Skofnung
Member
Greetings folks.
This is my first written review of a product, so please bear with me.
Introduction
A few months ago, I came into a small ammount of money that I was not expecting. Instead of using this money to buy stocks or to save for my future, I decided that the time had come for me to own a sword. I have wanted a real sword for a long time, but I could never justify the funds to aquire one. I no longer had this excuse.
I have been studying the particulars of swords for nigh on 7 years now (and practicing with "wasters" for just as long), so there was not much question as to the style of sword that I wanted. I wanted a European Hand and a Half sword of good quality. To find a sword that fit the bill, I turned to none other than the fine folks at Albion Armorers. From all of the accounts that I had heard, these guys were top notch.
After looking over their website http://albionarmorers.com/ I decided on a Del-Tin made blade. I would have liked to get one of Albion's hand made blades, but for a first time user, a Del-Tin sword is considered to be a good buy. I selected the ADT5143. By all reports, it has the strongest tang of all the DT hand and a halfers.
Now, the Albion Del-Tin line is neat. Albion takes a Del-Tin blade and puts fittings (guard, pommel, and grip) of their own design and manufacture on it. What you end up with is a very nice looking and well fitted sword.
The next day, I called up the folks a Albion and placed my order. I was informed that it might take awhile to get the product, due to the fact that their yearly shipment of blades from Italy had not arrived yet, and when they did, they would have to be assembled. No problem, I was in no big hurry. Five days later, I get a package in the mail. I may not have been in a hurry, but the guys at Albion sure were!
First Impressions
When I opeded the large cardboard box, I was struck by the austere beauty of the piece. There are no decorations on the sword, but the businesslike lines combine with the flat grey fittings and iridescent blade to give the impression that this is the sword a Warrior would carry. No frills. Strictly business.
The other thing that struck me was the size of the sword. It was bigger than I had imagined. I had laid out the dimensions of the sword with a tape measure on cardboard before I ordered it to get an idea of the real size. It seemed much bigger in person.
When I picked it up, I could feel the quality. Nothing rattled. It was as solid as a mountain. I reached up, took the tip of the blade in my left hand and flexed the sword. It bent and returned to true with no problem. I flicked the flat of the blade with my finger and a pleasant "binggggg," just like a tuning fork, filled the room. The tang is peened over the pommel, as it should be in traditional European Swords.
Upon closer inspection of the blade, I found it to be well ground, polished to a dull "satin" finish. The blades are shipped from Italy dull, due to the fact that sharp swords are outlawed there.
Albion will sharpen the blade for you, but I wanted it dull for starters, just till I get used to it. I can sharpen it myself.
Handling
Del-Tin Swords are notorious for being heavy. The ADT5143 is no exception. This is no bother to me, as I am fairly fit, and the reason I bought it in the first place was to work out with it. In this instance, heavy is good.
The blade is quite long. I am 6' tall, and I have to concentrate on what I am doing to keep the tip from brushing the ground on extended arm swings. It is also difficult to "stop" the blade in mid swing due to the weight and length. 3lbs 11oz does not sound like much, but swinging it in a controlled manner for a few minutes can be tiresome.
Being used to single stick practice, (read: no crossguard) I promptly cracked myself in the head with the crossguard on a backswing my first time out with it. I have not made that mistake twice, as once was enough. After a week of practicing, I became much better at handling the weapon.
Using the sword single handed can be tricky, but once the proper sweeping technique is learned, it becomes second nature. The weight of the sword helps "carry" it through the motion. Two handed blows are easy, the only problem being the tendency for the round pommel to rub the heel of the weak hand near the end of the swing. Thrusts are very natural feeling and the point goes where I want it to. It is primarily a cutting sword, but the blade holds up well to thrusts into 2x4s and tightly rolled cardboard.
Conclusion
All in all, this is a good sword. So far it has done everything I have asked of it. I have yet to sharpen it, but I have no doubt that it will be a fine cutter. If I had to change anything about this sword, it would be to swap the round pommel for a "scent stopper" type pommel, due to the fact that the round one "rubs" the bone heel of my weak hand when using it two handed. Also, I might consider shortening the crossguard some time in the future.
If you are looking for a European Bastard sword that is built to work, I would suggest you take a long look at one of these. It is nothing fancy, but for the price, you can't beat it.
This is my first written review of a product, so please bear with me.
Introduction
A few months ago, I came into a small ammount of money that I was not expecting. Instead of using this money to buy stocks or to save for my future, I decided that the time had come for me to own a sword. I have wanted a real sword for a long time, but I could never justify the funds to aquire one. I no longer had this excuse.
I have been studying the particulars of swords for nigh on 7 years now (and practicing with "wasters" for just as long), so there was not much question as to the style of sword that I wanted. I wanted a European Hand and a Half sword of good quality. To find a sword that fit the bill, I turned to none other than the fine folks at Albion Armorers. From all of the accounts that I had heard, these guys were top notch.
After looking over their website http://albionarmorers.com/ I decided on a Del-Tin made blade. I would have liked to get one of Albion's hand made blades, but for a first time user, a Del-Tin sword is considered to be a good buy. I selected the ADT5143. By all reports, it has the strongest tang of all the DT hand and a halfers.
Now, the Albion Del-Tin line is neat. Albion takes a Del-Tin blade and puts fittings (guard, pommel, and grip) of their own design and manufacture on it. What you end up with is a very nice looking and well fitted sword.
The next day, I called up the folks a Albion and placed my order. I was informed that it might take awhile to get the product, due to the fact that their yearly shipment of blades from Italy had not arrived yet, and when they did, they would have to be assembled. No problem, I was in no big hurry. Five days later, I get a package in the mail. I may not have been in a hurry, but the guys at Albion sure were!
First Impressions
When I opeded the large cardboard box, I was struck by the austere beauty of the piece. There are no decorations on the sword, but the businesslike lines combine with the flat grey fittings and iridescent blade to give the impression that this is the sword a Warrior would carry. No frills. Strictly business.
The other thing that struck me was the size of the sword. It was bigger than I had imagined. I had laid out the dimensions of the sword with a tape measure on cardboard before I ordered it to get an idea of the real size. It seemed much bigger in person.
When I picked it up, I could feel the quality. Nothing rattled. It was as solid as a mountain. I reached up, took the tip of the blade in my left hand and flexed the sword. It bent and returned to true with no problem. I flicked the flat of the blade with my finger and a pleasant "binggggg," just like a tuning fork, filled the room. The tang is peened over the pommel, as it should be in traditional European Swords.
Upon closer inspection of the blade, I found it to be well ground, polished to a dull "satin" finish. The blades are shipped from Italy dull, due to the fact that sharp swords are outlawed there.
Albion will sharpen the blade for you, but I wanted it dull for starters, just till I get used to it. I can sharpen it myself.Handling
Del-Tin Swords are notorious for being heavy. The ADT5143 is no exception. This is no bother to me, as I am fairly fit, and the reason I bought it in the first place was to work out with it. In this instance, heavy is good.
The blade is quite long. I am 6' tall, and I have to concentrate on what I am doing to keep the tip from brushing the ground on extended arm swings. It is also difficult to "stop" the blade in mid swing due to the weight and length. 3lbs 11oz does not sound like much, but swinging it in a controlled manner for a few minutes can be tiresome.
Being used to single stick practice, (read: no crossguard) I promptly cracked myself in the head with the crossguard on a backswing my first time out with it. I have not made that mistake twice, as once was enough. After a week of practicing, I became much better at handling the weapon.
Using the sword single handed can be tricky, but once the proper sweeping technique is learned, it becomes second nature. The weight of the sword helps "carry" it through the motion. Two handed blows are easy, the only problem being the tendency for the round pommel to rub the heel of the weak hand near the end of the swing. Thrusts are very natural feeling and the point goes where I want it to. It is primarily a cutting sword, but the blade holds up well to thrusts into 2x4s and tightly rolled cardboard.
Conclusion
All in all, this is a good sword. So far it has done everything I have asked of it. I have yet to sharpen it, but I have no doubt that it will be a fine cutter. If I had to change anything about this sword, it would be to swap the round pommel for a "scent stopper" type pommel, due to the fact that the round one "rubs" the bone heel of my weak hand when using it two handed. Also, I might consider shortening the crossguard some time in the future.
If you are looking for a European Bastard sword that is built to work, I would suggest you take a long look at one of these. It is nothing fancy, but for the price, you can't beat it.
