Dear Allan,

I just blew most of my yearly hobby budget on an A&A product, but after reading your post I put in an order just now for the kite shield I have been eyeing for a while. I have one of your helms and think that you make the best products in this price range.

I guess this shows that Jean Thibodeau was dead-on right in his previous post.

If I may give some constructive advice - I think you might have a marketing problem. Likely most people outside of this closed community are not aware of you and how good your stuff is for the price. Everything is global now - have you considered going through retailers like Kult of Athena and Reliks? I know the folks at Reliks and would put in a good word for your products - just a bit more than the Asian stuff and so much better. One other little thing - there's some material on the front page of your web site that is a bit intimidating for us non-Americans. Remember that you do have friends and admirers outside of the good ol' USA.

Good luck, JD

Oh, by the way I also already have his steel target and that is an impressive piece although for real practice I would choose the version without the spike, if I was fighting for real in individual combat the spike would have a lot of uses. ;) :D

Very solidly made with the rolled edge over the 3/16" steel rod.

Just bringing attention to some of Allan's pieces that people may find particularly interesting. ;)

http://www.merctailor.com/catalog/product_inf...ucts_id=77

Man, this situation sucks. If I wasn't effectively unemployed myself atm I would ordersomething right thsi seccond. Rest assured the moment I do have any disposable income I will be buying some gauntlets to go with the fantasic vambraces and besegues I purchased a few months back.

Getting it together to start another day of hammer jockeying but again wanted to say thanks so much to you folks. While there is no crystal ball for anybody, because of the support we've had from you folks we'll be in the game for a bit yet.

Quote:

I just blew most of my yearly hobby budget on an A&A product,

Great, i'm glad you've done so, Craig and the guys need it as much as we do.

I'm off to to swing a hammer. Thanks so much for keeping us in the game, and as of now we are still in the game because of you!

I will be ordering some gauntlets and greaves later on this evening. Not much, but it's something. Cheers guys, and good luck to you.

Well Im glad we can help you out Allan.
And yes even helping out the others too would keep this hobby/sport alive and well. Even if you buy pieces or projects down the line a lil buisness is alot better than no buisness.
And like most people got a lil worried we may not see some great armour from you

Btw you get my email for the gorget? Just need the info and payment will be on the way.

Sent you more $$$ via paypal - that should cover the bracers/couters - am trying to get ahold of Jason to see where he is on buying my Crecy so that I can pay you for breast/back and pauldrons.

Hang in there, Brother!

Allan, I hope things pick up. We've faced the same decision twice this year, and are holding on for the time being, and are hoping the light we see isn't a train.

Most professional armourers won't talk about their problems in public, but every shop I know of is in this same spot, having to decide whether to keep operating. If I could get my mortgage company to accept Job Satisfaction in lieu of cash, we'd be golden, but they seem stuck on cash, LOL.

Good Luck,

I'm potentially a few months away from ordering (trying to sell a car to fund other toys) but I have plans for about $1500 in gear from you.

Hang in there, Allan! You make some impressive armor, we can't lose you!

If you have a login and passwd for Allan's site and you like something he has made for you....... you can also take the time to post a review. His site has a review feature for each item. That is a good way to point out the little things that he does on each piece that take it from munition grade to something much much nicer and I find when I am thinking of purchasing something that such reviews are nice to read.

For those interested in 16thc., Allan and MT does some very interesting stuff that you are not going to find elsewhere (at the price)...... his peascod, the 16th c arms with rotating rerebrace, the almain collar, and the Rhodes bevors to name a few.

tr

People are feeling it everywhere, including the public sector where I am. Even though my personal salary is protected (and I'm happy to help hard-working creative people where possible), the salaries of my ~20 direct employees are not. I've spent the last year borrowing money from other budgets, trying to keep people afloat while cutting everything else down to the bone. While our goverment was noisily handing out billions in one-time incentives, they were quietly cutting millions in existing operating budgets. Then there's our people in professional training positions, who after 10-15 years of low-paying post-secondary education now find there are no jobs for them. And the hundreds of others that I am partially resonsilbe for through network programs that might implode after years of setting them up. Its nowhere near as bad in my sector as the auto industry closures, but still its been tough to get a good night of sleep this past 1.5 years.

I just ordered something I've always wanted:

[ Linked Image ]

While that is being built Allan is going to help me plan on putting together either a Later Crusade kit with a early great helm or a 100 years war kit with a pig face bascinet.

I love this stuff!!!