All my pictures exceed the download size so I created an album here:
photos.app.goo.gl/YWuZM3kt4vwAcUc6AIntroductionI really wanted a Viking Age sword for my collection. The term “Viking” and its origination is beyond the scope of this review. I have owned a few of the Windlass Viking offerings, but I didn’t keep them. I own an Albion Knight, and so the Albion Viking offerings really appealed to me.
There is a lot of interest and mythos surrounding the Viking sword and the ancient wielders of those swords. These swords may even rival the katana as the most popular replica sword. So I wanted something that would evoke the fury of the Northman. Albions Viking offerings are apparently popular as more of those models have sold than any others. I was on a budget though so I took a look at their Squire Line models, including the ones offered through Viking Shield.
Ultimately I chose the “The Viking Sword” direct from Albion. I liked the Spartan beauty of the sword. It also is very close to the Next Gen Hersir but a third of the price. Albion also offers a sweet 10% military discount so it was an attractive deal. I ordered the sword in January of 2018, and it was delivered in November of 2018. I couldn’t find a review of this sword on here so I thought I would put this out there.
Historical overviewFrom Albion’s website:
This style of Viking era sword is referred to as a Type H hilt in Petersen's Typology. It is the most prominent hilt type found on swords
from the Viking Age and spans a time period from late 8th C to late 10th C
The hilt components are investment cast in mild steel from original waxes carved by Peter Johnsson, based on Peter's first-hand
examination and documentation of period originals of this type. The components are tumbled to a satin finish.
The blade is classified as a Geibig Type 4 (which some consider a sub-classification of the Oakeshott Type X), hand-ground from 1075
steel to a basic satin finish, heat-treated by hand in the Albion Forge Shop.
Ok I am no expert so take this with a grain of salt. The hilt is one piece construction whereas the originals were two piece (which is the case with the Hersir). This is a one piece cast pommel peened. The blade is also not historically made, but it’s of no doubt much better quality than the originals too. My guess if this sword were to travel back through time, it would be a big hit with the Vikings.
Anyway, what piqued my interest in this sword was the hilt. In my mind (probably due to books and movies and the preponderance of Viking sword replicas), the iconic Viking sword has the lobed pommel design. So I found it interesting the type H was the most prominent type. From handling the sword, I now understand why.
Full DisclosureI have no connection with the manufacturer. They gave me a 10% military discount (Cool!). As stated above, my experience with Viking Age swords thus far has been with Windlass products so I can only compare this sword to those.
Initial ImpressionsYikes! When I opened the box, the sword was loose. Not too happy about this given the price paid. Maybe Fedex hired some gorillas to handle this, but I think a little more care could have gone into securing this at the factory. You can see the hilt had come loose from the foam. The tip had repeatedly stabbed into the box, but it didn’t go all the way through. I inspected the sword, but other than some scratching on the tip, it seemed otherwise undamaged.
When I held the sword, it made me happy. It has a commanding presence in hand. Slightly tip heavy but maneuverable as well. I think it would produce a devastating cut. Its fit and finish are excellent for all components. It has clean, simple yet beautiful lines. It is very sharp (I ordered it sharp) with a nice edge and little noticeable bevel. The peen is well-blended.
Statistics
I’ve included the advertised measurements and measurements I took.
Advertised/As Measured
Blade Length: 30” / 30.25”
Grip Length: Not given/ 4”
Overall Length: 36.75” / 36.625”
POB (Point of Balance): 5.125” / 5.2”
COP (Center of Percussion): 19.75”/NM
Blade Width at hilt: 2.3” / 2.3”
Weight: 2 lbs 10 oz/ 2 lbs 14.9 oz
ComponentsThe Blade
30.25” long blade with nearly a full length fuller that fades into nice tip that would deliver a decent thrust. It is a lenticular cross-section and designed for cutting. The finish on the blade is brushed. I opted for sharpening, and it was well-done with a hardly noticeable bevel.
The Handle
The grip is really excellent. The smooth leather provides good grip. It is 4” long and fits my hands well (I wear a size large glove). The seam is nearly invisible. It tapers slightly top to bottom.
The Guard and Pommel
The guard and pommel match perfectly and add to the elegant simplicity of the sword. Everything is solid. The pommel is peened and one piece which isn’t historically accurate. The peen blends well though. There is faux divider in the pommel to make it look like a two piece. You could insert some decorative wire here. I had some copper wire so I braided it and tucked it in so you can see. I don’t know if I will permanently attach something.
The ScabbardNo scabbard was purchased. I will likely have one made at some point or try my hand at my own.
Handling Characteristics
I am about 6' tall and 200 lbs. I wear size large gloves. This sword fit me really well. It handles fast though it would hit with authority. It is definitely made to pair with a shield. I haven’t cut with it, but I think it would be a terrific cutter.
So about the pommel: my first Viking sword was bought back in 2001 from Museum Replicas. At the time, I thought it would be awesome to have a Viking sword. I was at the beginning of my sword collecting and still learning. I didn’t like that sword primarily because it hurt my hand every time I swung it. I had never heard of hammer grip or handshake or anything else at that time. The thing bit the heck out of my wrist so I let it go. (I don’t remember the name of it but it had brass fittings).
I eventually came across info on the “proper” grip of the Viking sword, and I won’t get into that here. I know there is still debate on the “proper” grip. I will say that learning the about the handshake grip changed my perception on the comfort of Viking swords. I next owned a Windlass Sticklestad (sp?) and found using the handshake grip helped a lot though I won’t say it completely eliminated wrist bite. I eventually let that go too mainly because I wasn’t crazy about the suede grip.
Anyway, the Viking bug got me again, and I tried this Albion offering. As I said before, I didn’t know the type H hilt was the most prominent, but it really works well with a handshake grip. It is very narrow and contoured so that it slides easily into the handshake mode without biting the wrist, and it feels secure in the hand. It seems like this pommel was designed with the ergonomics of the handshake grip in mind. The hammer grip works well too. I think it works much better than the lobed pommel swords (Windlass offerings) I have tried which maybe is why it was more prominent. Just a theory.
ConclusionsI really like this sword. It just looks clean and spare—a no-nonsense fighting tool. It really feels great in the hand and looks fantastic too. The fit and finish are excellent. The price was reasonable.
Pros
Albion is really good about communicating on orders and they ship fast once they collect final payment. They respond to messages promptly.
Excellent fit and finish.
Ergonomic grip and pommel
Price
Cons
I will put the packaging here. I think I know why Albion packages the way they do—when you open the box, the presentation of the sword is meant to wow. It would be harder to do if the sword was mummified in bubble wrap. However, given the cost, I think I prefer the mummification method.
The Bottom Line
Cool!
Photo Album:
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