Some new photos of the Next Generation Vikings.

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My personal fave................

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Although this one is growing on me.............

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I guess this one's nice too :)

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I had the chance to play with, examine, and photograph all four of these swords yesterday. I'm going back today to play a bit more and will report on them in the next couple days. I'll make a post about them in the Historic Arms Talk forum.

One thing I'll mention right now is that after handling them all, I'd be hard pressed to pick a favorite. Each piece is vastly different than the next. Albion didn't just slap a new hilt design onto the same blade with these pieces, they created four entirely unique blade designs and hilted them as history dictated. What they've made are four distinct swords, each having a very different appeal than the next.

I'm waiting on my NG Gaddhjalt right now, but....wow. :eek:
I've never been a big "viking sword" fan, but seeing those changes things a bit. At first I thought I had a clear preference for the Vinland, but right now I can't pick a favorite. Althought the Type-Z hilt doesn't appeal to me as much as the others, the fuller slut in me is drooling over the blade. Looking forward to your evaluation article.

You know, that might actually be my Gaddhjalt in the pictures. It was #4, the last of the first run of castings, and I ordered it with dark brown grip.

Brian M

Very, very impressive looking. I'm looking forward to Nathan's report on the handling differences. I'm very intriqued with the Gotland's blade design. The profile taper seems to indicate more of a thrust orientation than the other models, but that broad, shallow fuller is often found on pure cutters. (Right?)

I should have one of those swords in my possession before the end of this month.

I would have to agree with Patrick. The Vinland is my favorite of the designs. When I first saw the next gen mock-ups I was most interested in the Gotland, but the detail of the knotwork design just sold me on the Vinland. Also the wide fullers in the blade just give them an aesthetic that I find really exciting.

Just out of curiosity has anyone tried to cut anything with these yet? I'd love to see them in action seeing that is the closest thing I'll get to one in the foreseeable future. Luckily I still have my bare spatha blade to play around with.....