Albion Reeve Test Cutting & Review - Earliest High-Medieval Sword

I did some cutting with my Albion Reeve and here's the full review. The Reeve is a reproduction of a 11th century single-handed sword of Oakeshott type X blade, and the Brazil-nut pommel iconic to the period. The name indicate the hilt design is based on an original piece of Anglo-Saxon sword around the time of the Norman conquest. It features a wide fuller (about half the width of the blade) running 95% of the length of a broad blade with a spatulate tip. The blade is extraordinarily thin (see stats below) but features a proper spring temper so the majority of the blade is surprisingly rigid. It's also 2 ounces lighter than the official design, which makes a rather lively sword for an early High Medieval sword.

I carefully examine the history of the sword and its relevant usage, the handling characteristics and the fit & finish of this reproduction with 4K resolution footage. Unsurprisingly as an extremely cutting oriented sword, it performs very well during the test cutting, but thrust better than I anticipated for a sword with a spatulate tip, which usually indicates forgoing all thrusting capability. Cutting with this sword is quite a pleasant experience, as it is a harmonically balanced sword with a very forgiving blade that strikes the balance between rigidity and flexibility. The type A Brazil-nut pommel with the 3.8" grip is surprisingly comfortable, when I used both a hammer grip or a handshake grip. With all things considered, this is an excellent offering for a rare type on the production market, despite its very important place in the history of swords, that signifies the transition from Viking-age swords to High-Medieval swords.

Stats
Weight: 1066g (2lbs 5.6oz)
Point of Balance: 11.75cm (4.65") from the guard
Blade Length: 30.25"
Overall length: 36"
Crossguard Width: 7.1"
Grip Length: 3.8"
Distal Taper:
3.6mm at the base
2.4mm at halfway along the blade
1.3mm near fuller's end (2" from the tip")
1mm at 1" from the tip
Profile Taper:
55.9mm at the base
47.4mm at halfway along the blade
33.6mm at 2" from the tip

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Music credit:
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim tavern music
Northern - At 1980

Sword reviewed:
https://www.albion-swords.com/The%20R...

Introduction: 00:00
Typology: 00:20
Historicity Evaluation: 03:04
Overall Proportion and Stats: 10:28
Spring Temper & Sharpness: 23:30
Test Cutting: 25:31
Handling Characteristics: 27:14
Fit & Finish: 29:07
Conclusion: 33:55