Hello

I would like to invite you to check out this new website:
http://bractea.freha.pl/

I'm the admin of this site, this is still under development, but already could be interesting.
Feel free to ask me anything, I'm in (almost) still contact with manufacturer (hard to believe, but he has no internet... :cool: ).

Best to all

Tomasz

-

Wow! That really is some beautiful work!

I would also like to know the prices of the items, as well as the dimensions and weights of the armor and weapons.

Nice looking items!

David Kite
GFS, ARMA in IN

Great work! I especially like this piece.

[ Linked Image ]
[ Linked Image ]

wow i'm impressed, cant wait to hear reviews and see some prices.
scabbards seem a little beefy but thats the type of thing that will change after they start getting feedback

i don't think i've ever seen so many points, 36 different types

I'm loving the cutlass and knife set. Very nice. All the stuff on that website looks top-notch.

I to was wondering about pricing on the items (especially the cutlass)...

-James

I'd be definitely interested on the prices and availability of a lot of items on your site!

Tomasz,
Thanks for sharing this. Does the maker respond to questions in English? I'd like to inquire about the brass/bronze rondel dagger (the original is bronze).

The items on this site are absolutely beautiful. There are numerous pieces which I've never seen reproduced with any accuracy anywhere else. One item I especially like is this cutlass with by-knife. It is the first item on the Other Weapons page. Does anyone have pictures of a very similar original or know a specific time period? I would guess late 16th to early 17th century western/central european.

http://bractea.freha.pl/other.html#kord_noz

Shae

I know some of mr.Karcz works.Our group has just ordered some of points to the agilets,and I consider asking him to make a brigandine for me.

Very nice looking stuff! Definately going to keep an eye on the site!

Wow. Since I'm from Slovenia, I'm very interested. I ordered some stuff from USA and customs + tax were 35% (and I had to pay additional 5$ for their trouble of charging me)...

Belt fittings seem very cheap, compared to other sources I know.

Love the site and the work!

Best,

Matt

Thank you for so many nice opinions! :)
I'm sorry, I'm quite busy since Friday and I will try to answer all questions tomorrow. Today it is not possible; too much work at work... ;)

-

Ok, as I told - I will try to answer for your questions. Please forgive me if something will be not clear in my explanations, I'm sure that my English is not perfect...

You must know that it all is a work of one man. There is no "mass production".

This is not a standard shop, so I think there will be no pricing at all - with some exceptions, for example - moulded decorative elements have prices ( http://bractea.freha.pl/mprice.html ).
Replicas on this site are almost always custom, done for request for someone. There is no possibility to have a "ready for sale" items like in normal shop, so buying something is always a process with detailed contact between us and client.
We prefer situation, when client tell: "I wont replica of this" and shows us sources materials (original equipment photos from collections or iconography) and we can say: "this will costs XYZ euros and could be done in X weeks/months" etc.

But of course I can always say how much you will pay for replicas in the type of already shown in the page. But again - there will be no "hard" prices on the website - you can always choose another type of finishing, decorations etc. and price will change.
I think that prices will be quite nice for the people who earn in euros / dollars... ;)
Examples:

1) Rondel dagger – version show on the website: 250 EUR, exact copy of original (grip made from soldered bronze elements) will cost 350 EUR.
2) Coat-of-plates (Wisby type of armour) – from 200 EUR for simple versions to 520 EUR (for example armour No 24)
3) Coated armours in Munich or Khalkis type – between 520 and 700 EUR, it depends on finishing and design details
4) Set of sword with scabbard and belt – the first, exclusive and very decorative example from site http://bractea.freha.pl/swords.html is worth 500 EUR, but of course there are much cheaper possibilities too.

The problem could be in the matter of time - as I said this is a work of one artist. When he is work at, for example, the coated armour for late XIV c. it takes several weeks and there is no time for another "big" things in this period. Only moulded elements, shields (in summer), belts and pouches with standard moulded elements (without extraordinary decorations) are made in overtime.
For now the next "free" time for new work will be in the end of December. Of course each new approved request enlarges the queue.

Chad Arnow wrote:

Is the handle of the original one brass? I wonder what pricing is on those items. (…) Thanks for sharing this. Does the maker respond to questions in English? I'd like to inquire about the brass/bronze rondel dagger (the original is bronze).

Original handle is bronze, soldered from several elements. Replica on our webpage is a compromise between original and price of replica – it has moulded brass grip with silver details. But there is possibility to order exact copy as I already wrote in price examples. I’m the voice of Przemyslaw I network, because he does not have internet yet and unfortunately – does not speak English…

Shae Bishop wrote:

(...) One item I especially like is this cutlass with by-knife. It is the first item on the Other Weapons page. Does anyone have pictures of a very similar original or know a specific time period? I would guess late 16th to early 17th century western/central european.

This example was created under influence of photography from book which does not belong to me.
I don’t remember a title, but I’m investigating about it and will let you know the specific period for this weapon. As I remember this is still medieval thing (maybe I’m wrong now) and I’m not sure if word “cutlass” is proper in this case… But I don’t know better in English for now, maybe you will help me… ;)

-

Tomasz,
Thank you for the information. What kind of steel is used for the blades? Are they durable?

I'm pretty interested in some of this stuff. I've sent you a PM with more questions, too.

The blades are hammered and hardened steel. I don't know exact names of steel types, Przemyslaw uses the blades from few different producers. And I think it is durable, because we use some of his products in medieval events - our fights are not staged. That mean - our blows are not "theatrical" (we usually avoid thrusts - we are not kamikaze at all ...).
This stuff is made to use. Of course - nothing in this world is indestructible, but Przemyslaw's replicas are not only for put it on the wall or stand... ;)

Here you can check photos of from events where some of this toys where used:
http://wolna.kompania.freshsite.pl/
http://www.man.poznan.pl/~ritter/Wieruszyce2006/

-

You Poles really have great equippment. Have you or any of your friends visited Slovenia this August?

Photos from "Pod zvezdami Celjanov 2006":

http://www.td-celje.si/galerija/26082006/26082006.php

[ Linked Image ]

I think my friends visited Slovenia. Because I can see them on your pictures... :cool:

http://www.td-celje.si/galerija/26082006/IMG2.JPG
http://www.td-celje.si/galerija/26082006/IMG34.JPG

But this is off-topic.

-

Some new toys for you boys... :cool:
This is not visible on the website yet, will be soon.

New ballock dagger set. Made from hardened steel and silver parts. Grip - black oak. Black leather scabbard.

Total weight: 695g, dagger alone: 355g, silver parts: 110g.
Total lenght of dagger: 470mm, blade: 320mm.

[ Linked Image ][ Linked Image ][ Linked Image ][ Linked Image ]
[ Linked Image ][ Linked Image ][ Linked Image ][ Linked Image ]

-