I got a nice suprise when I can home from work yesterday in the form of a big white box on the porch. On the other hand, I was less than thrilled that UPS had left it to sit there for 8 hours, but I digress.
The first impression one gets is that it the blade is huge. In side-by side handling tests with my Tritonia, the SoSm has much more inertia in the blade. As measured, the CoG is a whopping 9.25" from the face of the guard, where the Tritonia is 5". This is truly a cavalry sword -- pick your shots, because you probably can't recover a blow.
The second thing that jumps out is that the SoSM's grip is very short. The single-handed Albion swords I have (Gaddhjalt, Sovreign, Knight, Templar, and Tritonia) all have grips in the 4 and 1/4" range. The SoSM measures a mere 3 and 5/8". I have average-sized hands, and it is a close fit with my hand touching both the guard and pommel. Wearing heavy gloves would probably be snug but not uncomfortably so. Wearing a mail gauntlet would probably be extremely tight, and might require a pinky over the pommel or (more likely?) the index finger over the guard. In fact, given the massive nature of the blade, it wouldn't surprise me at all if that's how it was used.
The "H + H / + H +" engraving is very nicely executed, better than I would have hoped for. The rest of the details are up to if not beyond Albion's typical high standards. The fuller is crisp and symmetrical. The fit of the blade to the guard is extremely tight and even. The hilt castings are the best I've seen with the sole "flaw" being a single tiny pit on the pommel. I can honestly say that, in terms of "the little details" this is the best Albion sword I've yet purchased, and that's saying something.
This is a really interesting sword given the huge blade together with the very short grip.

Regards,
Brian M

Congratulations, Brian. How about a few pictures to share with your fellow forumites?

Brian;

Since I have a Gaddhjalt a side by side comparison of handling would be very interesting to confirm or contradict my guessing that it is similar in handling, with the SoSM being just more so.

At the very least they look like smaller / bigger brothers to me.

Since I have a Tritonia coming next week handling impressions you have about the Tritonia by itself and in comparison to the SoSM would also be appreciated if you have more to say on the subject.

And congratulations on your purchase. :cool: :D

Brian;

Thanks for the very interesting reply detailled reply: Very useful. :cool:

Brian,

If you happen to have a camera and the time I would love to see some pictures of your collection. In particular a side by side shot of the SoSM and Gaddhjalt would be really cool. As good as Albions pictures are, it is always fun to see swords in relation to one another. Or maybe I've just got the Gaddhjalt on the brain because mine should be arriving within the next couple weeks :eek: in either case, any pics would be great!

Congrats on the new sword,

Kenton

Unfortunately I don't have a digital camera. That's what comes of spending money on swords I suppose!
I agree that a side-by-side shot of all the single-handers would be nice. I will try to borrow a cam in the next few days and get that done.

Brian M

This may be a dumb question, but did you purposefully corrode your Gaddhjalt blade? Judas Priest, you're killing me!

Brian M

Congrats Steve and Brian! That's such a nice looking sword. That design really has grown on me.

Is there a review in the works for this one?

I'd encourage any owners of this sword interested in doing a write-up on it to contact us. A formal review has a much more lasting affect than a forum post. :)

Congratulations on your SoSM, Steve!


So. . . uh. . . [looks around cautiously] . . . when is this one hitting the vinegar/salt bath?

;)

Thanks for the pic, Steve.

Wow, that thing really is a brute. That picture really emphasizes what people have said about the SoSM, similar to a Gaddhjalt, except bigger (the word massive definitely comes to mind), and wow, that handle is short! Really neat.

Thanks a bundle,

Kenton

With the finish I think there are 4 ways to go:

1) Pristine: The sword as it would have looked new.

2) Campaign worn: What it would have looked after a few years of use in period but without any unfortunate battle related nicks in the blade or many re-sharpenings. Just a well used / mostly carried around for 20 years sword.
Although, in period any patina might have been regularly been polished off as I doubt it would have been appreciate then as aesthetic and any patina might have been seen as neglecting ones equipment.

3) Well preserved historical sword with varying degrees of patina or mild pitting.

4) Very corroded relic.

Personally with a sword costing $$$$ option 1 and 2 seem best for me. Option 3 if one wants to simulate a museum piece display, with option 4 being " extreme " and I would only distress something only $$ to this degree.