The Royal Armouries Collection Preorder Starts

I feel the need to chime in to the debate/discussion.

Watch the Matt Easton videos and stare at the swords on an adequately large screen, the blade geometry is clearly better and far crisper than anything I've seen from Windlass. This is a clear flex from the company. Assuming the models that are shipped out are of the same quality, a considerable price jump is merited; especially from Windlass's base offerings and solidly from Balaur's offerings. The scabbard is also upgraded, which merits a price increase. Then there's the RA branding, which as nndave pointed out, means that the RA needs a cut.

The RA's cut is fully justified as well. Part of what made Albion "Albion" was the research that went into designing the swords. Judging an object solely on the difficulty of final manufacturing is naive. Yes, these sword's aren't proportionally more difficult to create than say the Battlecry line, but far more research went into making them, and that costs. It's like the classic story of a repairman charging $100 to turn one screw to fix an appliance. The client angrily feels overcharged, which prompts the repairman to discount the job by $4 and itemize the bill: $1 to turn the screw, $95 for knowing which screw to turn. Again, watch the Matt Easton videos and stare at the swords as he moves them around in the light; they are head and shoulders above anything Windlass has made. To my eye, in fact they look at least on par with mid 2000's A&A.

Last comment on price. We're savy shoppers here. Let's not pretend the MSRP is the price. There's already a 10% off available, and if these are regular items, they'll probably be able to be had 15%-20% off if bought at the right time with the right luck. If they sell out before the greater discounts can be had, well, then the market will have spoken.

As for comparisons with Albion, Valiant, A&A, let's be reasonable and watch out for the temptation for gatekeeping. I am, like most of you, willing to drop a pretty penny just to get one or two attributes in a sword that other manufacturers offer. I bought the Albion Ljubljana because I wanted a super thick anti-armor longsword that I read so much about in museum catalogues. I knew when I bought four years ago that a much cheaper sword with similar attributes would out, and the day has finally come! Please keep peoples' financial situations in mind when discussing on this forum. Paying an extra $300 on top of the price of these swords to get something better (and giving up a scabbard in the process) is not small money. I'm clearly not saying it's not worth it, but it's out of the question for many who will read through these threads.

I recently ordered the Wallace from Albion despite it not being in the budget currently because I know that it the 15 months I was quoted, I knew I'd be able to afford it. I've been waiting on a rapier from A&A for 3 years now. I do think these swords will pull some people away from the "name brand" makers, but it seems that they are so overbooked they won't feel it.

Wrapping up my rant, these are a great addition to the market in a pretty dead price bracket. If you're excited about these and what they offer, be excited! I'm excited, too! Will probably order the arming sword.

Somebody has to get the XVa and test it. I really love the stabby swords and I wanna see with these beastly thing is capable of.

... That type XIV is gorgeous though.

Wonder which sword we'll get a video on today?

Wonder which sword we'll get a video on today?