Hello I have been holding out for another Albion sword of the viking type but it may be awhile before I have the excess funds for such. I have been toying with a cheaper brand and have looked at the Valiant but does not quite do it for me with the stainless fittings and nut design. Anyone have a hanwei godfred sword and what are the pros and cons of it?

I'll freely admit I haven't had the opportunity to handle either of these swords but my impression is that you'll get a lot more bang for your buck from the Valiant sword than the Hanwei Godfred. There's a review of the new Hanwei Cawood sword that makes it sound like a good value. Apparently it is much different than the prototype sword shown in the Kult of Athena catalog and very inexpensive, you might want to take a look at it.

If you want a low cost pattern welded viking age sword, Hanwei Saxon is a far better choice than Godfred.

Wait, your against the nut assembly but okay with a threaded pommel?!?

The Saxon's a good, cheap donor blade for a rrebuild project but the stock furniture and scabbard are bloody awful.

Ok missed the threaded pomel thanks. I will probably wait for an Albion but the peen and mild steel fittings on the Vaiiant make it a good choice.

Pros: It's a lively and very light sword. Great handling qualities. Wonderful to just swing around.

Cons: Where do I begin.... okay, temper has historically been very poor. Do a search here on the Godfred and you'll come up with some kinda scary stuff, including one blade that suffered a catastrophic failure (broke in two) with not much coaxing. My Godfred is very soft and will take a set if flexed just a little out of true. This is one of the biggest complaints with this sword.
The pattern-welding is a bit random and graceless.
The scabbard is historically inaccurate.
The grip is quite thick and odd looking and odd feeling (and I don't think there's any historical precedence for the style of wrap).
There's no evidence for "damascus" hilt parts on historical Viking-era swords, and the hilt is assembled on a threaded tang.

It's a nice wallhanger and it feels nice to, as noted, just swing around. But don't actually cut stuff with it.

The Valiant sword is no less historically accurate than the Godfred, and you can cut stuff with it.

If you would like an Albion Viking but want to save some money, how about one of the squire line swords at viking shield?

http://www.viking-shield.com/category/69-albion-swords.aspx

I have a very new Godfred which an old fat fellow in red clothes got for me with my credit card. This sword is as new to me as I am to swords. I picked it over others because of appearance. The folded metal forging ( actually twisted metal foging I think) gives anexcellent one of a kind pattern to each one.
I cannot say that one is really better than another price range. The blade is true, the handle is tight, the parts are in alighment, I have not seen any production screw-ups. Same for the scabbard which is really loose.That seems to be a standard complaint.
As far as quality, it is not broke, but 99% of those other millions of swords made over all those years are. I must have a good one.
I hope this is helpful. You are welcome to come over and have a look at mine. I'm in Florida.

That hurts to look at it. Mine has the folded metal/etching only in the fuller. Meant to mention that.
There is no doubt that you have the greater experience. Mine will most probably end up on a display stand as, with only trailer parks filled with snowbirds which are too highly protected by the bastions of medicare and medicaid, I have nothing to attack.

Only the fuller is etched on the swords by the factory but the entire blade is the same composition.

Glen, should I understand that the pattern in the fuller is an application much like a tatoo? Or is it something which occurs in forging?

I am confused now. My Godfred is a folded metal blade. The patten is brought out by a process?