History arrived on my doorstep this Tuesday. This is a new experience for me. I just received my first Albion sword and my last according to my wife! I know that many of you here probably have already owned Albions but I bet you felt every bit as thrilled I did when you got your first.

I choose the Albion Reeve because I wanted the closest replica to a 9th through 12th Century sword I could find. The blade is superb in handling and lightness while the grip is perfection with the brazil nut pommel allowing for a comfortable hammer grip which is a much more comfortable grip for me.

According to the folks at Albion, the Reeve is a very popular sword due to its match to the period and its brazil nut pommel. I also have a Tinker Pearce 9th Century Viking and the blades are very similar except that the Tinker Viking is more sharply pointed. The Viking handles better with the handshake grip and the guard is very narrow while that of the Reeve is very wide by comparison and handles better with the hammer grip. While the handling qualities are the same, the Tinker Viking has more of a modern look about it, like it was produced by modern production techniques which it undoubtedly was. The Albion though produced using modern techniques looks more historic. Were I pressed to use either of these swords for defense I would not feel disadvantaged but the Albion is aesthetically pleasing in eye and historical appeal.

I hope that my impression of these two swords is germane since I feel they are representative of approximately similar time periods.

Congratulations on you first Albion!

I also have a Reeve and like it very much. What grip color did you choose?

Jeremy

I chose the Oxblood after Mike at Albion suggested that red might be too bright. I think it was good choice. ;) ;) :) :)

Congratulations Harry! I have often eyed the Reeve but have been torn between it and the Stamford which use the same blade. I'm sure you're pleased as can be with your purchase, I remember my first Albion and the rush I got the first time I swung it! Enjoy a terrific sword.

I have a Reeve too. I think it has the best type A Brazil Nut pommel on the market. It is light, fast, and very sharp. It helps that it is one of the least expensive Albion NG swords.

Mine has campaign brown on the grip.

I love the Reeve too! I want to add a Brazil Nut pommel to my collection at some point, and am torn between it and the Gaddhjalt. I think the Reeve fits my interest period better though! Post some pics and show it off!

The Gaddhjat is very good sword too but I wanted the shorter blade of the Reeve otherwise they are really very similar. Get both if you get your wife's approval or just sneak it past her.... :lol: :lol: :lol:

Someday I'm going purchase an Albion and the Reeve is my first choice. However, having a house built isn't conducive to expensive hobbies. :(

And...neither are wives Chris! If you are having a house built, I assume are married. Go ahead, buy the Reeve, just don't tell your wife (for a while anyway.)

Careful Harry, some of those wives collect swords and read this site. Once after a grappling lesson I came home covered in bruises from an encounter with a woman who is much more skilled than I in European Medieval Martial Arts!

But the Reeve certainly is beautiful, I envy you.

I sold off my Reeve because it was a bit too small for me personally. That's not a condemnation of the sword itself though, it's a beautiful example of the type and a nimble butcher knife of a sword. Even though I sold it to fund another project I still miss having it as an example in my collection.

Or if you happen to have hands like Joe Palooka.
http://www.toonopedia.com/palooka.htm

Personally, I have always thought of medieval swords as "smash 'em, slash 'em, and bash 'em"
types but the Reeve as Patrick says is really quite nimble. Not a fencing rapier but very nimble for its size. Not having handled one before, it was a most pleasant surprise when I wielded it. All the swords I have ordered from Valiant and windlass have been on the heavy side of "bash 'em and smash 'em." with the exception of the Tinker Pearce Viking from Hanwei. For me I think that it handles even better than the Tinker Viking due to the grip and the handling qualities it gives me. I can appreciate the brazil nut pommel even more now for its function which allows me to change the grip and thus allows more control of the blade.

The Reeve for me is not even a "hack 'em and sack 'em" but more of a " cleave 'em and leave 'em" type of sword with finesse. :D :D :D :D :cool: :cool: