[Chad Arnow]

The same situation (financial crisis/inflation/rising material/labor costs) that's forcing Albion to decide to raise prices is the same one hurting some customers' ability to buy their items. It's the classic business catch-22.

Personally, my industry is suffering mightily. Income from my primary source of earnings is going down more than 11% this coming year because of budget cuts. I anticipate it going down further in future years. I can tell you that my mortgage isn't going down. Or the car payment. Or the cost of utilities. All that's going down is my earnings, not the cost of anything..

And I know there are people here worse off than me. People of the US gulf coast in particular.

Yes, Albion will need to raise their prices from time to time. It's natural and unavoidable. What's also unavoidable is that price increases, especially when everyone is hurting, will invariably drive off some people. The question becomes whether the increases in price will stop off-setting the loss of customers.

[Chris Lampe]

I'm more of a quality over quantity guy and limit my sword purchases to higher end replicas or customs. There are a handful of Albions I'd like to have right now but I would be much more likely to purchase from them if they would expand their line-up away from the European medieval period. I would much rather see the introduction of an authentic xiphos, falcata, jian, dao, La Tene/Celtic era longsword, etc.. than yet another type XV, XVIII, X or Xa.

[Chad Arnow]

Michael,
I think it's safe to say that some people can free up some money by making different choices. But to say:

[B. Stark]

+1 to Chad's statement.

BTW, I can buy a used Jaguar for a whle lot cheaper than new but the upkeep would be the killer. Since we are using cars as an anology: Instead of a Jag, Masreti, Beemer insert some other over priced euro money pit or an 'economy' ,non-exciting, commuter car I'll take the third route: Buy a crate 350, a turbo 400, throw it in a 1968 Chevelle, some nice paint, decent interior, BF Goodrich tires, Cragar coke bottle mags and so forth...but hey that's me.

Having been a part of the process in making Albion's swords I will testify to this: They are wonderful creations that really have no comparison in the production sword market(and some of the custom too). They are made in the USA. One of the last few things that is, and ironically the designs come from Europe. My fear though is not in that Albion will price themselves into oblivion. It's that their competition overseas will be enabled to reach a level of product that is close to what Albion makes and for 1/2 the price. That will likely spell death for Albion to remain in a niche that is presently out of reach for the competition overseas. If these sword making concerns in China, Fillipines etc. begin to use technology and exacting research to prototype 'accurate' euroswords then price increases will do nothing but hasten a lost customer base.

[Nathan Quarantillo]

[Michael Edelson]

[Luka Borscak]

Right now there are still quite a few Albions for about 800, so not that much above your current budget of your blunts. I just went and clicked a few to see the price and I found that Gaddhjalt is 800, Mercenary too, Sheriff is under 800, so for a price of a 3 or 4 cheap swords you can have an Albion. And I have in a few years bought at least 3 or 4 Windlass and Hanwei sword I sold later because they weren't really what I wanted. In my country Albions are not available and it's too complicated and expensive to order them from abroad so I don't have one, but if they would be more easily available here, I wouldn't buy a few Del Tins and Hanwei Tinkers I recently bought, or I will soon, and I would buy an Albion. But again, it's not wise to buy Albion before you know what you want in a sword, so one usually could buy an Albion if he really wanted to, but he has to be "mature" enough in his collecting so that he doesn't blow that kind of money on something he won't be completely satisfied with...

[P. Cha]

[Chad Arnow]

[Michael Edelson]

Not if you get a genetically engineered donkey that runs on waste products.

Some of Albion's best swords are also some of their cheapest, and not really all that expensive even compared to the competition (like the 600 dollar CF Chimera line).

Take the Talhoffer. It's my second favorite Albion, tied with the Earl, and IMO one of the finest swords ever produced. And it's only 800 bucks. An absolute steal.

[P. Cha]

[Sam Barris]

While I'm disappointed to see Albion raise its prices, I can't imagine their profit margins are all that high given the amount of research they put into their designs and the rising cost of the raw materials they work with. They seem to delay these cost hikes for longer than many others, and I salute them for that, but everyone must eventually bow to economic realities. I'm sure there is a point of diminishing returns somewhere when additional revenue from a price increase will be outweighed by the number of customers they've priced out of the market, but, speaking strictly for myself, they're not there yet.

Swords are clearly luxury items, if not outright toys. They're not really a practical self defense option in this age and they're not necessary for the performance of any operational military duties. They are logically one of the first things to be cut from a household budget when things get tough. Other than the dress saber that will be a required uniform item when I make LCDR, I could pretty much live without them. Even if I insisted on owning my own "weapons" for fencing and Aikido, that's a far cry from something sharp that has been wrought from steel that I will never, ever use on another human being. So why do I feel just fine dropping thousands of dollars on an Albion Svante? Simple. Finely crafted weapons bring me joy. I don't need them for anything; I simply want them, and while there is some wisdom in Spock's assertion that having is not so pleasing a thing as wanting (it is not logical, but it is often true), I have to counter that it's a pretty damn pleasing thing to own a fine sword.

Since I'm a single man living on an O-3 salary with a warfare specialty wherein poor retention has led to large bonuses, I've been fortunate to have enough disposable income to make these frivolous decisions. This was not the case a few years ago when I was a starving college student and it will not be the case a few years hence when I'm a starving graduate student. At that point, my calculus will be different, but I'm more likely to abstain from buying swords entirely than I am to buy something of lesser quality merely to add to my collection. Those particular scales have fallen from my eyes. The low end swords that I scraped and saved for when I was younger brought me limited satisfaction even then and I can't see any point to owning them at all now. But I think I'll still get a thrill hefting my Svante decades from now when I'm an old man. No matter what, my Albions will always be magnificent unless I destroy them myself through negligence or misuse. Or, to paraphrase Fight Club, no matter what else happens, I've got that sword problem handled. How many other things can you say that about? Certainly not the computer that I'm typing this post on, which actually cost more than my Svante but will not last nearly as long. I have friends who have dropped more on their DVD collections only to have Blu-Ray come along and rain all over their parade.

Albion currently dominates the majority of my sword budget because I love what they do, and economic variables that are largely out of their control do not change that. Fine swords have always a considerable investment and the work of skilled craftsmen deserves to be fairly compensated no less now than in the age of chivalry. Peter Johnsson is a man of formidable talent and knowledge and I will happily pay a premium for the time he spends in museums so that I can have a more faithfully recreated sword. The people at Albion run a great shop that happens to be located in America and I will happily pay a premium for their attention to detail and for the fact that they're not a sweatshop in China. I have no issues with that. The same applies to A&A, Christian Fletcher et al. I like that these people exist, and I wish to see them continue existing.

[Joe Fults]

[Jonathan Blair]

As far as the payment plan goes, I had one. Last year, I had planned to purchase the Sherriff on payment plan: I think it came out to $62.50 a month. Got four months into it and work got scarce with people getting laid off. I had to pare back on spending, and since a sword won't fill my belly or pay my mortgage, it was the first to go. Unfortunately, the money paid in is non-refundable. So for over a year, I had a $250 credit at Albion, and for the longest time, they didn't sell anything that is swordish for that kind of money. Finally, I bought one of their bareblades, which is currently with Matt Stagmer of Baltimore Knife and Sword getting furniture made for it (his shop is ten minutes from my work). Even then, I still have a $30 credit with Albion that I will probably write off as a loss at this point.

Yeah, payment plans are all well and good, but they aren't always the best answer.

There is also the question of raising the price on pre-production items. The Dane was something close onto five years from the time of announcement and acceptance of payment to its release to production. During that time, the Dane rose in price significantly. Albion just announced the Alexandria and the Principe: will those increase in price too? I doubt it, but nothing is certain.

The much neglected Squire Line would be an acceptable substitute. I wish Albion would show an interest in developing the line some, but everyone wants the pretty Next Generations.

[Jean Thibodeau]

[Zach Gordon]

Yeah the squire line were a nice deal... till they kept increasing the price. At around $350 they were great... then $450 ok... and next they'll be over $500!!! They will no longer be an economical sword for "beginning collectors and reenactors" as it says.
I used to buy allot of albions but when they upped the prices last year (or the year before). I couldn't bring myself to buy a sword that had been $700 and was now $800.... I finally brought myself to buy said sword. If the swords that were $700 become $900 I can guarantee that I wont be buying. At this point they will start being more on par (price wise) with customs like Olin than other production swords like A&A. In general it was a toss up between A&A and Albion... with the prices increasing at Albion I'll just start buying A&As. If it becomes (price wise) a toss up between Albions or Olins, Olin will win hands down.
I get the want to make more money per sword due to the economy, but the number of people that will stop buying the product should be considered.
Z

[P. Cha]

[David Teague]

Hello All,

I don't have a horse in this race but I did want to point out that if you have good credit score and are dying for an Albion before the price increase, you can get a signature loan to make that purchase from your bank or credit union.

The big difference between layaway and a loan is this, you get the sword, it's yours, and you'll want to pay the bank back... unlike a vendor if something comes up.

As for cable... if you have a fast internet connection get Netflix streaming for 8.99 a month and ditch cable. That what I did. I just watch Netflix's streaming on my TV with a Roku box.

Cheers,

David

PS I only have one Albion, and it's one of the blunts.

[Nate C.]

You know, this conversation seems familliar... Oh, yeah, it happens every time a maker (esp. production shop) makes a price increase :P.

Speaking for myself, I could probably handle a sword a year without any issue at this point. There are definitely Albions I would like to own, and I already own a mercenary (#1 as it happens) and a knight. However, I have other things I will be spending that money on for several reasons.

First, I have swords, I enjoy owning them, but lets face it, until there is a zombie uprising, my neighbors will take a prejudicial view to me waiving them around. I do however have places very near me where I can shoot my bow and my rifles. I can get a good solid rifle or a really nice bow for that same $1000+ I would be spending an Albion. I can use these today while I save for a house/future financial stability in the future.

Second, there aren't many of the Albion swords that appeal to me any more. Call it changing tastes and the effect of experience. The swords that do appeal (Soldat, Viceroy, Doge, and Hersir) are all well north of 1000. That list used to have the Knecht in it too before they mucked up the design (my opinion: messers need an exposed tang) and priced it like a museum line piece. The average of these swords is still about what I paid for my semi-custom A&A Gustav Vasa R&D set. Albion makes some great swords, don't get me wrong. They've just outpriced my need to own the remaining swords I like. If I win the lotto, that may change (right after I pay off my school loans, etc.).

Third, there are other swords (and a few pole-arms) that I would gladly pay the same price to have reproduced by a competent smith. I've discovered that, while I enjoy cruciform swords like the Knight (seriously, who doesn't like that sword?), my interest is in complex hilts and certain exotic saber types.

So, where does this leave me? Well... Saving for a bigger purchase (house), buying arrows, ammo, and MAYBE a new bow (or rifle) every now and again, skipping the cheaper swords (too spoiled by Albion/A&A), and planning custom commissions for when I find the right smith. To those who want (and can afford) an Albion (or any other sword), you have my heartiest congratulations! If you're not in that boat, it's your money, you decide what's important. So will Albion, and so will the rest of us.

Cheers (and happy weekend!),

[Craig Peters]

I bought four Albions (technically five, since I bought one for a friend) and traded a sword for an NG Crecy. At the time, virtually every purchase I made, with the exception of my Liechtenauer, would qualify as an unwise financial decision. I acknowledge that. A couple were bought from money that came from income tax returns, a couple were purchased with "extra" money from my universty student loans, and the Liechtenauer was bought when my grandmother gave me a rather sizeable sum of money, all of which save the Liechtenauer's price went towards said student loans.

But despite this, I'm happy to have bought all of my Albions. I have three different long swords, a training long sword, and a single handed sword, all of which I seriously wanted. Had I not purchased them at the time and waited, I could have watched the price go up increasingly out of range for me.

Like a lot of people, I wish Albions weren't increasing in price. However, like Sam, I find myself in the uncommon situation. At the moment, I have very little cash, but once I start work again, most likely in July or August, I will be making a fairly significant amount of money. That, combined with the fact that I'm single and without kids and serious debts like a mortgage, means that I will be able to pick up a few more Albions, which is precisely what I intend to do. But I realize that this situation is not the norm, and I hope Albion will not outprice themselves for the general sword buyer.

I would be curious to see if there's been a noticeable decline in sales of Next Generation swords from the various price increases over the years, or if no such decline has occurred.