Albion Chieftain
Original: Scotland, late 15th or early 16th century
This offering by Albion Armorers is inspired by a depiction of an early
claidheamh mòr like the sword depicted on a grave slab in the Western Highlands of Scotland dated to the early 16th Century.. This is a predecessor to the longer
claidheamh da làimh common in mid to late 16th Century Scotland. It was a common practice at the time to import and hilt fine quality German blades with sloping arms ending in a quatrefoil design. In this design, we also see the beginnings of a langet down the center of the blade from the cross. This is most likely a modification of the peaked cross of the
Oakeshott Style 8, Style 9, and Style 10 and a feature that is more pronounced in later "models" as the Claymore became longer in both grip and blade.
The Albion Chieftain is well executed on the same
Type XIIIa blade as the
Albion Duke. The major difference is that the Chieftain has a longer grip. This makes for an agile blade when used in two hands. The cross is cast in one piece and then hand finished with engraved markings on the langet and just medial to the quatrefoils. The pommel is Type J with a sloped pommel block that is noted in period artwork for this type of sword. The grip is covered in light brown leather, with eight rings along the grip, which makes for a very stable handhold.
See our
hands-on review for more information on this sword.
Overall length: 47"
Weight: 3.8 pounds
Width of guard: 11.75"
Blade: 36" long; 2.13" wide tapering to 1.47"
Grip and pommel: 10"
Point of Balance (PoB): 4.5" from guard
Center of Percussion (CoP): ~23.5" from guard
Maker:
Albion Armorers of Wisconsin.
Open a printer-friendly version of this page
