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WOW Howie!
thats really nice!
this is THE one ive been waiting for!
WELL executed!
To echo everyone else...WOW!!
That cross has to be one of the best you guys have done! I've haven't been a big fan of the Type XIII's, but this one is changing my mind. Wow, you've really hit the nail on the head with this one. So how does the Chieftain compare to the Duke as far as handling?
Introducing... The Chieftain
Oh my!

I now know what I will be saving up for.... (Does Albion have a layaway plan?lol)

An absolutely fantastic looking piece, clearly one of, if not the best, replicas of an early two-handled claymore on available today.

More pictures please someone. Seeing it in scale to a person would be great.

congradulations to Albion on a terrific piece of artistry and workmanship.

Can't wait for a review of this baby!!!!!!!!!
Wow! Now that's a claymore!

Question: Do the Chieftain and Duke share the same blade?
Edward Hitchens wrote:
Wow! Now that's a claymore!

Question: Do the Chieftain and Duke share the same blade?


From Albion's page for the Chieftain:

Quote:
We have based our version of this early 16th C style Claymore on the XIIIa blade developed for our XIIIa war sword the Duke. The balance and heft will be very similar between these two swords.

The Chieftain will have a slightly longer grip than the Duke to follow the example of historical originals and period depictions in art. The result is a sword of dominating visual apearance. This visual impact follows through in the handling: a strong authority combined with a smooth control of edge and point.

Special care has been taken so that the blade has the same careful distribution of weight and crisp definition as can be observed in the most well preserved originals. The type XIIIa blade need not be a clumsy cousin of the somewhat slimmer XIIa warswords, as the broader point is lightened by a more acute distal taper in the outer part of the blade. The XIIIa blade that is the basis for the Chieftain and the Duke has a heft that belies its weight, yielding responsive control and effortless handling.


:)
Re: Introducing... The Chieftain
Howard Waddell wrote:
Here it is, at last... our Early Claymore!


Wow...

... I'll have to remember this one if any of the local magistrates try to enforce Prima Noctae around here...
Re: Introducing... The Chieftain
Terry Crain wrote:

More pictures please someone. Seeing it in scale to a person would be great. .

Can't wait for a review of this baby!!!!!!!!!


Here you go - modeled by our own Chieftain of Production, Harlan Hastings...

[ Linked Image ]

[ Linked Image ]

[ Linked Image ]

Best,

Howy
The more I look at this one, the more I like it. :D
its bigger than i thought it would be....... NICE...........
are there any customization options such as having the hilt components cast in bronze?
Nice boots...the knife in the left one is a nice touch

But isn't this how Harlan normally dresses? He did wear a leather kilt to the NYC show after all... :lol:

Looks great!
I must concur with those who have stated that this sword is a work of art.


Still, Isn't that rather a short grip for a sword of this size/type?
George Hill wrote:
I must concur with those who have stated that this sword is a work of art.


Still, Isn't that rather a short grip for a sword of this size/type?



You could argue for a longer grip, of course. You do not need it for handling or heft. There is plenty of room and the blade is an agile one for the type. If any thing the Chieftain is slightly more agile than the Duke (they share the same XIIIa blade)
I did not want to make the grip longer than it is on this one, since it is intended to represent an early form of this sword. If you look at effigies where these swords are depicted, this is just the proprtions that seem to be prevalent. Perhaps someone of ur scottish afficionadoes can fill in some more info here?
Please also compare to the effigy shown on the Cheftain page on Albionīs site: this sword has nearly identical propotions to the Chieftain.
Later on the Claymore seems to have become larger overall and also got a propotionately longer grip.

Still, not all Claymores had such a very long grip either. The guard on the Chieftain is broad and bold. This makes the grip look a bit shorter than it really is. I did this on purporse as I wanted the sword to have the slightly "odd" or stark look you can see on Scottish and Irish weapons. If they becme too sweet and well tuned in their proportions, they get too tame to look their part. I like this harshness in the character of these weapons and have tried to include it in the carving of the scottish and irish hilts Iīve done so far. The Gallowglas and Kern has this same slightly "askew" look.
Peter Johnsson wrote:
Still, not all Claymores had such a very long grip either. The guard on the Chieftain is broad and bold. This makes the grip look a bit shorter than it really is. I did this on purporse as I wanted the sword to have the slightly "odd" or stark look you can see on Scottish and Irish weapons. If they becme too sweet and well tuned in their proportions, they get too tame to look their part. I like this harshness in the character of these weapons and have tried to include it in the carving of the scottish and irish hilts Iīve done so far. The Gallowglas and Kern has this same slightly "askew" look.

Hi Peter-

I must confess that I'm a lover the very long-gripped Claymores. So much so, that when I made my own I put an exaggerated grip length on it to feed that appetite. Having said that, however, I still have to echo that I think you guys have really nailed this sword for all it's worth. Not only do I like that there is background to be found on the effigies, I love the fact that you mated the large and wide blade to the hilt and went for a "stark and unusual" appearance that I seem to find so attractive. Often, we moderns only need things to look "odd" to our eyes to have it "feel" historically right. I confess being guilty of that, too.

Anyway, I love the length of the hilt. Were it to be any longer it would need to be considerably longer to work. A tiny bit longer would make it appear wrong. The proportions now are just excellent and really show its character with the posting of Harlan's photos. They make all the difference in the world.

Nicely done. Frankly, I'm just a little bit surprised that I like it as much as I do.
Bah, kilt in late 15th, early 16th century? :eek:

Otherwise, everything else is perfect. Except the price, I'd like one zero deleted. :lol: OK, I'll stop now... Noce work.
Out of curiousity, how tall is Harlan?

The Chieftain is very nicely executed. I've been interested in it ever since I saw Peter's drawing. Though I'm a bit ambivalent on Type XIII swords and their variants in general (I don't like the Duke, for instance), I've liked claymores for a long time, and I prefer the Chieftain to the other models I've seen on the market. Good job everyone at Albion. I doubt I'll be able to order one any time soon, but the Chieftain is certainly high up on my want list.
Cool, that turned out really nice.
I especially like the guard, it's a miserable style to produce regardless of the method,this one looks excellent.
Beautiful Blade ! Finely executed with excellent attention to detail , Well Done Sir !

Jens
WOOHOOO
I just got home from a party and lo and behold an Albion box was on my porch!!! I got my Claymore.
This thing is beautiful!!!! I was amazed at how light it feels. I have to admit, I thought it would be bigger but I cant complain. Of course I have had 5 Colorado Bulldogs so my perceptions MIGHT me a little skewed!!

One should not drink and post!!!!

I will give my more rational observations about this sword tommorrow. But my initial impression is this is a superbly ballanced, beautifully executed sword.

Cheers
Dave
Craig Peters wrote:
Out of curiousity, how tall is Harlan?.


Hey Craig,

I'm only 5' 7" (170 cm) but I still like to think of myself as a "giant among men" and a legend in my own mind!

:p
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