I don't get the some people's pedantic adherence to historical models. In fact they miss the whole point of sword history: there is no ultimate sword. Sword design was and IS a state of constant development and push to progress. This leaf blade is a great example of that. You honor the old smiths by continuing their work of pushing the possibilities with better materials and tech, not by mindlessly copy-pasting the past. Just my take.
AT LASSSSSTTTTT! Spectacular video! The Albion Principe (Skallagrim's "cheat code" sword) comparison was a fun little surprise as well! Savings for this magnificent piece of steel starts today. Incredible.
As always I'm overwhelmed by envy 🤘 You're too right in my opion Valiant is arguably better than Albion, especially value wise. Scabbards are not cheap or easy to get. If having a scabbard matters, which is debatable. Either way if you want a sword and scabbard Albion + a custom scabbard is gonna cost way more than if you bought a similar sword from valiant. Plus I really like that they make stuff like this. It's cool. Are there Irish ring pommel swords with leaf blades in museums? No. But who cares? it's awesome. A lot of people get a little to into historical accuracy ect. Sometimes, somethings are just cool, anachronistic or not.
Beautiful sword, I love the look of the blade, and I agree the belt suspension looks cheap. For the price, Valiant Armory could include a nicer one, just my two cents. Good overall review.
Real nice sword. In my experience, when we get to the Valiant Armoury/Albion territory of swords, the question of quality gets less and less relevant - they’re pretty consistently top-notch. Rather, the question becomes more about whether it’s the right sword for you. I had one of these and was very happy to own it, being a properly two-handed leaf-blade. But, I eventually ended up selling it when my taste started shifting over to shorter-length blades, and that was just a me thing. If you, the reader, are a prospective buyer, and you like big swords, you definitely won’t go wrong with this Valiant.
Kyle, thank you very much for another amazing review. Always a pleasure to watch. Since I have one of these in commission with a different guard and pommel, I was counting days since you announced this review. I ordered mine with a shorter grip and 34 inch blade so it should be spot on. Also blade looks stiff enough for my taste. Now I can`t wait to have it. I should call Sonny and ask him tomorrow :) Cheers.
I have the Principe and the Leaf blade as well. I keep going back and forth between them and the leaf blade feels like a much longer sword even though its only 3 inches longer in the blade. I love the way the leaf blade handles. The long grip lets me accelerate and stop the sword very well. I found the peen and and pommel very sharp and I personally had to take sand paper to the edges and corners.
I agree that the leaf blade feels longer than it is. That unique geometry really does give it an interesting feel. Not quite right for me, but I'm not at all surprised that you love it. And I can definitely see how sanding the pommel's corners down a bit would improve it!
@@alientude sorry to bug you but if you could would you post the full dimensions of the Albion principe at different parts of the blade like you did for some other swords I’ve seen on your channel. Please and thank you.As a aspiring blade smith your a huge help for me when I’m looking references
Not at all. The Celtics were very intelligent to make such a blade. This blade was very useful and pretty much the standard for a stabbing sword. Create deep wound channels with ease. Saving energy in the swordsman. Leaf blades were very rare and even more rare in a Longsword.
It's a real sword in the sense that it can function like a sword, as opposed to many sword-like objects sold today. It incorporates historical principles, such as as hilt construction, distal taper, heat treat, etc., while also taking liberties with overall design. It's not for everybody, for sure.
@@alientude ...it is a well made and functional sword - yes, in this sense it is of course a "real" sword without a doubt. But also it is pure fantasy - there is not one single European medieval longsword (or any other typ of medieval sword what so ever) with a leave-shaped blade (this was a thing long ago with single handed swords from the bronce-age to the ancient Greeks). For some good reason - this blade typ, especially on a longsword is in a historical sense as a weapon a bad design choice: the weight distribution is totally wrong, the center of percussion (as your main "hitting area) is weakend, it is a bad design to sharpen etc., etc.... Greetings from Germany from someone having a master in military history, being a sword collector for more than 35 years (medieval European swords, military sabres and antique Japanese blades), a HEMA practicioner, and back in the days doing kendo and iaido...
I don't get the some people's pedantic adherence to historical models. In fact they miss the whole point of sword history: there is no ultimate sword. Sword design was and IS a state of constant development and push to progress. This leaf blade is a great example of that. You honor the old smiths by continuing their work of pushing the possibilities with better materials and tech, not by mindlessly copy-pasting the past. Just my take.
AT LASSSSSTTTTT! Spectacular video! The Albion Principe (Skallagrim's "cheat code" sword) comparison was a fun little surprise as well! Savings for this magnificent piece of steel starts today. Incredible.
Thanks!
As always I'm overwhelmed by envy 🤘 You're too right in my opion Valiant is arguably better than Albion, especially value wise. Scabbards are not cheap or easy to get. If having a scabbard matters, which is debatable. Either way if you want a sword and scabbard Albion + a custom scabbard is gonna cost way more than if you bought a similar sword from valiant. Plus I really like that they make stuff like this. It's cool. Are there Irish ring pommel swords with leaf blades in museums? No. But who cares? it's awesome. A lot of people get a little to into historical accuracy ect. Sometimes, somethings are just cool, anachronistic or not.
Beautiful sword, I love the look of the blade, and I agree the belt suspension looks cheap. For the price, Valiant Armory could include a nicer one, just my two cents. Good overall review.
Real nice sword.
In my experience, when we get to the Valiant Armoury/Albion territory of swords, the question of quality gets less and less relevant - they’re pretty consistently top-notch. Rather, the question becomes more about whether it’s the right sword for you.
I had one of these and was very happy to own it, being a properly two-handed leaf-blade. But, I eventually ended up selling it when my taste started shifting over to shorter-length blades, and that was just a me thing.
If you, the reader, are a prospective buyer, and you like big swords, you definitely won’t go wrong with this Valiant.
Jelly beyond words...
Beautiful! Literally my dream sword!
It is a beautiful sword!
reminds me of skyrims dragonbone greatsword
Cheers kyle. Beautiful blade. Slan go foill ☘️
Thanks!
Kyle, thank you very much for another amazing review. Always a pleasure to watch. Since I have one of these in commission with a different guard and pommel, I was counting days since you announced this review. I ordered mine with a shorter grip and 34 inch blade so it should be spot on. Also blade looks stiff enough for my taste. Now I can`t wait to have it. I should call Sonny and ask him tomorrow :) Cheers.
My pleasure!
I have the Principe and the Leaf blade as well. I keep going back and forth between them and the leaf blade feels like a much longer sword even though its only 3 inches longer in the blade. I love the way the leaf blade handles. The long grip lets me accelerate and stop the sword very well. I found the peen and and pommel very sharp and I personally had to take sand paper to the edges and corners.
I agree that the leaf blade feels longer than it is. That unique geometry really does give it an interesting feel. Not quite right for me, but I'm not at all surprised that you love it. And I can definitely see how sanding the pommel's corners down a bit would improve it!
I recommend keeping the leaf, it's unique not only in looks but in handling, great to compare to other more conventional long swords.@@alientude
I want that blade on a viking hilt. I WANT IT!
Valiant Armoury will sometimes do customs - you could see if they'd be interested.
was the Irish ring pommel a related design to the ring hilts on classical period Celtic long knives?
If distal taper on blade is significant enough, retaining the blade in scabbard can be dependent on thickness of blade near hilt.
Hey alientude, have you considered getting the Warden of the North sword?
I've certainly considered it, yes! I don't expect it to happen though.
I hope it happens, I'd love to see you review it
@Aku-fl1dn If you weren't aware, Kane Shen did a review of it: th-cam.com/video/SdP_LHOiOXU/w-d-xo.html
I've seen it, I just want more content with that sword because it's so cool. It's my grail sword
Beautiful sword. I got to handle one in at VotS and I can see the appeal
Hello, what brand is the sword hanging behind you with the chain on the grip? If it is custom made, who made it?
That is a Witcher-inspired sword made by Marshall Suttles. Here's his Facebook page: facebook.com/marshall.suttles
Hey what’s that blade at 6:11 on the right behind you I would love to see a close up of that hilt. Cool video 😊
I just created a post with a few pictures: th-cam.com/users/postUgkx2tnSH_PAemUoxoP7WnYfYZWNC4Ot0EkL
@@alientude thanks
@@alientude sorry to bug you but if you could would you post the full dimensions of the Albion principe at different parts of the blade like you did for some other swords I’ve seen on your channel. Please and thank you.As a aspiring blade smith your a huge help for me when I’m looking references
@samartcrafts_1910 I will certainly do it when I review the Principe.
A leaf bladed long-sword sounds wack
Not at all. The Celtics were very intelligent to make such a blade. This blade was very useful and pretty much the standard for a stabbing sword. Create deep wound channels with ease. Saving energy in the swordsman. Leaf blades were very rare and even more rare in a Longsword.
@@TrippTaratus i disagree 100 percent bro
@@Monkey-d2p are you disagreeing with facts or opinion?
@@TrippTaratus I'm disagreeing with a lot
@@Monkey-d2p okay lol.
Another excellent review!
Glad you liked it!
...nicely made sword - but pure fantasy. So absolutly not the sword for someone collecting "real" swords based on historical typs and models...
It's a real sword in the sense that it can function like a sword, as opposed to many sword-like objects sold today. It incorporates historical principles, such as as hilt construction, distal taper, heat treat, etc., while also taking liberties with overall design.
It's not for everybody, for sure.
@@alientude ...it is a well made and functional sword - yes, in this sense it is of course a "real" sword without a doubt. But also it is pure fantasy - there is not one single European medieval longsword (or any other typ of medieval sword what so ever) with a leave-shaped blade (this was a thing long ago with single handed swords from the bronce-age to the ancient Greeks). For some good reason - this blade typ, especially on a longsword is in a historical sense as a weapon a bad design choice: the weight distribution is totally wrong, the center of percussion (as your main "hitting area) is weakend, it is a bad design to sharpen etc., etc.... Greetings from Germany from someone having a master in military history, being a sword collector for more than 35 years (medieval European swords, military sabres and antique Japanese blades), a HEMA practicioner, and back in the days doing kendo and iaido...
Yes, there are no leaf blades this long from history. Something I said in the review...
@@heimdalshorn there are also zero swords from that time with 6150 or 5160 steel yet I bet you’re gonna buy them