[Rod Parsons]

Swords are not my strong suit, but I'm looking at types X or XI and type XVa or XVI swords and would welcome views and advise from those who have handled them.
Specifically choosing between Del Tin and Albion for a "cocked hat" pommel type XI and a plain type XVa.
I had a conversation with some of the jousting folks with Destrier last couple of times I worked for the Royal Armouries and they spoke well of Albion. Use will mostly be for living history standard costume use, but would like to do some cutting and when time allows study fighting techniques.
All informed advice gratefully appreciated.
Rod.

[Chad Arnow]

[Rod Parsons]

Chad,
Thank you for your comments. I have been looking at some of the reviews and from the pictures and text I am developing a better opinion of the Albion product. The fullers are well defined and they look in overall terms that little bit more convincing to my eyes.
I had heard that the Del Tin tangs were welded rather than being of a piece with the blade, whereas my understanding is that the Albion have tangs of a piece with the blade. Is this so?
Your point about blunts is well taken, some few years ago I had some little experience handling a 16thC katana and doing kata with boken and have been hit often enough with a shinai to have some appreciation of your advice.
I have not yet found all the relevant reviews to make a direct comparison of the types between the two manufacturers, I will continue looking.
But might this not be a useful review format for selected items?
Rod.

Specific Del Tin types I was looking at were the 2132, 2153 and 5140. Initially
looking at similar types in the Albion Next Generation line.

[Chad Arnow]

[Rod Parsons]

Understood Chad,
I am tending towards favouring the Albion Ritter, Mercenary and Ringeck. The XVI's are also nice and the Prince is not unlike the Del Tin 2153, though perhaps a little "flash" for an archer. The Squire might be a better XVI for an archer.
Better make some decisions before I get the itch to abuse some plastic. :-)
Rod.

[Michael Eging]

If I could chime in

I have a DT5140 that I have used for training for the past 4 years. The initial construction was typical of many Del Tins and over time it did loosen a bit. However, the components of the weapon remained solid. I have had a refurbish done by Albion and what an amazing job they did on it. They hot peened the pommel to the tang and the crossguard was also peened in place so that hilt components are not compression fitted anymore. I really enjoyed my DT 5140 before the refurbish, and I absolutely love working out with it now. For me it fit a space while waiting for the Maestro line from Albion.

So, if you are looking for something durable, for the money and Del Tin is something to consider. If you are looking for many of the aesthetics and the historical aspects, as Chad points out, then by all means save up for an Albion. I love my Albions too!

[Chad Arnow]

In some ways we're comparing the standard of yesterday (DT) with a standard of today. Not so long ago, DT was the standard by which all other production swords were judged. A&A was about the only non-custom line priced above DT and was, and is, light-years better. DT was head and shoulders above the lines priced beneath them. Windlass was in their god-awful period. DT is much now as it was then. I believe much of the market has passed it by, though.

It kind of all started when some guys in Seattle (Gus, Tinker) started really analyzing and talking about sword performance. Then a relatively unknown Swedish smith (Peter Johnsson) started his journey of museum piece study. They he and Craig Johnson and others started comparing notes. The Peter joined up with Albion. Etc., etc. Now we have many options for good-performing swords (Albion, Atrim, A&A). Windlass has even turned into an often-decent budget option for decent, relatively attractive, relatively good-performing swords. We've seen an explosion in Czech companies making nice pieces.

DT, though, has added a few models but the design philosophy hasn't really changed. I've owned my share of DT's (2140, 2150, 2163, 5160, 2142, 2146, 2104, 2158, 2172, 3152) and they are mostly good swords, daggers (and 1 nice warhammer I regret selling). They just need to be taken for what they are. They are compromise weapons, meant to be serviceable in a variety of situations. They lack the subtle shapes and blade geometries that others capture, but can often be sharpened into downright decent cutters and can take abuse in sparring if left unsharpened. I have a soft spot for DT's. My first quality sword was a DT.

[Jean Thibodeau]

Yeah, I remember looking up Albion around 2001 / 2002 AT WORK HeHeHe and at that time the DT was what they were carrying and a small handful of their own first generation swords where just starting to be available and some of the movie swords by Jody Samson.

Got my Twohander from Albion then. It's only been about 5 years but it's almost like living on a different planet now as far as quality production swords are concerned.

[Robert B. Allison]

Just a comment that while Albion NG swords come sharp, you can specify unsharpened edges. I doubt that many people are going to use the NG lineup for sparring because of the prices and fine work, but they'd probably give very good service if they were ordered with unshapened edges.

[Chad Arnow]