[Allen Foster]

Fellow Members and Guests:

I would like to offer the following proposition for debate, discounting or support.

Buy Yourself Something for Christmas in Support of our Manufacturer’s Families campaign. After all "You Deserve it":


In being a part of the sword and armory community for a short while several things have become apparent to me.

1) This community is made up of very intelligent and exceptionally gifted individuals whose knowledge and ability on the subject arms, armour, European martial arts and history are unsurpassed.

2) This community is very small.

As a small and select group, it seems to me that common sense would dictate that ripples in the arms industry or new historical discoveries effect the community in very large magnified ways. If you agree with my premise, then please understand my sense of urgency when I say that I believe that we are near the cusp of a major change that may hurt the very movement for which we all are so passionate about.

I am speaking of the very difficult times the manufacturing community is having in the present economy. I have heard quotes that sales are down by as high as 50%. Even the most knowledgeable among us have fallen prey to the false assumption that high prices mean high profit margins to our manufacturers. More likely the high price reflects very high quality workmanship and in the end the artisans don't do much better than minimum wage for the time that’s put into their work. My concern is that with another downturn in the economy we may not have as many of these top notch craftsmen and/or companies from which we obtain our diversions and justify the reason many of us meet here on line. Without the announcement of new swords and products on a regular basis many of us would eventually lose interest and the movement in my opinion would fade away.

With the holiday season approaching I propose that we in the arms, armor, WMA and historical community give back to our manufacturing community.

Therefore, I would like to propose that all who can afford to do so or are thinking about doing so place an order from your favorite manufacturer prior to the Christmas holidays in support of their families and in thanks for their efforts to provide us with quality; historical accurate and functional products that give us so much pleasure. I believe that if we as a community and movement can help our manufacturers get through the next eighteen months, then we all come out stronger and potentially avoid taking a step backwards or worst becoming just a footnote of a movement that died before its time.

[Sean Flynt]

I just might do this. I have some projects in mind anyway, and this serves as a reminder to try and help out those who dedicate their professional lives to the research and manufacture of fine arms and armour.

I'm as tapped-out as other folks, but thinking about this over just the last couple of days I find that I'm actually more inclined to pay more for arms and armour from independent domestic manufacturers. This is partly due to empathy for independent professional manufacturers (vs. mass production companies or even top-quality custom manufacturers who don't depend on the work for a living) and partly due to the refinement of my tastes.

It's a good time to take the advice often heard here, selling or trading away several mass-produced pieces of lesser quality in favor of acquiring one new piece made by somebody who actually understands and cares about the work, and who needs customers in order to eat and pay the mortgage. I'm almost at the end of my ability to do that. When the cheaper stuff is gone I'll have to sell some fine, one-of-a-kind custom swords to finance new purchases (really "new", meaning bought directly from the manufactures, because they don't benefit from my usual MO of scoring battered used examples). Realistically, this is the only tangible way I can help struggling manufacturers, but it'll be hard to decide what has to go to fund my support. The only thing I'm pretty sure about is that my collection will look significantly different on the other side of the Great Recession. Future forum topic: What Do You Have Left?

[Stephanie Maks]

I like the idea.

I think a squire-line knightly sword would be an excellent x-mas gift from me, to me.

Great idea Allen!

[Jody A]

Uncanny timing for this post, Allen. I was thinking the same thing, particularly in light of another recent thread here about the cost of one domestic armourer's product being on the rise. It would be a shame to lose what has been gained over the past 5 to 10 years in terms of domestic production. Now, if only I can scrape together enough money for that Kingmaker ...

[Justin B.]

Truly, I like this idea. Not that I can better afford something like this next month than now (which frankly has nothing to do with the economy in my case--I'm already committed to helping my favourite custom hatter before the end of the year), I do have high hopes for next year, hopefully by March.

Until then, hang in there! And blame my dentist

[Jean Thibodeau]

Sounds like a great idea for anyone who can afford it and whose financial situation is stable and not overextended.

This nasty correction and recession may be over or at least in a recovery phase 12 to 18 months from now when the abuses in the system work their way out of the system or lets all get in line for the soup kitchen !

Usual these things get better when hope seems completely lost !

Ironic to see one's investments drop by half in value due to other people living beyond their means when I have never paid a cent in creditcard interest since I first got one: I use it for the convenience of not paying cash and that it defers payment for a month or two but I always pay my monthly balance in full.

O.K,. not everyone can do this but when the whole World maxes out their credit at the same time Governments can't print phoney money fast enough to solve the problem painlessly.

I guess one can hope the pain won't be fatal and the recovery comes sooner than later.

GEE ! That was depressing. But those who can keep our makers going should do so.

[Nathan Gilleland]

Wonderful idea!

I'll be the lucky recipient of a Christmas gift from Albion this year, compliments of my wife and family. My wife won't tell me which sword it is, but I'm phsyched just knowing that I'm getting an Albion!

[Joe Fults]

would love to do it, in the end, really doubt I can do it with the level of uncertainty surrounding my job and the job of my wife.

[Addison C. de Lisle]

This is an awesome idea, but I doubt that I will be able to as I am already making payments on my Sovereign, and being in college this is about all I can do.

[Edward Hitchens]

I too must compliment Allen for this approach, and if those who can and are willing to do so, really should. To my knowledge, no domestic swordmaker is in danger of closing their doors for good, though it's obvious that the abysmal economy is becoming very detrimental to those makers who make swords for a living. The situation probably isn't as grim to the free-lance hobbyist makers.

There are one or two swords that I'd still love to get my hands on even though I've told many people that my sword-buying days are done (unless I see something on the Marketplace that I just can't pass up!). Lately, I've been sword-selling; my collection nowadays is only half what it was 5 years ago. But it seems like selling a sword is like selling a house!

Hopefully by next spring, I'll be able to participate in the "swordmaker bailout plan."

[Joe Fults]

I've done my part by moving forward with a custom commission. It won't be done for Christmas by a long shot but it should at least put some money in the maker's pocket heading into the holiday season. I anticipate it being one of the last sword purchases I make as my collection continues to be refined. It will fill a longsword desire (a Cluny interpretation) I have and leave me with a desire to do a rapier and not much more.

[Allan Senefelder]

[Nathan Robinson]

[Thomas Jason]

I have a Falchion from Mark Vickers, A longsword from John Lundemo and a few Bowies from Bill Bagwell coming.

I've done my part.

[J. Erb]

For a long while, I've been eyeing the Doge (or maybe the A&A smallsword) as the first of the few swords I'd like to buy someday, and I'd like to "do my part" to help keep these fine makers afloat. However, I'm also in college and don't have a job during the semester, so unfortunately other expenditures take priority. I'll have to see what's left in my wallet after Christmas and my December birthday.

I also have to think about the fact that my interest in swords is not viewed too kindly in my home. Finances aside, I'll have to do some serious persuading with the powers that be to justify plunking down $1000+ for a (potentially dangeous) sword and scabbard.

[Darryl Aoki]

[Jean Thibodeau]

[Felix R.]

Hey folks, in my opionion it is not just support in holiday season. It would be better to support our beloved arms and armour makers on a regular basis.

But I know what this topic is really about, you just want a justification to commission some new again this year although the belly is already fed up.

I did my share this year already. Got a scabbard, got a breast plate and faulds. Commissioned legs and an Aketon.

[Dan P]

I have a dagger from Darkwood Armory arriving hopefully in a few weeks. After that I think I am going to be out of the "swords and weapons" thing for a while, probably a year or so... have to save up to go back to school and all that. Hopefully there will still be some good custom makers around in a few years once I get the penny jar full enough to buy something nice.

[Mike Capanelli]

I did my part for sure. I ordered a Squire and Munich right before the price increase, Ordered a Soldat during the sale, And have a Knightly Pole axe and Duke of Urbino waiting for me to pay off at A&A.