The Albion Reeve compared to the Albion Vigil -- myArmoury.com

Christopher B Lellis

I have taken a real interest in the Reeve but I own a Vigil. Both are type X with wide thin profiles dedicated to cutting yet dimensions on paper are only one side of the story. The thing is is I have never handled the Reeve so I don't know what I'm really getting.

For those who have handled both, are they very similar in feel? I ask this because I want to avoid buying a clone that happens to look a bit different, I would prefer something with a different personality.

Can anyone give me their perceptions on these two swords if you have handled both? I will greatly appreciate it so I don't pay for basically the same sword if it happens to be the case.

Craig Peters · Posted: Mon 25 Nov, 2013 9:51 pm Post subject:

I have handled the Reeve once. It was surprisingly light in hand, and fairly agile as single handed swords go. The blade certainly does not have a lot of presence, and isn't in the family of more robust single handed swords like the Templar or the Tritonia.

I have not handled the Vigil, but I am quite sure that the two blades will be significantly different, just from the overall differences in the profile taper, distal taper, and double fullers. If you look at the Reeve, you'll notice that there's only a very gradual but constant taper towards the point. By contrast, as far as I can see from the Vigil, the blade is widest near the cross, then tapers gradually, only to swell slightly a bit more towards the point section.

The long and short is that there's no way these two swords will be that similar in hand. Really, the only way you're going to get something that might be like a clone is if you get two swords with the same blade, like say the Reeve and the Bayeux, or the Sempach and the Landgraf. Even then, there will be differences in how the two swords feel, but the blades of course will be very similar.

Christopher B Lellis · Posted: Tue 26 Nov, 2013 1:51 am Post subject:

Seems like the Reeve is a bit quicker with maybe a faster recovery than the vigil but probably has somewhat less authority in actually cutting. It's either the Reeve or the Sovereign, I'm juggling on which one I should get next.

If only I could grab both at once… Cry

Bryan Heff · Posted: Tue 26 Nov, 2013 4:26 am Post subject:

I never handled the Vigil but I recently purchased a Reeve. As noted above its extremely quick and fast. I was quite surprised by how light the sword feels in hand. Compared to my Senlac, which does not have a ton of blade presence, but does indeed have some....the Reeve feels like a feather, a very dangerous feather. The blade is extremely thin from guard to tip, so even though it has a wide profile, the balance and quickness are superb IMO. Mine also came extremely sharp for what its worth.

My guess is they handle quite differently.

Christopher B Lellis · Posted: Tue 26 Nov, 2013 9:52 am Post subject:

Bryan Heff · Posted: Tue 26 Nov, 2013 12:51 pm Post subject:

Paul Watson · Posted: Tue 26 Nov, 2013 3:43 pm Post subject:

If you're adding the Sovereign to the mix all I can say is it felt more like a thruster, nice short blade combined with that mean profile taper also made it quick in the cut. Coolest looking sword I've ever owned, I would advise getting a dark brown grip and bronze pommel. Don't bother begging Mike for that bronze guard like Chad's, they just don't do them any more.

Patrick Kelly · Posted: Tue 26 Nov, 2013 8:46 pm Post subject:

This is a case of two swords being of the same type but being quite different in feel.

The Reeve is a smaller sword than the Vigil, and while quite quick and manuverable it lacks the Vigils presence. In many ways the Reeve felt like a big knife in my hand. I sold mine primarily because it was just a bit too small for my taste, it almost seemed petite. The Vigil is a larger sword with a much bolder presence, and I suspect it is more powerful in both cut and thrust as well.

Christopher B Lellis · Posted: Tue 26 Nov, 2013 11:41 pm Post subject:

Jeremiah Swanger · Posted: Wed 27 Nov, 2013 12:24 am Post subject:

I remember years ago when I visited Albion's little showroom up in New Glarus, WI. Charming little town, I recommend trying the local beers and cheeses, if you get the chance!

Anyway, I got to handle many different swords, but I received a lesson first-hand in how the fittings of a sword can affect its feel. The particular case is in that of the Reeve, Bayeaux, and Stamford.

All 3 had the exact same blade, yet they all felt and handled differently. I felt that the Reeve was somehow the quickest, and the Stamford had the most blade presence, with the Bayeaux somewhere between the two. It was an experience that completely re-shaped my perceptions of a sword's overall character. The shape of the grip, the mass distribution of the fittings, the angle of the cross, etc, all seemed to factor in somehow (yet, to this day, more than half a decade later, I still can't quite describe HOW).

In the end, I decided to place an order with Mike for a Stamford with a chocolate-brown grip. I love that sword to this day!

Christopher B Lellis · Posted: Wed 27 Nov, 2013 1:04 am Post subject:

Jeremiah Swanger · Posted: Wed 27 Nov, 2013 1:33 am Post subject:

S. Sebok · Posted: Wed 27 Nov, 2013 7:26 pm Post subject:

I have the Reeve and oddly it's the most "perfect" sword I have ever handled. It feels so light and I actually prefer shorter swords to longer ones so the Albion Type X and Type XIVs are the main swords I am interested in. I have handled other Albions like the Knight and Templar and they felt a bit more blade heavy than the Reeve. It is rather quick and glides through stuff as if nothing is there, I cut a watermelon 4 times rather quickly using a handshake grip before the final cut actually caused it to fall apart.

Quite frankly it's the best sword I have ever handled I highly recommend it for anyone really who needs a nice purely cutting early medieval era sword. I haven't handled the other 3 Type X swords though I would like to see how they'd compare, I am just rather happy the Reeve felt perfect in my hand and turned out to be the one which looked the nicest to me.

Christopher B Lellis · Posted: Thu 28 Nov, 2013 12:20 pm Post subject:

William M · Posted: Thu 28 Nov, 2013 3:27 pm Post subject:

Nice I am liking what I am hearing about the Reeve!!
I currently own an Albion Knight, which is very nice but perhaps a tad too long for me. Perhaps the length of the reeve will be more to my liking although I do not particularly like the simple fittings, even if they are period.

Neil Langley · Posted: Thu 28 Nov, 2013 3:55 pm Post subject:

For what it's worth, I own a Reeve and I think it’s the best single handed sword I have ever handled - combining lightness and authority in a way you seldom experience (as I have said before - this sword really wants to cut). Mind you, I love the way it looks too; I would actually buy it simply on looks alone.

Neil.