Anyone have experience with this vendor? -- myArmoury.com

Robert Hinds

Hello,

I found this place while surfing the Armour Archives trade forum, and was wondering if anyone has experience with them or has heard good or bad reports of them before? I've never heard of them before, but they seem to have fair prices.

http://www.re-enactmentsupplies.co.uk/index.php?route=common/home

One thing that bugs me is that a few of their product pictures look like pics from the St. George's Armoury site. Namely their besagews and bevor. I don't know if St. George is selling through them or what but I thought it was worth noting.

Looking forward to your responses. Happy

Kel Rekuta · Posted: Mon 04 Apr, 2011 5:41 am Post subject:

Looks like a GDFB and Windlass type reseller. Fairly new at sales outside the UK, maybe?

http://forums.armourarchive.org/phpBB3/viewto...p;t=132162

http://www.re-enactmentsupplies.co.uk/index.p...ation_id=4

Check out forae that cater to those groups, you might get some reviews.

Robert Hinds · Posted: Mon 04 Apr, 2011 6:35 am Post subject:

Ok thanks, I'll try that.

Leo Todeschini · Industry Professional

Mark Vickers at StGeorge would not have sold them his items or allowed his pictures to be used and I am off to mail him now..........

Steven Davies · Posted: Mon 04 Apr, 2011 7:33 am Post subject:

Comment Retraced.

Leo Todeschini · Industry Professional

Hi All.

I have just spoken to Mark at St George armouries.

I wrote my first response before even talking to him. I was 100% sure of my facts I did not have to call him. He very proudly and diligently makes his own items and always has and you will not find anyone to say otherwise. I knew he would not supply his items to a reseller as he likes to keep control of his process from manufacture to selling. So I spoke up quickly.

I just saw the last post and called him immediately, as he is not a member of this forum (yet) I offered to speak up for him.

On that site under discussion there are a photo of a bevor, a helm and a sword that are his photos, of his products, made by him in his workshop. How they came to be used by this gentleman I cannot say but Mark suspects they were lifted from his site by the manufacturers and supplied along with the copies of his work to this site.

While we are on the subject the same thing happened to me last year and some Indian manufacturer was using a few of my pictures in their catalogue with unfortunately my mark visible, so I am a little sensitive to the issue.

I hope this has cleared up the issue of the source of the pictures and to state one last and categorical time. St George armouries does not buy in products, they are made in house by Mark.

Regards

Tod

Johan S. Moen · Posted: Mon 04 Apr, 2011 11:19 am Post subject:

I can confirm what Leo just posted; I too emailed Mark today, and while the reply I got was not as detailed, the gist is the same. I can add to that I have ever only heard of Mark making his products himself, and I see no reason to doubt that he indeed does.

Johan Schubert Moen

Steven Davies · Posted: Mon 04 Apr, 2011 11:23 am Post subject:

Hi,

I have just had a call from St George armouries and spoken to a lady who has informed me they are definately their pictures. In the meantime I will chase the people up who supplied our photos for these items and attempt to confirm copyright. I will be disabling the listings until I get verification on the image copyright. Fair play to you guys for speaking up.

Regards,

Steve

Lee O'Hagan · Posted: Mon 04 Apr, 2011 12:42 pm Post subject:

Steve,
any chance you would name the supplier or post details of the products that are listed on your site for sale from them,
over the last couple of years,Mark has had some items purchased by what he thought were real customers,only to find their using his work as prototype's for reselling at a fraction of the cost and time it takes him to do the research and actuall hand work,
having stood next to him watching him raise a helmet,grind blade's,shape armour to fit specific measures etc,all his work is hand made as much as it can be,go visit,excellent bloke,
the guys great at what he does and already cheap,but whats the point in bothering,when he's at a ren fair seeing copies of his own work on other stalls at far less than he can make them,
and for the record,its not just your site,and its also not just Mark's work this is happening too,
Leo already mentioned his,Jake Cleland from Skye recently had the same with a knife,Rob from skye not too long ago refused a big offer after he sussed the buyer was out to do this,
i dont doubt Stateside alot of the bigger company wares are being lifted after one sale,
very short term outlook,overall,i'd say.

Steven Davies · Posted: Mon 04 Apr, 2011 2:50 pm Post subject:

Yeh I think what has happened is the supplier has lifted the pictures, produced the item themselves and not changed the photos. I did ask the supplier about using the photos and they said it was all good. As regards naming the supplier I will not disclose it publically - I have informed St George about their presence.

Scott Hrouda · Posted: Tue 05 Apr, 2011 7:31 am Post subject:

Mr. Davies,

Your actions are honorable and admirable.

Regards,

Scott Hrouda

Steven Davies · Posted: Tue 05 Apr, 2011 11:03 am Post subject:

Many thanks Scott - I have heard back from our supplier who have since told me that the pictures may well belong to St George Armoury as they believe a vendor had sent the pictures to the manufacturer so they could use them as a guide for production and it seems the Manufacturer has let them 'slip' into their catalogue collection.
I have emailed the supplier, informed them of the problem and they will be rectifying it within the next week. In the meantime I will inform St George Armoury and issue an apology.
Kind Regards,
Steve Davies

Nathan Robinson · myArmoury Admin

Mark Griffin · Posted: Tue 05 Apr, 2011 11:28 pm Post subject:

I'll add weight to all the comments about Mark's great work that have been posted above. An excellent armourer and cutler who has made me many items over the years, including the copy of the HVIII 'silvered' harness visible on his site.

Well done to Steve for being honest, open, and quick to sort the issue out.

Lee O'Hagan · Posted: Wed 06 Apr, 2011 1:22 am Post subject:

Mark asked if i could put up a reply for him ,
quote,

I got Jo to phone him and we said we wanted to buy the Bevor.He insited that he was selling the product in the photo and even that he makes them.
I know it would be better coming from me but there will be a delay while I wait to be registered on the forum.I'm seriously buried in administration and work,this has already lost me one evenings work
mark,

slightly different from what's mentioned,
i'l refrain from adding anything myself Mad

but will say thanks to the myArmoury team and members involved in sharing info like this, Cool

Lee O'Hagan · Posted: Sat 14 May, 2011 11:49 am Post subject:

Oh well,
Benefit of the doubt leave's the room, Sad

pictures two and three are taken diectly from Marks site,(pic one could be too,)
and to rub salt in the wounds.listing Marks retail price,to me insinuates they are of comparable quality etc,

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewIt...K:MEWAX:IT
avoiding the obvious auction discussion as there is yet an item made to sell,
the description implies you'll be getting whats pictured,how so when it's not even the same maker,
why even mention ST George Armoury ? plenty of other armourers in the UK,
and at Mark's cost,he's far from making much of a profit,etc,

Leo Todeschini · Industry Professional

Thought this was worth a bump, just to remind people.

Tod