants to buy. Coming into this thread to crap on Albion swords coming from where you are is a pathetic cry for help.... You dont like Albion's because you cant afford them... Easy dude. No need to take things to a personal level. You can strongly disagree with someone's opinion in a civil way.  |
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Post by markus313 on Dec 15, 2019 9:48:19 GMT
No problems with the Reeve I bought recently from KoA.
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Post by William Swiger on Dec 15, 2019 13:02:15 GMT
I have owned a fair number of customs and production swords. My favorite in the production sword market is Albion. My favorite custom smith is John Lundemo. I have bought some expensive customs in the past that actually were not as good as Albion.
To be fair, there are production swords in all price ranges that are just fine for their intended purpose. You can even find a few entry level swords that are exceptional for their price. As an example, Windlass has put out a few good swords over the years. These swords are what I consider a fluke as nothing was "planned" to make them good but they just came out that way. I also like some Del Tin swords but again you have to research to find the good ones. There are plenty of swords for everyone in the hobby at all price levels.
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