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Albion Armorers Next Generation Caithness Sword
A hands-on review by Chad Arnow The British Isles have long had a link to the Scandinavian countries. In fact, England, Denmark, and Norway were united (albeit briefly) under the reign of King Canute in the early 11th century. Scotland in particular maintained close ties politically and commercially with Denmark and Norway throughout the Middle Ages; Scottish nobility even married their children off to royalty in those countries. The most famous case of this, in which the granddaughter of the Scottish King (and daughter of Eric II of Norway), Margaret of Norway, died before claiming her throne, led Edward I of England to seize power over Scotland. This began the long conflict for Scotland's independence. These intermarriages have also resulted in common genetic links between the nations that are currently the subject of much research and debate. The cultural ties between Scotland and Scandinavia resulted in weapons unique to the region. Viking-influenced swords continued in England and Scotland long after they had gone out of fashion on the continent. Surviving swords dated to the 12th and 13th centuries and depictions on carved grave markers show weapons with blades updated from the old Viking forms, but with older-style lobed pommels and a vestigial upper guard. The crosses are usually down-curved, as we often find on Viking and Anglo-Saxon swords, but are wider like other swords fashionable at the time. Some possess runic inscriptions more typical of Viking-era weapons. Overview The Next Generation lineup by Albion Armorers has been a boon for the modern collector. This widely varied line contains many unique examples that were previously absent in the market or were poorly done. To help create variety in their lineup, Albion has taken some components and shared them between models. The Caithness reviewed here shares a Type XII blade with another Scottish-influenced sword, the Laird, and a sword of more classic cruciform design, the Knight. Albion's Peter Johnsson based the pommel of this sword off of one shown in an effigy housed in the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.  Measurements and Specifications:
Replica created by Albion Armorers of Wisconsin. Handling Characteristics While this sword shares a blade with two other swords, it handles differently than its siblings. It's nice to see that Albion has made sure the performance of these swords varies as much as their looks do. Having handled all three swords, they each have their own character in cutting. While I may prefer the handling qualities of the Knight just a little more, the Caithness was still impressive. The Caithness has a pleasing amount of blade presence, which gives it authority in the cut without making it blade-heavy. This quality should make the sword work effectively from horseback or afoot. The Type XII blade showed a great deal of proficiency in cuts against light targets, both at the Center of Percussion and in tip slices. Keeping the edge aligned was easy and it was not difficult to make the sword go exactly where I wanted it to. Thrusts were also not too difficult and would be effective against lightly armoured targets. I found the grip to be comfortable. The pommel did not seem to get in the way during any swings. There was plenty of room for my large, gloved hands on the grip. There seems to be just a touch of extra room on the grip, which allowed me to choke up on the grip (toward the part of the guard that flows into the grip) or to switch to a comfortable handshake grip. Fit and Finish
The grip's cord riser at its center adds a bit of security and visual interest, though it would be fine without it. There is a tiny spot on this grip, near the riser, where the seam of the leather cover is not flush with the rest of the grip. It's possible that, over time, this could catch on gloves or hands, causing the leather cover to gradually come apart. It could probably be fixed with a well-placed dab of glue, with a careful slice of a razor blade, or by using Albion's stellar customer service for a quick fix at the shop. In all, it is quite minor and likely wouldn't be a problem any time soon, and only is worth mentioning because it is the first time I've seen this issue on any of the dozens of Albion grips I've owned or handled. The faceted guard is well-formed and evenly polished. The lines are crisp and the guard flows nicely into the shape of the grip. The blade is nicely shaped and evenly polished. The fullers are consistent in width and depth, apart from a very slight divot toward the end of the fuller on one side. The tip has a nice flat lenticular cross-section, helping to give the cutting results discussed above. Conclusion Quality swords of this style have been largely absent from the production market. The Caithness by Albion Armorers is a welcome addition to the market for lovers of Scottish weaponry. It would be at home in a collection of Scottish-themed weapons, or as a developmental link between Viking swords and cruciform knightly swords, or simply on its own merit as an attractive, well-constructed, unique, and good-performing sword. About the Author Chad Arnow is a classical musician from the greater Cincinnati area and has had an interest in military history for many years. Though his collecting tends to focus on European weapons and armour of the High Middle Ages, he enjoys swords, knives and armour from many eras. Acknowledgements Photographer: Chad Arnow |
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