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Post by hermannvonsalza on May 29, 2024 20:56:42 GMT
I'm afraid of damaging it. I often use it to practice with, to cut things etc. The question I'm asking myself is shouldn't I get another cheaper sword to practice with? for example the hanwei Albrecht II hand and half sword? Because honestly I can't buy an Albion every year (unfortunately)... if their company was in Europe it would be simpler but to buy one you have to count roughly 250 euros of tax and 240 euros of transport. how do you see things? I was also thinking of Black Fencer's sword for training. Do you have ideas or references for inexpensive swords? I saw the offers proposed by Matt Easton (museum replica) and Todd Cutler too, but there is still a lack of variety in the models!
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Post by fastfash779 on May 29, 2024 21:10:24 GMT
If you’re asking for opinions? My answer is no. I also have a Crecy. And I’ve decided it’s never going to be sold or traded. It’s mine to the grave or I’ll pass it to my kids. The monetary value doesn’t matter in the slightest. I use the hell out of it. This Crecy is the exception to my collection. Others I keep prestine because I may part with them some day. I recently acquired a Knight and I may be keeping it for life just like the Crecy, it’s just that good.
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Post by strigoil on May 29, 2024 22:50:18 GMT
You could try either Regenyei Armory or Pavel Moc if you want affordable cutters in europe.
While neither are cheap, they're not Albion levels expensive and depending on your choices they are cheaper than Tod's cutler line of swords.
Pavel has a list of models but he will also do fully custom work or modify his existing designs, be aware his English is a bit iffy so you have to be VERY precise with what you want and use simple english, when I communicated with him he did not understand the word fuller for example, but groove he understood.
Regenyei are a hema maker but they also do sharps and while aesthetically most of their swords don't hit home for me (tho I really like their two handers) they would be well priced for swords you just want to cut with, tho I have heard their edges need some honing even when you order a sharp.
I have orders in with both Pavel and Regenyei atm myself so I'm recommending based on reviews and what friends in the hobby have told me until I have first hand experience.
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Post by fivesidedpixels on May 30, 2024 3:52:45 GMT
I actually enjoyed your Crecy review from a few years back; it helped push me towards getting one as my first Albion.
Mine’s due in a week, but I think it’s a shame to let good swords go unused. Function and aesthetics are equal in my eyes. They’re tools, made to be enjoyed. Their beauty is felt in motion, appreciated in the hand. And when so much engineering goes into Albion designs, I’d hate to deny those swords their purpose. Treat it well and make peace with any nicks and scratches. Keep it pristine if you want the resale value of course. If you practice HEMA, your feder should be getting more abuse anyway.
That being said, it wouldn’t hurt to have a “beater” sword. To practice sharpening, unusual cuts, potentially abusive testing, etc. No input for European choices sadly.
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Post by toddstratton1 on May 30, 2024 5:03:18 GMT
I'm afraid of damaging it. I often use it to practice with, to cut things etc. The question I'm asking myself is shouldn't I get another cheaper sword to practice with? for example the hanwei Albrecht II hand and half sword? Because honestly I can't buy an Albion every year (unfortunately)... if their company was in Europe it would be simpler but to buy one you have to count roughly 250 euros of tax and 240 euros of transport. how do you see things? I was also thinking of Black Fencer's sword for training. Do you have ideas or references for inexpensive swords? I saw the offers proposed by Matt Easton (museum replica) and Todd Cutler too, but there is still a lack of variety in the models! Getting a hanwei longsword could be a good idea for lots of practice cutting without using the Crecy too much. But as long as youre only cutting water bottles, pool noodles, Tatami and things like that. The sword wont be taking any damage. Just need the occassional resharpening ever so often. Just don't abuse it by hitting tree branches and the like lol
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Post by mrstabby on May 30, 2024 8:06:43 GMT
I mean it depends on what you feel is "damage". Scratches happen easily especially with recycled bottles, and the neck on some bottles can give some nasty dents in the edge. Also sooner or later you will hit the stand. I have read Hanwei/Tinker feel pretty close to some Albions (I don't know for sure), they are around 400€ in EU.
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Post by neuronic on May 30, 2024 9:38:08 GMT
I absolutely get your hesitency to use a (for a European almost way too) expensive Albion for cutting, I feel the same about mine.
The Hanwei Euro swords would be my suggestion, too. Any Tinker collab, the Cawood, the Albrecht II are all very capable and reliable swords not breaking the bank. You might even consider a custom order from Rafal (Incarius Craft), who does very good work for something like €600-€900 (there has been some dissatisfaction concerning his delivering times, though, that's to consider).
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Post by curiomansion on May 30, 2024 20:33:51 GMT
I totally understand where you're coming from. If Albions are hard and expensive to get in Europe, then you probably use it for nothing beyond tatami, newspaper and water bottles. I'd avoid heavier drink bottle and wood.
Regenyei is a great brand and makes some great sharps. Pavel's work is beautiful, but he won't return my emails. Maybe you'll have better luck.
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Post by warriorpoet on Jun 9, 2024 21:21:51 GMT
An Albion sword, a long sword of some kind I think, was used on the show knife or death.
Hitting 2x4s, ice blocks, chopping rope and meat, striking sheet metal...pretty intense destructive course.
Interesting what blades hold up. The Albion promptly bent and took a set. Like a viking king of old, the guy would just keep bending it back with his foot. It was still pretty bendy though.
I think they must heat treat and keep it a little softer so that they will bend instead of break or shatter.
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Post by ranstone on Jun 26, 2024 16:34:34 GMT
I have an Albion Alexandria. It's the same blade as the Principe, and if you know anything about how fragile that blade is, you know what I'm talking about.
It's way more durable than you imagine, even with the wafer thin edge I have. Yours is multiple times over more durable, and I've smacked dried hardwood by accident with 100% zero damage or even a cosmetic scratch.
Finally, yes. Damage will come. Tell yourself this: Every single sword used in combat has grievous damage by modern standpoints. It's like buying an M16 and then complaining the bluing is scratching off.
Yes, these are art pieces. But they're weapons of warfare. They're tools. They're meant to have personality, and visual history. It makes them more authentic.
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Post by blackngold on Jul 20, 2024 23:32:48 GMT
I have an Albion Alexandria. It's the same blade as the Principe, and if you know anything about how fragile that blade is, you know what I'm talking about. It's way more durable than you imagine, even with the wafer thin edge I have. Yours is multiple times over more durable, and I've smacked dried hardwood by accident with 100% zero damage or even a cosmetic scratch. Finally, yes. Damage will come. Tell yourself this: Every single sword used in combat has grievous damage by modern standpoints. It's like buying an M16 and then complaining the bluing is scratching off. Yes, these are art pieces. But they're weapons of warfare. They're tools. They're meant to have personality, and visual history. It makes them more authentic. I have a question about the Albion XVIIIc's, since you own one-- Albion's description mentions that the sharp edge is a chisel edge instead of a traditional "v" edge. Are the edge grinds in the same alignment when you flip them over?
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Post by mrstabby on Jul 21, 2024 5:02:02 GMT
They say edge is like a "cold chisel" not a "chisel grind" it normally means - not that I know why they would describe it that way.From what I have seen it does have a secondary bevel. but those could also have been resharpened.
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Post by curiomansion on Jul 21, 2024 9:39:41 GMT
I spent at least 90 minutes in front of the example at the MET and it has a very small but very noticeable secondary bevel. The secondary bevel has a distinctly obtuse grind angle, which I assume is to add durability to an otherwise delicate blade. Maybe that's what they mean by being like a chisel?
I don't remember if the Principe I handled had that grind.
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Post by eastman on Jul 21, 2024 15:18:44 GMT
cold chisels are not single ground like wood chisels are
probably this is the fancy way of saying intentional secondary bevel
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Post by toddstratton1 on Jul 21, 2024 20:01:44 GMT
I spent at least 90 minutes in front of the example at the MET and it has a very small but very noticeable secondary bevel. The secondary bevel has a distinctly obtuse grind angle, which I assume is to add durability to an otherwise delicate blade. Maybe that's what they mean by being like a chisel? I don't remember if the Principe I handled had that grind. Did you take a look and notice that the met museum Alexandria also has a reinforced tip with swell? That stuck out to me quite a bit but is sometimes missing on reproduction. I live near the met museum haha
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Post by curiomansion on Jul 21, 2024 21:13:07 GMT
I spent at least 90 minutes in front of the example at the MET and it has a very small but very noticeable secondary bevel. The secondary bevel has a distinctly obtuse grind angle, which I assume is to add durability to an otherwise delicate blade. Maybe that's what they mean by being like a chisel? I don't remember if the Principe I handled had that grind. Did you take a look and notice that the met museum Alexandria also has a reinforced tip with swell? That stuck out to me quite a bit but is sometimes missing on reproduction. I live near the met museum haha I don't remember it being super reinforced, but certainly not delicate. I'll have to dig up my video of it, which I don't know where it is! Lucky you live so close!
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Post by toddstratton1 on Jul 23, 2024 23:35:13 GMT
Did you take a look and notice that the met museum Alexandria also has a reinforced tip with swell? That stuck out to me quite a bit but is sometimes missing on reproduction. I live near the met museum haha I don't remember it being super reinforced, but certainly not delicate. I'll have to dig up my video of it, which I don't know where it is! Lucky you live so close! It's not super reinforced, but it's got enough of a discernable tip swelling and thickening that it was quite noticeable when looking from side profile. This is something I've noticed more recently on modern reproduction. That some sword will lack this important feature on sword typologies that largely benefit from that added feature and should be a feature set of the sword. Mostly related especially to type XV swords. Where it's so acute and thrust oriented it seems very strange not to have it with that added reinforcement for durability.
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Post by curiomansion on Jul 24, 2024 1:05:33 GMT
I don't remember it being super reinforced, but certainly not delicate. I'll have to dig up my video of it, which I don't know where it is! Lucky you live so close! It's not super reinforced, but it's got enough of a discernable tip swelling and thickening that it was quite noticeable when looking from side profile. This is something I've noticed more recently on modern reproduction. That some sword will lack this important feature on sword typologies that largely benefit from that added feature and should be a feature set of the sword. Mostly related especially to type XV swords. Where it's so acute and thrust oriented it seems very strange not to have it with that added reinforcement for durability. Makes sense! I've lost tips on fine swords before (like <1mm but still noticeable) and remember being annoyed at how delicate they were.
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Post by blackngold on Jul 28, 2024 18:21:41 GMT
They say edge is like a "cold chisel" not a "chisel grind" it normally means - not that I know why they would describe it that way.From what I have seen it does have a secondary bevel. but those could also have been resharpened. Ah, ok. Yes that is a significant distinction, thanks for clarifying!
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Post by mrstabby on Jul 28, 2024 18:29:35 GMT
It's probably this. Like a long primary bevel and stout secondary. cold chisels are not single ground like wood chisels are probably this is the fancy way of saying intentional secondary bevel
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