Fantastic review, Matthew! I totally appreciate this collaboration and hope we can work on more in the future. I agree with everything you've said here, although we had slightly different experience, we do have the same assessment of the sword!
Really great overview Matthew, and great that you can compare it to a sword of a similar class to contrast and explain why you feel the way you do about the Max. Gorgeous weapon but I can see how it’s not for everyone! Time to finish y’alls video on Kane’s channel. Love it when swordfriends team up!
Paused at 3:37 the handle looks slightly askew. Doesn't go plumb to blade, kinda misaligned and twisted when judging by the center line. Thats kinda weird considering the price, would expect it to be spot on.
I prefer the more simplistic hilt on the Archduke. I also like the fact that the grip on the Archduke has a more gradual taper. The grip on the Maximilian gets very thin towards the pommel.
Damn I gotta pick one of these up! I’d feel like a Stark wielding Ice w/ that thing. The half brown & grey half wire grip option color scheme wise reminds me of Ned & Robb aswell.
Fantastic review as always! I have a second hand one of these as well, it is one of my dream swords and I love it. Every time I see one of these (either online or in my living room) and it makes me smile. Must say I do love the look of the Tyrolean as well, curious how the two swords compare to each other
Thanks for the review. I just bought a Tinker Great Sword of War. Very happy with it. Wonder if you might review it one day. I got it used for CAD $150 which is US $110. I quite like it.
Properly sharpened (Albion doesn't tend to ship its swords particularly sharp); the Maximilian is an absolute lightsaber on tatami. That said, it is a lot of sword you are moving around. If you aren't used to a warsword or montante, it can be a bit unwieldy for drills or things other than just cutting.
I received the Archduke I ordered in 2021 this last July. I ordered it, over the other two-handers, because it had the same type of spiral-wrapped handle as my Principe, and it looked more like an over-large longsword than the other offerings. I think it handles great for its size, but it's certainly no longsword.
Looking at buying the Archduke myself, care to go into detail? Shouldn't the reach, defensive rigidity and power more than make up not being lightning quick like a hand and a half sword? It seems ridiculous how people criticize any sword over 4 lb as slow while ignoring all the obvious advantages Surprised Matthew didn't sharpen the sword for cutting in this video, I'd imagine the Max and its blade brothers the Archduke and Tyrolean all deliver quite the destructive strike
@@dialsforstupid The sword is a monster of a cutter, and only my Principe outperforms it, but it's difficult to say how it might compare to in a duel to a longsword (e.g. like my Munich). Reach is obviously a huge advantage, and of course one can't discount the skill, experience, and physical disparity between combatants. I'm a big guy, and I thought the Archduke might handle like a extra-large longsword for me, but it seems to be right at the threshold of where a large levers' mass begins to behave differently from a slightly smaller one. I'm sure some NFL lineman could probably brute force an Albion two-hander into behaving like a longsword, but that hasn't been my experience so far. I don't want to give the wrong impression though. The Archduke is a fantastic sword, and I love having it in my collection. I'm big enough that it moves easily for me, but I'm not able to make the lightning fast strikes, parries, and reposts that I can with a longsword. It's balanced, and light enough, that I can easily swing it with one arm, but not in a combative sense. Please let me know if this answers your questions.
@@zenhydra Your report definitely says a lot about the Principe's already well known cutting power, what would you say the Archduke is good at where hand and a half longswords might "fall short"? What's you favorite thing about it? What's the best use for the big swords? Does it feel maneuverable powerful and responsive for the type of task you use it for? Since the blade feels heavier than normal, would you say it's extremely stiff, durable and you could absorb a heavy hit with it easier than with a lighter or less sturdy sword? I've wondered about sword length a lot because some treatises go so far as to say "the pommel should reach your armpit" and historically when swords aren't used as a sidearm or close quarters self defense/backup weapon, larger swords seem to always be favored I love your answers so far but I'd like to hear even more about what makes the Archduke so awesome, I already have an Earl, Brescia and Oakeshott on order so the big cutter/destroyer seemed like a niche to fill I'm not a huge man but I am 6'1" ~210 and intend to build more muscle and speed over what I've gotten lifting weights already, since most long swords are sized on historical examples when they were custom made for people who on average were shorter than the people of today, I've always wondered if a marginally or substantially larger sword might "fit" better or feel more right, I've never yet held a real steel sword of war Thank you for the insightful commentary so far, you're not just a gentleman, you're the Archduke himself
@@zenhydra oh and how could I forget!!! How's the grip and the wheel pommel???? My eye on the website first drifted to the Tyrolean, then the flashy twisty bits on the Maximilian, but the Archduke I had overlooked began to grow on me(especially being limited to only 100 sold), something about the simpler layout spoke to me more as "this is a weapon", not that the other two aren't magnificent The Archduke is rare and special, the grip pommel and guard are unique from its blade brothers, so everything you have to say about those parts might help push me over the edge towards it, after all it's still for sale, there's less than a hundred of you out there who've had one!
@@dialsforstupid I'll try to answer your questions in order. 1: as a biggun of a sword it is a long lever with a lot of mass. Swords aren't weapons designed for percussive strikes, but it hits like an axe (please do not try to split logs with an Albion). 2: My favorite thing about the sword is that it looks like a longsword, and punches in a higher weight class. My second favorite thing is the way it looks (I love wheel pommels!!!). My third favorite thing is the spiral-wrapped, Principe like handle. They are my favorite style of sword handle at this point. 3: From everything I've read and heard, the best use of very large swords is in combating multiple opponents. The flowing nature that dedicated two-handers tend to require lend themselves best to constant movement that is both deadly and intimidating. That's at least true in an armor-free circumstance. 4: It feels maneuverable and responsive for a sword it's size. Peter Johnsson, the designer, is the real deal. He's studied many museum artifact thoroughly, and while the Albion NextGen line aren't a 1:1 reproductions like their Museum line, the NextGen designs are essentially hybrids of historic pieces that have been finely-tuned to perform in a manner representative of a sword of that type, from that given timeframe. As I've been writing this (in my home office), I just reached over and one-handed swung my Archduke a couple times to remind myself of the way it handles, and I have no doubt that you would find it very satisfying. 5: My stiffest Albion is my Munich, and eyeballing it, the blade is only 3"-4" (7.62-10.16 cm) shorter, but it is a far stiffer blade. The Archduke isn't floppy by any means, but length and blade cross-section matter. So...stiff, but not extremely stiff. It's a lot of steel though, and I have yet to have an Albion that wasn't durable. Mass and leverage make a big difference, and it could certainly hit a lighter sword out of line easier than the reverse.
Idea for an April fools video: Can you take 2 hours to review every facet of a single sword? I think it could be a really funny video to just throw out on that day.
When you realize they are milled from flats essentially essentially "Made To Recipe" then you realize they are wildly overpriced. A functional sword does not need to be expensive even now, they'd be as throwaway and machetes of we had cheaper power sources. A specific "Recipe" of metal basically sells for the cost of power and transport. I've heard aluminum described as power channeled into material form.
I have a tinker pierce blade with these very same pommel and guard as well as the double swell grip, and have had it for *YEARS* so it's sad that you have to wait a year+ and spend $1600 to get the same thing that I made for 400!!
I disagree entirely I got mine about a year of 2 ago it feels great my only issue is that the dye faded after 2 months I think your holding it wrong chock up with your left hand a bit and it’ll feel better it’s five pounds but I can swing it with one hand awkwardly but I wouldn’t call it heavy at all I’m crazy week to
This is such cool sword, but maybe the count is my favorite from albion. I guess this been awkward feeling moving around is just how beefy sword it is, and would get time training, and getting used to it. The count looks more managable
@@zenhydra yeah i know. I just mean the count just by looks is the sword i would like to purchase. Its also fairly similar stylistically i think, and even the tip that more rounded not so pointy thing. I just like it visually, and would be excellent for cutting practises i feel. Large swords like this are so different from most i think thats why Matthew doesnt like how this feels or he has trouble with it.
He said he bought it second hand. I somehow doubt the seller divulged the specific shade of blue they might have requested (if anything other than "blue").
Fantastic review, Matthew! I totally appreciate this collaboration and hope we can work on more in the future. I agree with everything you've said here, although we had slightly different experience, we do have the same assessment of the sword!
Really great overview Matthew, and great that you can compare it to a sword of a similar class to contrast and explain why you feel the way you do about the Max. Gorgeous weapon but I can see how it’s not for everyone!
Time to finish y’alls video on Kane’s channel. Love it when swordfriends team up!
In year 2 of Albion backorder
Same
Wow they are up to 2 years now? When I ordered my Doge it was about a 10 month wait.
Me to...😮💨 I feel you.
Love your videos, I find them real informative that helps me finding my next blade to the collection
Paused at 3:37 the handle looks slightly askew. Doesn't go plumb to blade, kinda misaligned and twisted when judging by the center line. Thats kinda weird considering the price, would expect it to be spot on.
I prefer the more simplistic hilt on the Archduke. I also like the fact that the grip on the Archduke has a more gradual taper. The grip on the Maximilian gets very thin towards the pommel.
I'd like to hear and more of your Tyrolean. I prefer it's simplicity plus it's half scabbard
Damn I gotta pick one of these up!
I’d feel like a Stark wielding Ice w/ that thing. The half brown & grey half wire grip option color scheme wise reminds me of Ned & Robb aswell.
I personally prefer the look of the Tyrolean over Maximillian. Just looks more elegant with simpler shapes.
Very cool. Nice to see the comparison with other swords.
I missed you. Thank you for being here.
I've cut with a club mate's Maximilian during one of our cutting classes, and it is a wonderful sword.
currently on over a year for my albion here : )
Fantastic review as always! I have a second hand one of these as well, it is one of my dream swords and I love it. Every time I see one of these (either online or in my living room) and it makes me smile.
Must say I do love the look of the Tyrolean as well, curious how the two swords compare to each other
You've been looking jacked lately dude
Great overview. Awesome sword. And, yeah, this one takes lots of time to learn to use well.
I want this sword so very much. It's a shame that it doesn't click with you, but thanks for the review anyway.
Thanks for the review. I just bought a Tinker Great Sword of War. Very happy with it. Wonder if you might review it one day. I got it used for CAD $150 which is US $110. I quite like it.
Quality video Matt, one day if you're feeling inspired to, a video comparing the Albion's you've handled / the one's you own would be cool to see👍
Albion makes some really impressive looking Gladius swords
I can't believe Witchers used to wield two of those and spin them around like they're pencils
Properly sharpened (Albion doesn't tend to ship its swords particularly sharp); the Maximilian is an absolute lightsaber on tatami. That said, it is a lot of sword you are moving around. If you aren't used to a warsword or montante, it can be a bit unwieldy for drills or things other than just cutting.
If anything it’s a good sword to work out with
Its been a while ,im back! Great review🔥
I received the Archduke I ordered in 2021 this last July. I ordered it, over the other two-handers, because it had the same type of spiral-wrapped handle as my Principe, and it looked more like an over-large longsword than the other offerings. I think it handles great for its size, but it's certainly no longsword.
Looking at buying the Archduke myself, care to go into detail? Shouldn't the reach, defensive rigidity and power more than make up not being lightning quick like a hand and a half sword? It seems ridiculous how people criticize any sword over 4 lb as slow while ignoring all the obvious advantages
Surprised Matthew didn't sharpen the sword for cutting in this video, I'd imagine the Max and its blade brothers the Archduke and Tyrolean all deliver quite the destructive strike
@@dialsforstupid The sword is a monster of a cutter, and only my Principe outperforms it, but it's difficult to say how it might compare to in a duel to a longsword (e.g. like my Munich). Reach is obviously a huge advantage, and of course one can't discount the skill, experience, and physical disparity between combatants. I'm a big guy, and I thought the Archduke might handle like a extra-large longsword for me, but it seems to be right at the threshold of where a large levers' mass begins to behave differently from a slightly smaller one. I'm sure some NFL lineman could probably brute force an Albion two-hander into behaving like a longsword, but that hasn't been my experience so far. I don't want to give the wrong impression though. The Archduke is a fantastic sword, and I love having it in my collection. I'm big enough that it moves easily for me, but I'm not able to make the lightning fast strikes, parries, and reposts that I can with a longsword. It's balanced, and light enough, that I can easily swing it with one arm, but not in a combative sense. Please let me know if this answers your questions.
@@zenhydra Your report definitely says a lot about the Principe's already well known cutting power, what would you say the Archduke is good at where hand and a half longswords might "fall short"? What's you favorite thing about it? What's the best use for the big swords? Does it feel maneuverable powerful and responsive for the type of task you use it for?
Since the blade feels heavier than normal, would you say it's extremely stiff, durable and you could absorb a heavy hit with it easier than with a lighter or less sturdy sword?
I've wondered about sword length a lot because some treatises go so far as to say "the pommel should reach your armpit" and historically when swords aren't used as a sidearm or close quarters self defense/backup weapon, larger swords seem to always be favored
I love your answers so far but I'd like to hear even more about what makes the Archduke so awesome, I already have an Earl, Brescia and Oakeshott on order so the big cutter/destroyer seemed like a niche to fill
I'm not a huge man but I am 6'1" ~210 and intend to build more muscle and speed over what I've gotten lifting weights already, since most long swords are sized on historical examples when they were custom made for people who on average were shorter than the people of today, I've always wondered if a marginally or substantially larger sword might "fit" better or feel more right, I've never yet held a real steel sword of war
Thank you for the insightful commentary so far, you're not just a gentleman, you're the Archduke himself
@@zenhydra oh and how could I forget!!!
How's the grip and the wheel pommel???? My eye on the website first drifted to the Tyrolean, then the flashy twisty bits on the Maximilian, but the Archduke I had overlooked began to grow on me(especially being limited to only 100 sold), something about the simpler layout spoke to me more as "this is a weapon", not that the other two aren't magnificent
The Archduke is rare and special, the grip pommel and guard are unique from its blade brothers, so everything you have to say about those parts might help push me over the edge towards it, after all it's still for sale, there's less than a hundred of you out there who've had one!
@@dialsforstupid I'll try to answer your questions in order. 1: as a biggun of a sword it is a long lever with a lot of mass. Swords aren't weapons designed for percussive strikes, but it hits like an axe (please do not try to split logs with an Albion). 2: My favorite thing about the sword is that it looks like a longsword, and punches in a higher weight class. My second favorite thing is the way it looks (I love wheel pommels!!!). My third favorite thing is the spiral-wrapped, Principe like handle. They are my favorite style of sword handle at this point. 3: From everything I've read and heard, the best use of very large swords is in combating multiple opponents. The flowing nature that dedicated two-handers tend to require lend themselves best to constant movement that is both deadly and intimidating. That's at least true in an armor-free circumstance. 4: It feels maneuverable and responsive for a sword it's size. Peter Johnsson, the designer, is the real deal. He's studied many museum artifact thoroughly, and while the Albion NextGen line aren't a 1:1 reproductions like their Museum line, the NextGen designs are essentially hybrids of historic pieces that have been finely-tuned to perform in a manner representative of a sword of that type, from that given timeframe. As I've been writing this (in my home office), I just reached over and one-handed swung my Archduke a couple times to remind myself of the way it handles, and I have no doubt that you would find it very satisfying. 5: My stiffest Albion is my Munich, and eyeballing it, the blade is only 3"-4" (7.62-10.16 cm) shorter, but it is a far stiffer blade. The Archduke isn't floppy by any means, but length and blade cross-section matter. So...stiff, but not extremely stiff. It's a lot of steel though, and I have yet to have an Albion that wasn't durable. Mass and leverage make a big difference, and it could certainly hit a lighter sword out of line easier than the reverse.
Idea for an April fools video: Can you take 2 hours to review every facet of a single sword? I think it could be a really funny video to just throw out on that day.
It is a beautiful sword
i was so hyped to see a destruction test :^(
When you realize they are milled from flats essentially essentially "Made To Recipe" then you realize they are wildly overpriced. A functional sword does not need to be expensive even now, they'd be as throwaway and machetes of we had cheaper power sources. A specific "Recipe" of metal basically sells for the cost of power and transport. I've heard aluminum described as power channeled into material form.
I think I'll sell my house to get one.
I have a tinker pierce blade with these very same pommel and guard as well as the double swell grip, and have had it for *YEARS* so it's sad that you have to wait a year+ and spend $1600 to get the same thing that I made for 400!!
It's a shame you didn't vibe with the sword. It looks very nice. Still, it's a big switch from the typical katana. I appreciate your honest thoughts.
Btw I haven't seem anyone use a doorknob for a pommel but I have indeed seen someone use a drawer pull knob. Lol
I disagree entirely I got mine about a year of 2 ago it feels great my only issue is that the dye faded after 2 months I think your holding it wrong chock up with your left hand a bit and it’ll feel better it’s five pounds but I can swing it with one hand awkwardly but I wouldn’t call it heavy at all I’m crazy week to
Finally a sword your size!
This is such cool sword, but maybe the count is my favorite from albion. I guess this been awkward feeling moving around is just how beefy sword it is, and would get time training, and getting used to it. The count looks more managable
The Count is one of Albions' smaller longswords, and this is a dedicated two-hander.
@@zenhydra yeah i know. I just mean the count just by looks is the sword i would like to purchase. Its also fairly similar stylistically i think, and even the tip that more rounded not so pointy thing. I just like it visually, and would be excellent for cutting practises i feel. Large swords like this are so different from most i think thats why Matthew doesnt like how this feels or he has trouble with it.
Finally!
What shade of blue is that?
In ordering process myself
He said he bought it second hand. I somehow doubt the seller divulged the specific shade of blue they might have requested (if anything other than "blue").
I need one, time to start my tren cycle :)
Just keep your beard please.
luv that sword but a 2 year wait? what if they go under how do you get your money back?
I think I'll sell my house to get one.