Quillon
Member
Suspended until 1/22/24
Posts: 176
|
Post by Quillon on Jan 15, 2020 11:17:55 GMT
Looking to receive feedback from other SBG members on which Oakeshott Type XVa Longsword has the most praise while keeping a good resale-value in this niche market. Trying to put an order in with Albion. Any thoughts..?
Cheerio, Q
|
|
|
Post by snowbite on Jan 15, 2020 16:19:42 GMT
Made purely for my own curiosity. Sorted by total length.
|
|
Zen_Hydra
Moderator
Born with a heart full of neutrality
Posts: 2,631
|
Post by Zen_Hydra on Jan 15, 2020 17:53:04 GMT
I'm torn between the Mercenary and the Ringeck. Both are very similar swords, and I prefer the waisted and half-wire wrap grip for both of them. It's honestly a coin flip for me. I voted for the Ringeck, because I could only select one and the Ringeck was the first one I clicked, but as things currently stand I am very slightly leaning towards the Mercenary. I'm currently waiting on a half-wire wrapped Munich, and I otherwise has a good representation of longswords and arming swords in my collection. What I don't have much of are middle-of-the-road bastard swords. I have a custom-hilted Hanwei Tinker bastard sword, and that's really it for Euro swords which readily lend themselves to both single and double handed usage. I think I've talked myself into picking up a Mercenary at some point.
I wish I could get the Castellan with the Mercenary's guard....
Edit: I just realized I could change my vote. I'm now officially Team Mercenary
|
|
|
Post by mcapanelli on Jan 15, 2020 19:13:23 GMT
I've owned five of their XVa's and the Firoe was my favorite. They were the Mecenery, Agincourt, Talhoffer, Ringeck, and Fiore.
|
|
|
Post by joe_meadmaker on Jan 15, 2020 20:09:21 GMT
Thanks for posting the image snowbite. Great to see a comparison with all of them.
The two at the top of my list are the Fiore and the Ringeck, with the Fiore coming out on top ever so slightly. I've never held an Albion so this choice is purely due to aesthetics and what I generally prefer in a sword.
|
|
stormmaster
Member
I like viking/migration era swords
Posts: 7,649
Member is Online
|
Post by stormmaster on Jan 15, 2020 21:27:09 GMT
i like the mercenary
|
|
|
Post by Grindhouse on Jan 15, 2020 21:36:09 GMT
They will all keep a very good re sale value, if you keep them in like new condition.
Even though they are all considered XVa, there is a huge difference in handling between the mercenary / castellan / constable VS the Tallhoffer / Fiore / Ringneck / Agincourt.
Group 1 : mercenary / castellan / constable : They are true bastard sword, more than any other Albion. Can be used with one hand or two hands. Large blade at the base. Diamond cross section is not as defined as group 2. Weight and point of balance totally different than goup 2.
Group 2 : Tallhoffer / Fiore / Ringneck / Agincourt : They are longsword. Cant really be used with only one hand because of the point of balance and weight. Blade is also thicker then group 1.
Personally, i own the Agincourt and the Mercenary. I love them both, but they are very different sword.
|
|
Quillon
Member
Suspended until 1/22/24
Posts: 176
|
Post by Quillon on Jan 16, 2020 1:44:06 GMT
Seems like the first impressions I'm hearing are of the 'Mercenary', a true Bastard Sword. I personally like the length & thrusting capabilities of the 'Agincourt' as I'm 72" in height and need something a bit longer that I can still one-hand if needed. Also appreciate that Albion lets you customized your piece now with blackening options. Add coin(s) to the pommel insert later. If you study HEMA it depends on the major school of practice ( Italian/ German). Sidesword is my area of fancy but with a longsword I prefer the high ground/guard. Fiore: posta-longa German School: 'from-the-roof'-Vom-Tag
|
|
|
Post by Grindhouse on Jan 16, 2020 2:15:02 GMT
Watch this if you have not seen it already ;)
|
|
AndiTheBarvarian
Member
Bavarianbarbarian - Semper Semprini
Posts: 9,849
Member is Online
|
Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Jan 16, 2020 2:55:08 GMT
Fiore, I like the combination of waisted grip and round pommel.
|
|
|
Post by leviathansteak on Jan 16, 2020 9:23:26 GMT
I have a ringeck but voted for the talhoffer and i now find the hilt furniture to be more attractive on that one.
I find its absolutely useable in one hand. Almost like a slightly hefty sidesword
|
|
|
Post by alexkjren on Jan 16, 2020 17:35:50 GMT
On average, I don't like the Type XVa sword except for a handful of very specific examples. Of those choices you listed: the Fiore is most aesthetically pleasing to me.
|
|
|
Post by theophilus736 on Jan 17, 2020 15:12:27 GMT
Agincourt hands down.
|
|
|
Post by Rabel Dusk on Jan 17, 2020 18:06:01 GMT
I have one of each of the two Albion XVa types,a Castellan and a Talhoffer. They are rather different from each other, and I love them both.
|
|
Quillon
Member
Suspended until 1/22/24
Posts: 176
|
Post by Quillon on Dec 15, 2023 23:27:23 GMT
Seems like online swordsmanship prefer the elongated pommel on the Mercenary over the traditional wheel of the Agincourt
|
|
|
Post by toddstratton1 on Dec 16, 2023 0:32:36 GMT
Interesting that the agincourt is so much more popular than the Ringneck, as I assumed most people prefer the pommel type on the ringneck for ergonomics and ease of use
|
|
Quillon
Member
Suspended until 1/22/24
Posts: 176
|
Post by Quillon on Dec 16, 2023 0:45:11 GMT
^^ True, the Ringneck is essentially a longer bladed Mercenary. Both sport a Oakeshott Type T3 pommel, which is a multi-faceted scent stopper.
|
|
|
Post by toddstratton1 on Dec 16, 2023 1:20:58 GMT
^^ True, the Ringneck is essentially a longer bladed Mercenary. Both sport a Oakeshott Type T3 pommel, which is a multi-faceted scent stopper. Maybe just me with limited HEMA experience versus Kenjutsu training. However I feel like in every way the wheel pommel just isn't as good or useful as a scent stopper pommel, as the latter gives you a lot more space for grip wirh your hands and still plenty enough reference to get proper edge alignment. The Agincourt is a gorgeous sword over all though so in not surprised it's very popular. As it probably looks the best aesthetically. The same way I think the sempach type XVII is better in use and handling than the Laird, however I own the laird because I vastly prefer its aesthetics. I had a ringneck before but sold it because I didn't feel like I was as big of a fan of being such a pointy and narrow thrust oriented blade. But overall I just don't find any wheel pommel swords easy to use and it tends to just get in the way and feel a bit awkward for me. The Crecy is my favorite albion if I were only to have one of them, but similarly the small handle combined with the big wheel pommel is frustrating haha. Would be my all time #1 euro sword if it had a scent stopper pommel for more comfort and my larger than average hands. Although I own swords much more expensive and decorative, like the Brescia Spadona. The Brescia just feels a bit more fragile and more like a dueling sword because the blade is a lot thinner in thickness.
|
|
|
Post by eastman on Dec 16, 2023 4:33:58 GMT
Considered the Talhoffer, but when it was time to order, the Ringeck was the winner.
|
|
|
Post by blackngold on Dec 17, 2023 3:14:49 GMT
I have one of each of the two Albion XVa types,a Castellan and a Talhoffer. They are rather different from each other, and I love them both. I have handled both, on separate occasions, and I don't remember them being that close in size, particularly in the hilt length. Amazing. I seem to remember being more comfortable wielding the Castellan single-handed than the Fiore. I remember the latter feeling like it "wanted" to be used 2-handed. Thanks for posting that picture! Edit: I guess I should have read the rest of the thread first, as I'm apparently not alone in this opinion!
|
|