According to the post towards the end of this page the NG Munich and the Museum line sword will have the same blade:
http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=4026&start=22

Peter, I'm very excited by this. I want to thank you for creating a simplified version, as I think it's the only way many people will be able to afford to handle this unique sword. Very nice. Of course, the Museum Line version is going to be something special to see. Do you expect to have the scabbard replicated, too? So damn cool!

In years past, I've been told about this sword by various people who have talked with you about the design characteristics of the original. I've been told of the slight hollow-grinding and complex geometry of the original's blade and have been relaying that to others since. Now to know my info was wrong and what I've posted and told others since makes me feel bad for putting out wrong information. Oh well. Live and learn, I guess. :cool: Sorry, guys...

I thought this one looked familiar! :eek: It's in Oakeshott's Records (type XVIIIa.5). "As if it had been made yesterday," he describes. Will the Museum Line version have the nice gilding on it?

About the future Museum Line version...

Gilding: The original has steel furniture (not bronze as Oakeshott writes) that has bevels and details fire gilded. This is a highly toxic method utilzing an amalgam of mercury that provides a generous layer of buttery gold. A marvellous finish, but alas not viable today. The alternative today is electrolytic giliding. This can be applied thicker than normal, but it is still a far stretch away from fire giliding.
If we offer gilding I think it will have to be as a customer option. The customer must then be aware that the gilding is not as permanent as the gilding on the original. After much handling the gold will wear through.
Gilding is also a cost issue. We´ll have to see if it is worth the effort. Some customers might also be disappointed regardless how much you inform them in advance. I would be very sad to see discussions about this swordometimes arouse great interest in a way that overshadows the real focus of the work.
Gilding could well be a detail that will detract rather than add to the whole.
I have not decided what way would be wisest on this one.

Scabbard:
This is a litle bit the same situation. I have seen two photos of the sword with scabbard (the actual scabbard had been mislaid when I documented the original and had been for some time. It was only because I asked for it they found it again). The first photo showed what looked like a very restrained and simple but elegant scabbard (possibly with byknives). The other showed a very ornate scabbard. The ornate one is rather recent knowledge to me, but I think it is the correct one (what I could have seen was the backside of it, don´t know...). The present custom reconstruction I am working on will have the clean line scabbard (without byknives.)
So, for a museum line version there are a number of issues to relate to. Is it feasible to produce a highly ornate scabbard with scroll work down the complete length (just making justice to the grip will be quite a task, I can tell you). Also there is the matter of byknives and an awl...
I am leaning towards developing a simplified scabbard for this sword, as one including everything would cost almost as much as much as the rest of the sword. Very few would appreciate that.
A cleaner, simplified scabbard without byknives would be the way to go I think.
Making a fully ornate one as one off custom projects is an option, but then the customer should be prepared to invest some pretty funds in the project. It is a major accomplishment to make such a scabbard with knives and fitting the whole together with the sword.

Hope this helps- Even if I cannot say anything really definitive about any of these questions yet.
There will be a scabbard for the sword offered for those who want it. I cannot say what the standard scabbard will be like. If it is not a cop of the original it will still be a scabbar in style and period of the sword, that much is certain.

For some reason, I'd like to antique this sword more than any other, especially if I could first tool the wrap and get some gold leaf to adhere to the fittings. I guess part of the attraction is that the threshold is a bit lower for an authentic looking antique job since the original is in such fantastic condition. If folks start antiquing Albion swords, I hope they'll start with this one. I'd love to see a meticulous job that would match the original as closely as possible. Beautiful recreation!

I agree that the new NG Munich looks like it will be a wonderful piece, and the Museum Line will probably be spectacular. But, Sean, the thought of antiquing either of them... :eek: I'm sorry, but I just couldn't bring myself to do that. A Windlass piece, maybe, but one of those?? Nope.

Sean-

I like that idea for this Albion more than the others as well... I had considered aging my Knight and actually my Brescia, but this piece seems to fit that better than they do.

I'd also like to see someone take the Museum Line piece and apply the gold and such.

I just don't have the confidence that I could "improve" on these pieces. Instead, I am sure I would end up with a horrible, irreparable mess. :\

Hey, I didn't say I was actually going to do it, just thought the effect might be nice. If I do decide to go this route, I'll be nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room of rocking chairs the whole time. All the same, I like the concept.

I actually put my eyeballs (and hands) on Howy's personal Knight and the scabbard Kevin made for it. I really dig the effect. I don't know how I would feel about messing with the blade itself, though... I'm pretty um... bold (?), but that is just out of my "I'm cool with this" sphere.

Hey Aaron, trust me when I say that you're really going to like the Munich. That blade is something else. :)

I ordered a Munich also. Love that design.