I'm seriously considering getting an Albion Oakeshott type Xa. Besides the inrtoductory thread and one running in early July 2008, there hasn't been that much talk about this model. Can anyone who owns or has wielded this sword please tell me what they think of it?

Hey Roger,

I own it. The hollow ground blade is the coolest part. The hilt is a bit plain in comparison. I lightly antiqued the hilt on mine to give it a little more character. The handling is very light and quick without a lot of blade presence. For some reason it reminds me of a light military dress saber. I haven't cut anything with it so I don't know it would perform in that regard. I may have gone with the Chevalier but I've only seen the concept art on it. I think one it's worthwhile to own one of them since this blade is not one you see reproduced ad nauseum.

Thanks, Nathan.

I'm still trying to decide between this one and other models like the Knight, the Burgundian and the Steward - stimulated by the 25% off sale. But the Oakeshott seems like the Medieval sword at itsdeceptively simple best.[/i]

Hopefully the chevalier will be available soon so I can also make my decision between these two models. Don't forget that the Oakeshott is a museum caliber sword in the sense that it is near identical (within 1-2 mm I think) to the original museum piece from which it is based. Nonetheless, the concept art of the Chevalier caught my attention since the first day I saw Albion's website.

I don't know, maybe since I plan on going to the Blade show in Vegas, I will be able to see both models by then and make the most informed decison possible. I'm slightly leaning towards the oakeshott, it just depends on how the chevalier turns out...

My recollection is that Peter Johnsson said the differences were that the fuller had a true radius instead of being flat as the original is and the Oakeshott is some 15 grams lighter. It is going to be the next single handed sword I order.

I just ordered the Oakeshott, taking advantage of the 10 year Albion sale. I'll see it sometime between now and January.

Hmmm, has anyone ordered the chevalier? :)

I suspect both the oakeshott and the chevalier will be present at the Vegas blade show in Jan, so I may as well wait for the show to see both... I suspect I'll order the Oakeshott, but the Chevalier concept art is very intriguing, enough to warrant waiting to check out both first... more motivation to go to the Vegas show also....

The Albion Oakeshott that I ordered from the October sale has just arrived.

The original, of course is Xa.1 in Oakeshott's Records He described it as the finest Medieval sword ever made.

I've only had a few minutes with the sword, but so far this recreation lives up to what Oakeshott said about the original. It has a fine, austere beauty that is really brought out by the hollow ground, it is, and feels amazingly light (mine weighs 2.47 lbs.) and may be the liveliest of all my swords.

Roger, when I recently had the chance to handle an Oakeshott, I could hardly believe how it felt in hand. The fact is here is a sword that is an amost perfect replication of a significant historical example, so therfore authenticity is established which makes it more impressive than simply having a modern engineered sword that is as light as possible.

After handling the Oakeshott and picking up my Knight immediately afterwards, I noticed a significant difference between the two swords.

How about some photo's?

Taylor I didn't want to type this but in my mind when I picked up my Knight after handling the Oakeshott I thought, wow this feels like a brick now. This is only an instantaneous reaction and has no real bearing on the performance of the sword, in fact it is irrelevant but in honesty that was my first thought based on simply holding the swords, not swinging them or anything like that. The Knight is an absolutely great sword and my favourite of those I own (Regent, Knight, Machiavelli & Sovereign), I haven't cut with the Oakeshott, so subject to cutting with it and thus far based on what I have experienced of it I would say I would prefer to have it over any of the other swords I have held.

I can't explain why the Oakeshott feels so good in hand. I have a sword of very simlar length and weight (the Machiavelli) but they feel noticeably different. I can only guess that due to the fuller on the Oakeshott being longer and deeper, and with significant hollow grinding it reduces the weight out towards the point, so even though length, weight and even POB are similar (the Machiavelli's is about 1 inch further out) it results in two very different swords. Also the Oakeshotts pommel is by far the most comfortable I have ever experienced. Nothing compares to how comfortable it feels when moving the sword.