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Hugo Voisine
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 Posted: Sat 08 Mar, 2008 3:16 pm Post subject: Meet the Valkyria |
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If any of you are not convinced yet that the Albion Valkyria is one of the awesomest (I know SpellChecker, this ain't a word, but it's appropriate  ) sword in the known universe, here are some pics to help you change your mind... 
I received mine from Kult Of Athena yesterday, and had to share this moment of joy with you guys. This sword is not only visually striking, but it's also a pleasure to handle. It's light, it's fast, it's comfortable (using both the handshake grip and the hammer grip or, has I prefer, a "dynamic" grip) and I'm sure it would prove to be one hell of a cutter.
If you don't have one, sell your car and get one.
The sword in its package
On the chair
Top view with some other stuff
Another one
First person cutter
Pommel view
Sw0rd in hand
Profile view
Notice how thin the guard actually is...
« Que dites-vous ?... C'est inutile ?... Je le sais !
Mais on ne se bat pas dans l'espoir du succès !
Oh ! non, c'est bien plus beau lorsque c'est inutile ! »
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Ken Speed
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| Posted: Sat 08 Mar, 2008 4:27 pm Post subject: |
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Hugo,
What happened, did you cut yourself getting it out of the box? Just kidding ! Yes, it's a beautiful sword. Your pictures give me a better idea of the sword than do Albion's. I thought the hilt was beautifully engraved when I saw the Albion pictures but I see that it is beautifully designed when I see yours. You and Tim should get together and have a Viking sword cutting extravaganza.
Congratulations,
Ken Speed
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R D Moore
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| Posted: Sat 08 Mar, 2008 4:30 pm Post subject: |
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That is one beautiful sword!! It goes together perfectly with your Spangenhelm, tankard, and sheild. You have indeed punched my buttons. I want this sword. But I just ordered a Baron and in all honesty, I'm afraid of what my wife would do. The name "Bobbet"  keeps popping into mind for some reason. This will be my next sword, though, if its still available.
Congrats Hugo! It's beautiful!
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Tim Lison
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| Posted: Sat 08 Mar, 2008 4:54 pm Post subject: |
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Hugo-
Wow! I thought I liked the pics on Albion's website. I'm very envious! I may have to break down and buy this sword...... Enjoy it!
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Jeremy V. Krause
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| Posted: Sat 08 Mar, 2008 5:44 pm Post subject: |
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Congratulations,
I really like the pommel and revet block especially. Did albion use the Norman blade or does it have a blade of it's own? if it uses the Norman blade you are lucky as I love that blade (owning a Norman.) It is just a great blade with enough length and enough power.
Will you let the bronze patinate- I would- at least a bit. It's like the awesome version of so many of those crappy wall hangers that overuse the "flash) if that makes any sense. Bronze, when done well, is so nice.
Jeremy[/b]
Last edited by Jeremy V. Krause on Sat 08 Mar, 2008 7:15 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Matthew G.M. Korenkiewicz
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| Posted: Sat 08 Mar, 2008 6:23 pm Post subject: |
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Congrats, Hugo ... I had the pleasure of handling a Valk recently, and unlike a couple
of the other Albion Viking swords I've owned -- and passed on ! -- like the Gotland
and Clontarf, the pommel does not dig into one's palm, or at least not so I noticed. It is
indeed a beautiful sword, and the well engraved hilt and pommel give it some exceptional
aethetic presence.
Since handling the Valk in person, I've actually been looking at the Knud a bit
more, with its similar but less decorative hilt and pommel, and a different style blade ...
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Jon H.
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| Posted: Sat 08 Mar, 2008 10:24 pm Post subject: |
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Lucky bastard!
I want that bloody sword more than ever now; I had no idea Albion was offering bronze hilt furniture for the Valkyrja! It looks amazing, and I really REALLY envy you! 
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Jean Le-Palud
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| Posted: Sun 09 Mar, 2008 12:57 am Post subject: |
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Congrats Hugo,
I second you that this is one of the "awesomest" swords of Albion's range.
Though it is not clear on the picture my choice was green for the grip and I am happy with it.
Here is the display board I carved, the runic text is authentic and comes from an engraved rock in Sweden.
 Attachment: 129.28 KB
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Blaz Berlec
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Hugo Voisine
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| Posted: Sun 09 Mar, 2008 7:19 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | I second you that this is one of the "awesomest" swords of Albion's range.
Though it is not clear on the picture my choice was green for the grip and I am happy with it.
Here is the display board I carved, the runic text is authentic and comes from an engraved rock in Sweden. |
Wow Jean, what can I say, this is probably the best display you can get for this sword... You did a very nice work on the carving... Very inspired and well executed !
| Quote: | | Will you let the bronze patinate- I would- at least a bit. It's like the awesome version of so many of those crappy wall hangers that overuse the "flash) if that makes any sense. Bronze, when done well, is so nice. |
Yes I will. The bright bronze on dark (browned ?) background makes a nice contrast, but I think it will look even better after a couple of months or years, when the bronze begins to patinate... Not sure if I will do a lot of cutting with this one, it's just too beautiful to get cutting marks on it...
| Quote: | | What happened, did you cut yourself getting it out of the box? Just kidding ! |
Well, in fact I had a WMA practice session just before, so that little cut was made either by a Sword-Gur longsword or an Albion Liechtenauer, or maybe a polearm. 
Now I have to get a decent viking shield and some quality riveted mail to go with my new Valkyria... In fact I just ordered some mail from Icefalcon, but don't have the money right now for the shield... patience, patience...
« Que dites-vous ?... C'est inutile ?... Je le sais !
Mais on ne se bat pas dans l'espoir du succès !
Oh ! non, c'est bien plus beau lorsque c'est inutile ! »
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Jean Le-Palud
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| Posted: Sun 09 Mar, 2008 9:16 am Post subject: |
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| Blaz Berlec wrote: | Wow. Nice carving, it suits the sword.
Although I don't recognise the alphabet, it has a weird mixture of elder Futhark and long branch Younger Futhark. Or so it looks to me, I'm no expert. Can you tell us from which stone you took the inscription, and why you chose it? |
Blaz
My source was the book "Runes in Sweden" by Sven B. F. Jansson. This is the 16-runes younger futhark, also known as Danish runes or ordinary (normal) runes.
The text is from the so-called Ramsundsberget, the rock of Ramsund in Södermanland, not far from Eskilstuna, showing episodes from the legend of Sigurd the slayer of Fafner the dragon.
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Darrin Hughes
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| Posted: Sun 09 Mar, 2008 9:36 am Post subject: |
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Hugo. If that is an MRL Buckler with the Beowulf helm then it looks like we have at least two items in common in our collections. Unfortunately, the Valkyria isn't one of them  and isn't likely to be any time soon as I'm commited to other projects. A beautiful sword made even better in Jean's case by the green grip which just seems to set the bronze off really well. The display board isn't too shabby either
Cheers,
Darrin.
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Jeremy V. Krause
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| Posted: Sun 09 Mar, 2008 9:37 am Post subject: |
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Congratulation Jean,
That's an amazing work of carving and of treating the wood to such an attractive finish. It fits this beautiful sword perfectly!
Jeremy
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Edward Hitchens
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| Posted: Sun 09 Mar, 2008 1:54 pm Post subject: |
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That's one nice sword you've got there Hugo! Man, that thing looks like a beast! Jean, I love that display - and the green grip!
"The whole art of government consists in the art of being honest." Thomas Jefferson
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Ken Speed
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| Posted: Sun 09 Mar, 2008 3:13 pm Post subject: |
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Hugo,
If you can get your sword with bronze furniture do you think the Knud could be ordered that way as well? I like everything about that sword except the name! God help me I think I may have taken the first step on that slippery slope to sword ownership! EEK!
Ken Speed
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Paul Watson
Location: Upper Hutt, New Zealand Joined: 08 Feb 2006
Posts: 395
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| Posted: Sun 09 Mar, 2008 3:36 pm Post subject: |
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No wonder this sword was almost half way towards selling out prior to the release of the finished product. What a beauty.
If I wasn't already waiting for two other Albions this one would be a strong temptation.
I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, but that which it protects. (Faramir, The Two Towers)
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Hugo Voisine
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| Posted: Sun 09 Mar, 2008 5:03 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | Hugo,
If you can get your sword with bronze furniture do you think the Knud could be ordered that way as well? I like everything about that sword except the name! God help me I think I may have taken the first step on that slippery slope to sword ownership! EEK!
Ken Speed |
Hi Ken,
In fact, I think the Valkyria is only offered with bronze fittings. To quote the Albion website...
| Quote: | | The hilt fruniture is cast in solid bronze. The grip on the Valkyrja will be wood/leather rather than the hollow bronze grip mounted on the original, though a version with a bronze decorative grip may also be offered. |
Maybe Albion will offer the Knud with bronze fittings too, who knows ?
« Que dites-vous ?... C'est inutile ?... Je le sais !
Mais on ne se bat pas dans l'espoir du succès !
Oh ! non, c'est bien plus beau lorsque c'est inutile ! »
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Blaz Berlec
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| Posted: Mon 10 Mar, 2008 8:22 am Post subject: |
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| Jean Le-Palud wrote: |
Blaz
My source was the book "Runes in Sweden" by Sven B. F. Jansson. This is the 16-runes younger futhark, also known as Danish runes or ordinary (normal) runes.
The text is from the so-called Ramsundsberget, the rock of Ramsund in Södermanland, not far from Eskilstuna, showing episodes from the legend of Sigurd the slayer of Fafner the dragon. |
Thank you!
I have the book (The Runes of Sweden, among others, kind of a hobby), but there's only a blurred photo of the rock and no transcription. 
But the Wikipedia says this:
The Ramsund carving is not quite a rune stone as it is not carved into a stone, but into a flat rock close to Ramsund, Eskilstuna Municipality, Södermanland, Sweden. It is believed to have been carved around year 1000. It is generally considered an important piece of norse art in runestone style Pr1.
The Ramsund carving in Sweden depicts 1) how Sigurd is sitting naked in front of the fire preparing the dragon heart, from Fafnir, for his foster-father Regin, who is Fafnir's brother. The heart is not finished yet, and when Sigurd touches it, he burns himself and sticks his finger into his mouth. As he has tasted dragon blood, he starts to understand the birds' song. 2) The birds say that Regin will not keep his promise of reconciliation and will try to kill Sigurd, which causes Sigurd to cut off Regin's head. 3) Regin is dead beside his own head, his smithing tools with which he reforged Sigurd's sword Gram are scattered around him, and 4) Regin's horse is laden will the dragon's treasure. 5) is the previous event when Sigurd killed Fafnir, and 6) shows Otr from the saga's beginning. The writing is ambiguous, but the general interpretation, based on carvings on other rune stones found nearby, is that Sigrişr (a woman) was the wife of Sigruşr who has died. Holmgeirr is her father in law. Alrikr has erected another stone for his father, named Spjut, so even though Alrikr is the son of Sigrişr, he was not the son of Sigruşr.
The inspiration for using the legend of Sigurd for the inscription is based on the fact that Sigruşr probably was the name the hero originally had in Scandinavia. Sigurğr is an Icelandic or Norwegian corruption of the German Siegfried as the correct Old Norse would have been Sigruşr (Sigröd)[1].
It is raised by the same aristocratic family as the Bro Runestone and the Kjula Runestone.
Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters
sirişr : kiarşi : bur : şosi : muşiR : alriks : tutiR : urms : fur * salu : hulmkirs : faşur : sukruşar buata * sis *
Transcription into Old Norse
Sigriğr gærği bro şasi, moğiR Alriks, dottiR Orms, for salu HolmgæiRs, fağur SigrøğaR, boanda sins.
Translation in English
Sigríğr, Alríkr's mother, Ormr's daughter, made this bridge for the soul of Holmgeirr, father of Sigrøğr, her husbandman.
SInce you have made mistake in the very first word (you wrote siriwr instead of sirişr), I could't find it on the net. SInce W (P like rune) isn't in Younger Futhark, I was totally confused. But nice work otherwise. And excellent choice of stone, even if the inscription doesn't really fit the scenes (and the sword).
Extant 15th Century German Gothic Armour
Extant 15th century Milanese armour
Arming doublet of the 15th century
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Jean Le-Palud
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| Posted: Tue 11 Mar, 2008 1:21 am Post subject: |
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Thank you very much Blaz !
Although you pretend not to be an expert you are obviously far more one than me
I am no specialist at all and only love the aesthetic quality of runes.
BTW and to stay in topic I attached a new picture better showing how the green grip looks like
Attachment: 70.97 KB
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Jean Thibodeau
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| Posted: Tue 11 Mar, 2008 8:35 am Post subject: |
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| Jean Le-Palud wrote: | Thank you very much Blaz !
Although you pretend not to be an expert you are obviously far more one than me
I am no specialist at all and only love the aesthetic quality of runes.
BTW and to stay in topic I attached a new picture better showing how the green grip looks like |
Well any errors in the text of the runes would be in the same " historical " spirit of craftsman from different cultures imitating the text styles of languages they don't understand fully or at all. 
Sort of like guns handmade in some parts of the world with brand names misspelled or completely garbled or even worse people getting nice looking Chinese tattoos that really don't say what they think they do.
The artwork on your sword mounting plaque does look very nice even if there are some errors. ( I wouldn't have a clue by the way ).
You can easily give up your freedom. You have to fight hard to get it back!
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