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Post by fivesidedpixels on Oct 28, 2023 5:20:34 GMT
Curious on what others thought to snag before the Albion price raise locks in. I'm sure that everyone's plans to order new toys just advanced by a few months. Me? I settled on a Crecy. My collection's pretty new, so this'll be my first Albion. At first I considered the more typical luxury picks, like the Earl, Alexandria, or Machiavelli; cuz who knows how much they'll go up by, right? But the smarter part of my brain told me to go humble instead. Gotta stick to $$$ rather than $$$$. The sword handles like a dream, apparently, and covers most of the bases: a hand-and-a-half grip, with a blade that favors cuts and thrusts equally. Should be a fun all-rounder. And personally, I think there's something satisfying about how unapologetically plain it is. No funky crossguard, pommel, or blade shapes. The Crecy is more or less what the average person imagines when you say "medieval sword". It's the stereotype, the platonic ideal of a sword. Perfect to kick off a collection with. So, what did you all order?
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Post by toddstratton1 on Oct 28, 2023 6:09:45 GMT
I put in an order for 9 swords, on top of what I bought before it got me 2 free swords for buying 12 albions in a year period lol. Sounds overboard, I'm actually happy that it takes a while to finish the swords, because that's the only way I was able to swing ordering them all now, also FOMO before price hikes.
I think I'm only missing two others that I really want to have eventually without doubt, but will attempt to find second hand.. Of course I don't know if how have all of them forever. In a way it's like fun collectibles, the value growing is also very nice. Makes me feel less guilty on my wallet.
All this said, honestly with all the swords I handled and or owned previously, the Crecy is my absolute favorite longsword in its all around versatility and handling. I love it. I have a Brescia Spadona too.
And although that one has an easier grip to use and handling, between only owning the two if needed to make a choice I'd say the Crecy, because it is a slightly thicker blade which leads to better durability. And it's also way less on the wallet, If the crecy had a scent stoppet pommel it would be perfection to me.
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Post by vorpal on Oct 28, 2023 12:31:04 GMT
I went for an Auxilia. I've eyed it for years, but have been too focused on buying Albion's medieval swords to pull the trigger until now.
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Post by eastman on Oct 28, 2023 14:02:24 GMT
When I found out that the "Buy 6, get 1 Free" wasn't just a sword-geek urban legend, I had already planned to order 6 Albions this year. The price hike just moved the last 2 forward by 6 weeks. I ordered in batches of 2 since it is better to drive to New Glarus to pick up 2 swords at a time than only 1 (about 2 hours each way, but I get to handle the ones in the showroom with each visit which leads to ordering more).
Batch 1 - Laird and Prince Batch 2 - Vassal and Lancaster (Vassal is getting close to the end of the run, so it moved up) Batch 3 - Chevalier and Burgundian
frequent buyer club bonus - Thegn
I handled the Auxilia in the Albion showroom and loved the feel. Then a Decurio popped up in the classifieds here and that got my $$.
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Post by theneckrubmancer on Oct 29, 2023 17:37:26 GMT
Just under the wire, I got in an order for the Reeve and the Gaddhjalt. Very differently handling swords despite the visual similarities, but they're both very appealing to me and I intended to eventually both of them up sooner or later, and I figured they'd never be cheaper than they are right now. And then I said what the hell and threw in a Soborg while I was at it. The dad joke enthusiast in me insists that I say that I kind of went Brazil nuts.
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Post by eastman on Oct 29, 2023 17:42:14 GMT
since you ordered before the price increase, you saved a Brazillion dollars on your purchase
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Post by skelley on Oct 29, 2023 23:09:48 GMT
I'm really procrastinating but I think I figured out what I want right now and will put in the order tomorrow after work. I'm leaning towards a Reeve with red leather and black diamond over-wrap along with a Mercenary with... I'm thinking a mustard yellow color. I prefer more cut oriented swords as a rule but I don't think one thrust-centric sword will kill me. Also, 12 in one year Todd!? Keep living the dream my man!
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Post by krox on Oct 30, 2023 3:17:29 GMT
I've never had an Albion and I've been going back and forth on whether I should put in an order. I'm tempted to get a Prince, Laird, Earl, or Baron. It's just hard to justify waiting about two years and then having to build or buy a scabbard when I finally get the sword.
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Post by shinycanoe on Oct 30, 2023 17:24:23 GMT
I ordered a Sankt Annen.
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Post by toddstratton1 on Oct 30, 2023 18:55:32 GMT
I've never had an Albion and I've been going back and forth on whether I should put in an order. I'm tempted to get a Prince, Laird, Earl, or Baron. It's just hard to justify waiting about two years and then having to build or buy a scabbard when I finally get the sword. It's definitely worth the wait, and you can have someone make a scabbard for 500. You have some great taste in choices, I think you'd especially enjoy the laird and Earl. They are both excellent handling swords.
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Post by theneckrubmancer on Oct 30, 2023 20:10:16 GMT
It's also worth noting that there are a bunch of ways to get around the wait. Second-hand Albions pop up pretty frequently on the Classifieds forum here, you can keep an eye on Kult of Athena as they get Albions in stock semi-regularly (although you'll have to pay shipping and sales tax), and Albion usually sets up a booth in the vendor room at bigger HEMA conventions like CombatCon or SoCal Swordfight. The added bonus of going to a con is that you can try multiple models hands-on before you buy, and also all the fun con stuff that happens outside of the vendor room.
None of that will avoid the coming price hike, though.
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Greg E
Member
little bit of this... and a whole lot of that
Posts: 1,291
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Post by Greg E on Oct 30, 2023 22:30:17 GMT
Wish they would come out with a new Viking Age sword. Maybe one in the museum line. But there are none new that I want at the moment..
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Post by Hardrada on Oct 31, 2023 3:41:54 GMT
I put myself down for a Regent and Maximilian. My other Albions are earlier period single-handers, so this will add a bit more variety to the collection.
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Post by feanorian01 on Oct 31, 2023 13:07:56 GMT
I added a Duke to the Regent I ordered earlier this year.
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Post by feanorian01 on Oct 31, 2023 18:34:01 GMT
I put myself down for a Regent and Maximilian. My other Albions are earlier period single-handers, so this will add a bit more variety to the collection. I'd love to get a Maximilian someday. Also been eyeing some of the single-handers, notably the Prince, Squire, and Burgundian. Maybe in the future...
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Post by curiomansion on Nov 1, 2023 10:59:55 GMT
Reviews please when all of your toys arrive in two years!
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Post by vorpal on Nov 1, 2023 14:56:36 GMT
Old prices are still up on Albion's site of this writing. (10:56am EDT)
Still a chance to order if you hurry :-)
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Post by toddstratton1 on Nov 2, 2023 1:03:06 GMT
Old prices are still up on Albion's site of this writing. (10:56am EDT) Still a chance to order if you hurry :-) Yeah still hasn't updated. Really curious to see what new prices are. My guess is a 200 dollar mark up for each.
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Post by blairbob on Nov 2, 2023 7:19:32 GMT
12...in a row?!
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Post by alientude on Nov 2, 2023 14:47:54 GMT
Price increase has shown up - 15% across the board.
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