Reproductions of the Albrecht II Sword (Oakeshott Type XVIIIa) from Angus Trim, CAS Iberia, Windlass, etc

The Albrecht II sword, XVIIIa.1 in "Records of the Medieval Sword.

This seems like a really popular sword to model reproductions after, and rightfully so. It's perhaps the ultimate evolution of the 'cut and thrust' blade, a stiff type XVIII cross section mated to a handsome (and broad for the type) warsword profile. The original is M.I.A. last I heard, which is unfortunate because it was a really detailed piece with Passau markings and an engraved pommel. It was allegedly the sword of Emperor Albrecht II.

There's a review of the CAS Iberia/Hanwei/Paul Chen/Company with many names reproduction of the sword at Sword Buyer's Guide.



And one of the old MRL/Windlass version at MyArmoury.


CAS Ibera actually uses it as the inspiration not only for it's "Hand-and-a-Half" sword but also it's "Practical" version, a beater a zillion of us have owned.


The Angus Trim AT1530 "Gothic Sword ofWar" is another XVIIIa inspired by the Sword of Albrecht IIl;


I really like the 1530. It's technically a hand-and-a-half or bastard sword, but weighing about 3 and a half pounds with a 7 inch grip, few people are going to use it that way. In two hands it feels downright invincible.


This is one of those swords that makes you rethink just how effective a sword could be against an armored opponent. The sheer mass feels more than capable of knocking someone in a barbute unconscious, yet the balance remains 'swordly' enough that you wouldn't be entirely helpless in an unarmed dispute either.

While it's not as flippy and intuitive as some of Trim's (or Albion's, or Arm & Armor's) 2-and-something pound longswords, it's still faster than the average reproduction katana I'd say. Perhaps due to the huge pommel and the taper of the blade being steeper than meets the eye.

This sword has seen quite a bit of cutting, everything from jackolanterns to Christmas tree branches. It's quite irresistable to 'try out'.

If there are any reproductions or roughly-inspired-bys out there relating to the Albrecht II sword I'd love to hear about them.