When it comes to blocking, you're supposed to use the flat end of the sword not the blade end. What kind of sword is it anyway, I know where to get good swords that are "beaters" that you can use for blade on blade contact though the one I use is not exactly Teutonic Knightish this two may fit in.
This one could work http://kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=SH2106 This one as well http://kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=PC2046
I usually go with Hanwei because they're cheap and effective and not overpriced like Albion.
As Sir Brian mentioned, edge to edge contact is going to happen in a sword duel; with that said, your tool of choice does make (or break) the overall experience. The H/T swords are better than the original Hanwei offerings...head and shoulders above better, in fact. However, with the obvious exception of overall silhouette, measurements, weight and perhaps balance, the differences between say H/T and an Albion are going to be obvious the more exposure you have to the upper echelon of the production sword market. People generally don't buy Albions because their performance is so much better than the competitions, they buy Albions because the attention to detail they pay with each piece they've researched results in a sword that would've been at home in-period, and will handle and perform as their historical counterparts did. They are not the strongest, or most robust swords- you could choose DSA or Gen II (for the beater crowd) if you wanted a sword that was more like a tank.
My first Albion was the Arn sword. Until then, most of what I'd handled was Windlass/MRL, H/T and Valiant Armoury's collabo w/Angus Trim (another great crop of production swords that are affordable and well built, and offer scabbard and suspension rigs custom made to order, thereby sweetening the deal), and the odd Deepeeka piece. I thought I had a pretty good grasp on swords, how they're supposed to handle, look, feel, perform, etc.
I remember it like it was yesterday; suffering from H1N1 during a lull in a particularly hellacious bout of snow and my wife tells me about this white box that showed up on the doorstep. It sat in my warchambers for a couple days before I decided to see what it was. I wasn't expecting it, as I'd been told it'd be about 3-6 weeks for it to arrive. The first time I held it in my hand, I knew I'd come across something that was 'extra' to anything I'd seen thus far.
When we see eachother this year, I'll let you see what one is like; I have two now. 'Deus Irae' is the sword I normally carry (as a Templar or Crusader)...I've lucked up on a Squire Line Knight; a bit rougher in aspect to the Signature Line version, it still has all of the ability and the sweet handling characteristics of its higher end brother, but w/a rougher finish. It is a most capable cutter and handles like a dream- even moreso than Irae, which has a further out point of balance- it is more of a battle sword and probably shows its true colors when wielded from horseback.
Still...to hold one is to fall in love...
