The Battle of Poitiers was fought on September 19, 1356, resulting in the second of the three great English victories of the Hundred Years War. The eldest son of Edward III, Edward the Black Prince, destroyed the French army near Poitiers while raiding out of Bordeaux.
The result was a decisive French defeat, not only in military terms, but it was also an economic defeat: The Black Prince’s capture of John II, King of France, during the battle gained him a huge chivalrous reputation and brought the French government to its knees. France would be asked to pay a ransom equivalent to twice the country’s yearly income to have her king back, an impossible sum, and he would eventually die a prisoner in England.
Swords of this style would have seen service on both sides of that conflict. A 14th C archer or man at arms might have carried such a sword as a sidearm together with a buckler. It is a sword with some mass, but lively and quick. Most of the mass is concentrated close to the hilt, allowing one to cut more towards the middle part of the blade with authority.
The blade is hand-ground from high carbon steel to a fine satin finish, sharpened and heat-treated by hand in the Albion Forge Shop. The grip is of stabilized birch, wrapped with cord and covered with the highest grade vegetable-tanned calfskin.
Albion’s premium, heirloom quality swords are some of the best available worldwide. Each limited edition Albion sword is made by hand, one sword at a time, by a group of the most talented blademakers and cutlers in the world. Albion swords are made entirely in America of the highest quality materials — but with a distinctly European flair — starting with painstaking research of period originals and exacting design work by noted Swedish swordsmith, author and researcher, Peter Johnsson. No detail is too small to replicate faithfully. Each sword is hand-made to order with time-proven traditional construction and no shortcuts or compromises, with the time and attention of a master craftsman. Even though swords are no longer used in warfare, Albion still makes each sword as though your life depended upon it.
Richard Miller –
This sword was my first Albion and I bought it through Kult of Athena. I was always curious to know if Albion swords were all that they were “cracked up” to be, so I pulled the trigger and as soon as I saw that this sword was available for immediate shipment.
I can truly say that this sword convinced me that not only were Albion swords everything that I heard they were, but I discovered that the difference in price between “premium” priced swords and seemingly well made “less expensive” swords was absolutely justifiable! I can say without reservation, that the cost of a superior replica medieval sword by premier manufacturers (like Albion, Arms & Armor, Tinker Pearce or Angus Trim, among others) is more than justified!
Swords like the Poitiers are a true JOY to be held! Do not misunderstand, please! I still have much less costly swords from Hanwei, Museum Replicas and others that I still love and use regularly for cutting, sparring, drills and training. Yet the feeling of a genuine, well researched and inspired medieval sword in hand is incomparable!
I am not a wealthy man, and purchasing a high-end sword is something that I can do only so often, but I am now willing to bide my time and wait for the opportunity for both my budget and the swords availability. I am now much more patient and willing to wait for truly awesome swords.
Swords like the the Poitiers have forever changed the way I shop for swords!