Some more about albion
by Grayson C.
(Florida, USA)
Just an example of the quality
Hey all, Grayson C., sword reviewer and forumite Rammstein, here.
Most of you forumites know me as a diehard albion fan, so take whatever I say knowing that.
I would like to point out that, while albion may be expensive, it is nowhere NEAR the price you would pay for a sword of identical quality and style but hand forged. If the blades were forged rather than machine manufactured, I'd hazard a guess that the swords would be well over 2 or 3 times their price range. For the quality that one is getting, Albion may seem expensive to the casual buyer of sub $300 swords, but I think it is worth pointing out that you are truly getting a masterpiece, albeit the blade is not hand crafted.
It is also worth pointing out that, while the blade of the sword is made from stock removal via machine, the rest of the sword is not. This includes the leather handle wrap, hand-fitting of the guard to the tang, polish, wood handle carving and fitting, and finally the research spent making the sword.
Peter Johnsson is not just your average run-of-the-mill swordsmith (if such a thing exists :D ). He is truly a master designer and maker who tours museums to handle antiques. His sword designs are all completely historically accurate down to each and every aspect - except for the manufacturing process. Think of an albion sword as an antique made by modern tools.
If you have any questions, complaints, rants, tirades, or future presidential candidates, please PM me via the forums. Again, my username is Rammstein.