[Grzegorz Kulig]

Hello everyone.
I am armorer and craftsman from Poland. This is the first time of writing about my web site on this forum (Makers and Manufacturer Talk), as I was waiting for up-date of my web site. If some of you already now my site, you will notice that it is totally different and there are many new reconstructions and replicas. Though, there still are some things to do - like belts and antler wares, FAQ and expeditions. Hopefully I will add tis soon. So, what do you think about it?

www.thorkil.ovh.org

There are few stuff on my web site I am really proud of, for example helmet from Pecs (Pécs,), st. Wenceslas helmet, Cuman helmet, black hundsgugel in Churburg style... And now I am realising two of my - armorer dreams, I will show it here, as soon as it will be ready.

I think that most of important information are already on my web site, but I will write here few most important things.

I make everything by hand, without press, machine hammers etc. Only my hand hammers and the strength of my arms. Generally I work on commission, I hardly ever have something on stock, as this is not mass production and I work alone. I care about the quality, not about the number of items I could make. Everything, (exept majority of blades, made by my friend - Robert Kapusta) is made me : armors, decoration of helmets, decoration on steel, sheaths, handles, belt etc. etc.

I don't have prices on my web site, as I don't want to limit myself to making the same items all the time. Also, I always give the price after some talk with customer, as the same item can have few different price, it depends of materials used, technique, finishing etc. etc.

What I really want is to encourage you to armors made with using historical techniques : I am able to make armors without using nowadays power tools. So, there is option to order a helmet raised of one piece of steel, for example. Those are really highest quality and exclusive stuff. Moreover, my main purpose is to make as often as possible replicas and reconstructions of original items. So, I will be encourage you to order things based on original find or something from iconography.


You can always ask me about some stuff that aren't on my site. What I like the most in this work is making new things!

Feel free to comment my work and my web site.

Best regards from Poland,
Thorkil.

[J. Bedell]

Thorkil, the website looks great! I really like your work, it is very nicely done! Keep up the great work!

Oh! While exploring your website I found that I couldn't get to the FAQ page, I don't know if it just me or if there is a problem, thought I should let you know.

-James

[Grzegorz Kulig]

Thanks, James. Me and my wife made our best.
Yes, the FAQ section is not ready yet, I have already written it in first post, but thanks for calling my attention to that. I would also be grateful for any remarks about errors on web-site. However, FAQ, belts and antler wares and expeditions sections are just not ready yet.

[Greg Mele]

Grzegorz,

Beautiful site and some very nice work! The Milanese leg harness is gorgeous.

Of of curiosity, what materials do you work in? Mild steel only? Spring steel?

Best,

Greg

[Chuck Russell]

wow you do amazing stuff!!

[Grzegorz Kulig]

Thanks Greg.
Those milanese leg were made of stainless steel, regarding to customer's will. Some time ago I was using mild and middle steel, but now, as I converted to "hot forging" I use actually only spring steel and constructional middle carbon steel, as I find armors of those materials very durable, especially if you tempered it. But, I can use any kind of steel, just have some favourite after few years of experiments with steel.

Thanks, Chuck, but I thought that you already my site and my work.

[Hugo Voisine]

Hi Thorkil,

That new hungarian "pecs" helmet is very nice. I also like your klappvisier a lot. The blackened bascinet is really fantastic.

[Grzegorz Kulig]

Thanks, Hugo. I like the helmet from Pecs, either. Would like to make some more helmets in this type, or similar type : like Gnezdowo helmet, or helmet from Gniezno, or Stolbishche (Stołbiszcze) helmet... There are so many stuff I would like to make.

[Jean Thibodeau]

Just had a good look at the site and it looks very good and well as the armour and knives.

Make sure that the FAQ when it is finished gives some idea of prices, approximate wait times and specify if these are firm or just ballpark estimates: It's always better to surprise by being able to deliver before the estimated time by being realistic with time estimates i.e. promise less and deliver more is always better in the long run than the reverse.

Nothing personally aimed at you but often small arms and armour businesses damage their reputations and long time survival by being wonderful makers but not very good at business and managing expectations.

Please pardon these comments if they are very much obvious to you. Good customer service is rarer than it should be unfortunately with custom makers.

I've had great luck with most makers myself and have a few suppliers who give AAAAA quality service but I think all of us have been burned at least once by very bad service. ( Again, nothing aimed at you: Just a very general comment aimed at the industry as a whole ).

The skill and artistry of your work is truly extraordinary.

( Edited: Oh, I read your first post again and noticed why you prefer to negotiate the price for each custom project with a potential purchaser. Seems fine to me but maybe a very general indication of price range " might " still be useful but the choice of not giving prices also makes sense if most of what you do are unique projects ! ).

[Grzegorz Kulig]

[Jean Thibodeau]

Oh, delays are nice to avoid but when the communication is good I have no problem with delays and " talking " is a very good idea.

I find that with my own custom projects I at times know exactly what I want and want the maker to stay close to my design but at other times the best is to give general requirements and let the maker suggest ideas and use his own creativity instead of mine: When I make a design it may be a great design that I want but I'm rarely surprised, but when I let the maker decide or just buy something he has already made I get something I would never have imagined, and being " surprised " by some beautiful object is also very good.

Different makers have different approaches and different collectors different needs, talking is the best way to make sure that the " marriage/partnership " of " maker/collector " is going to be a happy one.