I'm pretty much in the same boat as Nathan by the sound of it, a Company/Managing Director or CEO in US terms. Although my company is a legal entity in its own right as the C/MD I'm the legal guarantor of all decisions and that includes moral, legal, and financial ones. Its in corporate law here that i can't make decisions that actively endanger or harm the company and if the whole thing falls apart then I might well be liable for the fall out. It does sound very much that T&T is a sole trader so its down to them. There is nothing in law that says he can't take money and spend it on whatever he pleases, but he's still liable for the outcome and refunds etc.

While there's been no response here, Tom posted the following over at SBG:

Tom K wrote:

Once I am able to bring some money in with my shop I plan to use it to help with refunds as needed. Gus also has a plan that he hopes will bring in some extra cash with which we will be doing refunds. I know this mess has been on going a disgracefully long time but it will end with every sword made and delivered or refunded.

https://sbg-sword-forum.forums.net/thread/35118/?page=9

Thanks to Mark for alerting me to this thread update.

I'm going on nearly 3 years now since my original order (and deposit charged). I have tried numerous times, via email and PM's on this and the SBG forum, to get an update from Tom. Little has been forthcoming for two and a half years. If T&TA were an Australian business, I would already have instigated legal remedies, but alas, they are USA based and I have few options as a foreigner trying to recoup an amount of money that would quickly disappear in legal expenses.

My email address, the one I used when I made my original order (and to which Tom had responded back when the order was only a couple of months old) has not changed. This thread, to which I have posted numerous times, is easily accessible should Tom choose to post an update. I can be messaged via this forum, or contacted by email at any time.

The fact absolutely no communication is forthcoming (I don't frequent the BSG forum, and don't feel I should have to, holding out for whatever scraps of information are posted there once a year) demonstrates that the proprietors of T&TA have absolutely no interest in trying to communicate with me about my order.

Of course, I realised some time ago that I will NEVER see the swords I ordered and paid a substantial (50%) deposit for. The only suitable resolution now is a full refund of my nearly 3 year old deposit.

If Tom is reading this, please PM me or email me about my order (numbers 97 and 101). I would like to have a refund of my deposit arranged ASAP. For everything I have said, I will be equally open should I receive communication and a refund.

Even though he hasn't posted a response to Bill's direct request here, Tom has finally given an update over at SBG after some nudges ... though there's little in the way of detail: https://sbg-sword-forum.forums.net/thread/35118/amp-atrim-update-thread?page=9

Recently Kult of Athena has been carrying Angus Trim sword. There are 2 available right now and at least one more was available before. Gus also has a couple knives for sale on KoA too. The swords are going fast and KoA doesn't have a dedicated link to the Atrim swords so you have to do a search.

Gus seems to be up and running in at least a limited capacity. Hopefully this means that these late swords will be completed.

Eh, in other words, most customers who paid deposits to T&TA will still miss out on a sword or a refund.

Sorry, but this is beyond ridiculous.

Ethically, not a single new Atrim sword should be sold until all the pre-orders with paid deposits through T&TA and any other ventures have been honoured or refunded. It's utterly unfair.

So I guess this is another update. Still no sword, no refund, no communication.

I have TRIED to stay out of this AND it is appears TRUE unfortunately but it looks like a class action lawsuit might be their only hope. I am sorry but thank you for airing my peace.

Apparently Gus has now decided to devote a portion of his time to writing fiction, so there's yet one more roadblock to receiving your swords in any kind of time frame.

http://www.amazon.com/Ranger-Ask-Not-Salish-S...amp;sr=8-1

Honestly, with his track record I'm surprised anyone still does business with the man. If I wanted an Atrim, buying one already made would be the only way I'd consider it. Unfortunately the sword industry is rife with shoddy business models and practices, but this example has to be one of the worst.

I do understand that. It has been a bad situation and I did not always have the personal strength sit down at the keyboard and dish out another round of bad news. Other complications happened as well and it has been a big mess. I have answered tons and tons of emails and PM's over the years but not nearly everyone's it is true.

Long story short there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel. At the rate swords are moving now I can see an end to this whole mess in the not too distant future. I don't want to be too optimistic but it is possible that all swords will be delivered and or all refunds given within the next year.

Even if catastrophe does strike again for Gus I have a back up plan that is almost in place. One way or another everyone on my list will be taken care of.

I do still use triedandtruearmory@gmail.com though I do not check it daily unless I am expecting something.

I always get confirmation of shipping address before shipping a sword as it is ready. a lot of times I have found the emails I have on record to be out dated. in these cases I go so far as to send a post card to the last known address if I do not hear from the person fairly soon. I have sent a lot of post cards actually.

you may PM me here, on SBG, on facebook (using this name) or the email above. regargless when the sword is ready I will be contacting you for your information.

For those interested, Tom has published an update - including an explanation of why Gus's swords are appearing for sale in other places - at SBG: https://sbg-sword-forum.forums.net/thread/35118/amp-atrim-update-thread?page=9

I would like to say that I did recently receive my T&T sword that I ordered in Feb 2012. I had long given up hope on it, but Tom did come through in the end. my order was #99.