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Post by BWDuty on Sept 29, 2021 9:12:38 GMT
Hopefully this isn't too far off topic, while it is a question about customization it isn't really *self*-customization, which is probably what this is more geared toward.
I'm wanting my next Albion to look unique. I've Googled for hours trying to get ideas, and I think I've seen pretty much every image out there. There really aren't many that show unique combinations. The *vast* majority are regular hilts and brown or black wraps. I'm hoping some people might show pictures of different antiqued/blackened hilts along with unique wrap dye colors. Most of what I have now is pretty basic, but I'm currently leaning toward a blackened hilt with blue or green wrappings. Probably in a Crecy, but I'd like to see combinations like that (or any unusual color).
Heck, even if you customized the colors yourself I'd love to see just to get some ideas of what to ask for.
I currently have;
Gaddhjalt with regular hilt and dark brown wrap Ringeck with regular hilt and black wrap Thegn with regular hilt and black wrap Bayeux with regular hilt and light brown wrap
And on order direct with Albion; Knight with blackened hilt and dark brown wrap Yeoman with antiqued hilt and oxblood wrap
Probably no point in me putting up pictures since all of the ones I currently have look just like everybody else's!
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Post by alientude on Sept 29, 2021 13:56:24 GMT
You might consider discussing this with Jeffrey Robinson. He has a lot of examples of swords where he took an Albion and rehilted it with his unique bronze castings. Below is my example of a Talhoffer he worked on.
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Post by BWDuty on Sept 29, 2021 15:03:37 GMT
You might consider discussing this with Jeffrey Robinson. He has a lot of examples of swords where he took an Albion and rehilted it with his unique bronze castings. Below is my example of a Talhoffer he worked on.
Very cool, thanks! I was just checking out some of your videos on YouTube this morning
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Post by skelley on Sept 29, 2021 21:13:46 GMT
I have an Earl with regular fittings and dyed midnight blue. I also have a Prince and Chevalier (both with bronze pommel) on order for next year. The Prince I ordered with cardinal red leather which is a kind of plum red and the Chevalier with a green wrap and light brown overwrap. I'm hoping that makes the scalloped pommel more flower like.
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Post by BWDuty on Sept 30, 2021 2:01:46 GMT
I have an Earl with regular fittings and dyed midnight blue. I also have a Prince and Chevalier (both with bronze pommel) on order for next year. The Prince I ordered with cardinal red leather which is a kind of plum red and the Chevalier with a green wrap and light brown overwrap. I'm hoping that makes the scalloped pommel more flower like. Beautiful! I'm still bouncing back and forth between blue and green right now with a blackened hilt for my next custom order. I've only seen one example of a unique color with a blackened hilt and it is gorgeous. There is a picture of a Munich with a blackened hilt and what the gentleman calls blue dye, although it appears almost purple to me.
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Zen_Hydra
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Born with a heart full of neutrality
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Post by Zen_Hydra on Sept 30, 2021 9:30:02 GMT
I have a Doge with a green handle wrap from Albion. They didn't feel comfortable committing to a more specific shade than that (and I can certainly understand after messing about with leather, dyes, glues, and how they interplay). My Doge turned out pretty close to a hunter green.
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Post by BWDuty on Sept 30, 2021 9:33:25 GMT
I figured I would shoot Mike over at Albion an e-mail, I'm guessing that they have a plethora of pictures from previous swords that they have made and I've really enjoyed speaking with him in the past. If I get anything cool from him I will share it here..
Good morning!
Now that I have both of my current commissions paid off, I'm already thinking about ordering another.
I've bought a few on the secondary market while I wait (a Thegn, a Bayeux, and a Gaddhjalt), plus the Ringeck which was my first, and the Knight and Yeoman which you are currently working on.
I think I really want a unique color combination for my next one. I'm heavily leaning toward a Crecy with a blackened hilt and the wrap dyed green. I've been scouring the internet for images like that but the closest I've found is one Regent with a blackened hilt and blue dye. I don't suppose you have any pictures of a blackened hilt with a unique color wrap? Even if it isn't the exact combination I'm looking for. I think I'm set on blackened and green, but I'm open to anything unique. Do you have any suggestions? As I'm sure you know, the *vast* majority have the regular finish on the hilt and black or brown dye.
The Knight was just ordered in March and the Yeoman in May, I was kind of curious if you might have an updated ETA on either but I don't mean to rush you at all. You guys are amazing and worth the wait!
Thank you!
Brian Duty
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Post by BWDuty on Sept 30, 2021 9:35:54 GMT
I have a Doge with a green handle wrap from Albion. They didn't feel comfortable committing to a more specific shade than that (and I can certainly understand after messing about with leather, dyes, glues, and how they interplay). My Doge turned out pretty close to a hunter green. Yeah I was king of worried about that. Hunter green would be exactly what I want, but I've seen a fairly wide range of blues and greens. I'd be a disappointed if it turned out too bright.
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Post by BWDuty on Sept 30, 2021 9:53:06 GMT
I have an Earl with regular fittings and dyed midnight blue. I also have a Prince and Chevalier (both with bronze pommel) on order for next year. The Prince I ordered with cardinal red leather which is a kind of plum red and the Chevalier with a green wrap and light brown overwrap. I'm hoping that makes the scalloped pommel more flower like. That blue is beautiful, and the others sound pretty sweet too. I do love the standard hilt with black or brown wrap, but they are so common and I already have several of them. I'm really wanting to get some more unique ones like you!
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Post by BWDuty on Sept 30, 2021 11:08:19 GMT
I just found a picture of one that I love, it was on sale about 6 years ago over on MyArmoury by "Josh S". Not sure who bought it or if it even actually sold, but it looks amazing. It says the hilt is "browned not blackened". It does look kind of brownish, not as dark as blackened and not antiqued either. I guess it is something custom he asked for. Seeing it just makes me want one just like it even more haha.
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Greg E
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little bit of this... and a whole lot of that
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Post by Greg E on Sept 30, 2021 22:32:46 GMT
I made a post of a similar vein some time ago.
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Post by BWDuty on Oct 1, 2021 9:00:33 GMT
I made a post of a similar vein some time ago.
Thanks! I had already seen that one, unfortunately it didn't get many picture responses either. After finding that Crecy that was posted to MyArmoury six years ago, I decided for sure that a blackened hilt and green dye is exactly what I want. I just pulled the trigger on the Albion order a few minutes ago. Mike quoted 8-10 months on the last two, but I don't expect a confirmation until business hours later today for this one. I'm at 7 and 5 months respectively for the two orders I already have in, so I'm guessing his original estimate will be pretty accurate. At least I have it locked in now and can stop overthinking, my brain likes to drive me mad any time there is a desire or concern that is unresolved.
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Post by skelley on Oct 2, 2021 19:04:12 GMT
I have an Earl with regular fittings and dyed midnight blue. I also have a Prince and Chevalier (both with bronze pommel) on order for next year. The Prince I ordered with cardinal red leather which is a kind of plum red and the Chevalier with a green wrap and light brown overwrap. I'm hoping that makes the scalloped pommel more flower like. That blue is beautiful, and the others sound pretty sweet too. I do love the standard hilt with black or brown wrap, but they are so common and I already have several of them. I'm really wanting to get some more unique ones like you! Thanks BWDuty. I also have a Doge with standard oxblood but didn't think that was germane. I usually avoid black and brown as a personal preference if possible, after all if I'm spending $1000+ than whats a little more for some cool colors. I remember seeing on Reddit some time ago a fellow that redid the leather on his Albions and one of them had, I kid you not, HOT PINK LEATHER! I nearly died.
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ghost
Member
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Post by ghost on Oct 3, 2021 19:52:41 GMT
hi BWDuty, any thoughts on choosing the crecy over the warwick? never pulled the plug on the crecy due to my large hands. now the warwick looks like tooo much grip maybe
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Post by BWDuty on Oct 4, 2021 5:41:22 GMT
hi BWDuty, any thoughts on choosing the crecy over the warwick? never pulled the plug on the crecy due to my large hands. now the warwick looks like tooo much grip maybe I love them both, and to be honest the larger grip on the Warwick would probably be preferable -- but to me, it just came down to aesthetics and I like the look of the Crecy a bit better personally. I also leaned toward the Crecy a bit because it has become kind of iconic in the collector community. It is just such a perfect example of what most people think of as the classic longsword. I also have a Ringeck and the guard on that looks very similar to the Warwick so I wanted something different on my next longsword. Either one would be an amazing addition to any collection in my opinion!
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Post by BWDuty on Oct 4, 2021 13:53:16 GMT
Mike sent a picture of a blackened hilt with blue dye for me *drool*. Also, just got the order confirmation for the order I placed Friday 10/1/21. He quoted a straight 12 months this time if anybody is curious -- he quoted 8-10 months on the orders I placed in March and May, so I guess they are a bit more backed up now. Attachments:
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stormmaster
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Post by stormmaster on Oct 4, 2021 14:53:36 GMT
When a maker saids 8 to 10 months give them another 4 months minimum lol
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Post by Brian Kunz on Oct 4, 2021 16:09:06 GMT
The actual truth of the matter is, besides growing business, Albion is located in a small town so any changeover in employees can make it difficult to determine an exact timeframe. Recently Albion had a talented member of their team pass away, and that added to their wait time, as it will take time to find someone to replace this person.
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Post by BWDuty on Oct 4, 2021 16:18:30 GMT
The actual truth of the matter is, besides growing business, Albion is located in a small town so any changeover in employees can make it difficult to determine an exact timeframe. Recently Albion had a talented member of their team pass away, and that added to their wait time, as it will take time to find someone to replace this person. Ouch, I didn't hear about that. That town they are located in looks so cool, I was just checking it out the other day! Tons of history.
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Post by eastman on Oct 5, 2021 2:08:46 GMT
They quoted me 9-11 months on the complete sword I ordered the first week of July. The bare blades I ordered a week later quoted 2-3 months and arrived at about the 2.5 month point.
I have a road trip planned to visit New Glarus in a couple of weeks. They do have some items at Albion to handle, by appointment. I ordered my first Albion strictly based on reputation, so I am looking forward to handling a few and deciding on the next order(s).
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