[Jared Smith]

I received a production Albion Munich sword today (March 20th, 2007) and am enthralled as usual with their products.

Since I first saw the concept sketch for the Munich I considered it beautiful and perhaps appropriate to associate with a female gender. The Munich is agile and sleek in appearance, but this is very deceptive. It is surprisingly strong for its slender profile and subtle curves, lethally quick, and more vicious a cutter-killer than I expected. In relation to other swords I know well, it seems like a turbocharged Sempach.

Other than the grip length and an extra inch of blade, the Munich’s published statistics are pretty close to those of some “war swords” such as the Sempach and the 1st generation Crecy Grete. The longer grip really changes a lot of handling perceptions in a way that the statistics don’t convey. German longsword style drills with various hand positions are addictive. Rotations were so fast it generated noises similar to the release of a bow string or sling shot bullet passing by. The Munich’s grip shape and pommel seem just right to my hands (very average “large” glove sized hands) regardless of spacing. The pommel is similar to that of the Sovereign. It is a good candidate for customization with a medallion or jewel. The rivet block has a very nice touch (based on the original) that could easily have been omitted and saved for the museum line.

The Munich basically has a straight (not hollow ground) diamond cross section all of the way down the blade, and is fairly thick (3/8” thick at the spine near the guard.) This gives surprising stiffness and makes me confident it could thrust and half sword fairly well. This is no estoc, however, but a sword all of the way up the blade which could draw blood easily anywhere along its edge. At the CoP, the cutting edge is about 1-1/8” wide (shown between a 1st Generation Crecy Grete blade 1-1/4” wide, and a Sempach about 1” wide) is an approximate average between great swords I have seen that were called good cutters, versus more acutely pointed.

I constructed a target by wrapping a composite of soaked newspapers, cardboard, and duct tape around a 3/4” diameter green limb of tough holy wood. I proved that with a known cutter (my Albion Knight) I could not do much better than get 1/8” into the wood. The Munich did about the same, but the effort seemed lower. The Knight simply stopped at the limb. The power developed by the Munich's speed was such that the garbage can I affixed the target to (filled with a couple of large logs) was knocked over and sent debris sprawling across the driveway.

The Munich is a versatile sword that I suspect will be interpreted and utilized differently by people according to their own preferences and strengths. Peter Johnson likens it to well rounded warrior; “A man that belongs to the higher circles of politics, but that is at the same time a man of action. A pragmatic realist and a romantic at the same time. A warrior that has not lost his sence of beauty and proportion. Perhaps a cruel man and probably ruthless, but not an uncivilized brute.”

I find myself increasingly interested in the original museum sword and will post a little extra on that which is not commonly stated.

[Jared Smith]

The actual Bayerisches Museum sword that inspired the Munich was classified by Oakeshott as a type XVIIIb, and is academically dated between 1450 and 1480. This is discussed in the Features section under the typology. http://www.myArmoury.com/feature_spotxviii.html
It has also been discussed previously in forum posts. http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=4026

Peter Johnson was kind enough to reply to my inquiries regarding possible origins of the museum artifact. To read Peter’s comments on the original is something of a mix between poetry and “sword religion.” Few specifics are known with certainty.
It once belonged to a Tyrolean armory, but was seized by the Bayers in a war. Peter contemplates that its manufacture may be closer to the 1490’s and is plausible to attribute to South German craftsmanship. Design of its components appears have something in common with other famous swords. “It shares an identical guard with the XX.4 on page 211 in Records. That XX sword belonged to Oakeshott and he has personally confirmed to me that the pommel of his sword is identical to that of the pommel of the sword of Svante Nilsson Sture.” Peter is studying an intriguing theory that might someday tie the origins of the three swords together. The original’s pommel was engraved with the inscription O MARIA BIT WIR UNS (Oh Mary, Stand by Us.) It has a rectangular grip of ornately tooled leather. According to Peter Johnson the material of the original’s furniture was not bronze gilt as Oakeshott’s text stated, but filed and polished steel with fire gilding. Peter did not say so, but I don’t think this was that common a feature. I would theorize that it may once have appeared like fine gold. Certain shops that did this are known during the 15th century. More from Peter; “On one face of the pommel on the original is inserted a medallion showing the Madonna with the Child in her arms. On the other side is an empty hollow. Both sides originally had crystal discs fastened over the hollows. The back side must once have held a relic of some kind.” He later commented, “The sum of it all is the five petal flower that forms the rivet block, just like an alpine flower high above forceful mountainsides.”

The Munich’s grip is crafted to have the same volume and feel as the original, although it is more oval. The engraving, fire gilding, tooled leather, and ornamental jewels of the noble original have been omitted to keep the Munich at its current price point. Obviously Peter did not have the heart to strip the flower from the rivet block though. According to Peter, the Munich has exactly the same blade as the museum piece to within fractions of a millimeter and identical handling characteristics.

Some other manufacturers have also produced “interpretations” of the original sword in the Bayerisches museum. Some key dimensions such as blade length differ by as little as 3%, while other parameters such as weight have been changed by as much as 25%. I personally like the Munich and would not consider any alterations likely to enhance it.

[Derek Wassom]

Awesome! Thanks, Jared. Is that the light brown grip?

[Jared Smith]

It is the "campaign worn" light brown grip.

I like the look of distressed or faded leather. Even some blacks eventually are abrasively worn off and replaced by hand oils to look like this if actually handled and used (periods of 50 years of heavy use or more such as a friends saddle scabbard for a rifle that I know of.) If planning to make your own leather covered scabbard, it is generally easy to blend some dyes to match.

[Derek Wassom]

I ordered the same and I'm glad I did. It looks great!

[Chad Arnow]

I've moved this topic to the Historical Arms Talk forum, the approproate location for discussions about historical weapons and their recreations. Thank you.

[Julian Arellano]

... So what's the the difference in the Munich and the Bayerisches sword of Christian fletcher? both swords are inspired in the one that's in the Bayerisches Museum, right? , Both swords are awesome and are a art work .. well a deadly piece of art , they are elegant and I feel the both swords are more for a royal man than a warrior .
But .. what's the difference ? the construction ? , the lenght of the pommel ? or ?? ::...

I think myself ...I can imagine a warrior in a battle with this sword , I mean not for the sword per se , is because the original one has many details in the guard and inscription in the pommel , that make it exceptional , hehehe , what can i say am in love of this sword. heheh !

[Bill Grandy]

[Sam Barris]

[Nathan Robinson]

[Julian Arellano]

thanks for your reply .. it's really nice learn about this awesome swords . ...

[Angus Trim]

[Matthew G.M. Korenkiewicz]

I had a 1561, I believe it was, done up by Christian Fletcher, and sold to me by Jason Elrod
a few years back. One of a few swords I've parted with that I wish I had kept, actually. Very
quick, very classy. Definitely reminds me of The Munich ... Beautiful sword, Jared, the grip
color is an excellent choice.

[Jared Smith]

[Martin Wallgren]

The Munich is lovely!

I have not handle it myself but I have held one of Peters prototypes for it at the Albion/Östra Aros swärsmäns event in September! And as Mr. Trim said, the rigidity and control of this blade is awesome.

All of you who have one on order or already has got yours! Congratulations !

[Angus Trim]

[Edward Hitchens]

Congrats for acquiring a Munich, Jared! And thanks for posting your thoughts! I just might have to save up for a Munich of my own one day but for now, the Munich's price tag (which I'll refrain from disclosing here out of professional courtesy for Mr. Waddell) is a bit out of my spending range. No doubt worth every penny!

Jared, have you (or any Munich owner) wielded it with one hand? A sword of these dimensions is clearly intended for two hands, but as I read its specs on Albion's webpage, its 50-ounce weight seems surprisingly light for its size (e.g. my A&A Black Prince is 8" shorter, yet weighs 60 ounces). Oh, and I love the grip color you chose.

Wow, this is my 600th post!

[Jared Smith]

[Aaron Schnatterly]

[Cornelius Engelhardt]

High-res version of the picture above can be found here:

http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/cengelha/alb.../my_photos

Copyright be me.