Inquiry for demand of high-quality chapes -- myArmoury.com

Brian K. · Industry Professional

As the subject line states, I'm trying to determine what kind of demand, and price would there be for DBK chapes for all of you do-it-yourselfer's out there. Chapes would come in a variety of shapes & sizes, and size & complexity determines price, of course. Commentary welcome.

Brian K. · Industry Professional

A sample of a lower priced chape

Harry Marinakis · Posted: Sat 05 Apr, 2014 6:43 pm Post subject:

There are some fine Viking and Celtic chapes, and there are some nice high-end chapes, but not a lot is available in the middle ground.

I would buy several right now if I could.

Jean Thibodeau · Posted: Sun 06 Apr, 2014 7:58 pm Post subject:

I voted for the mid-priced $130 - $150 but I can see that very simple ones might be more attractive at the lower prices, but I also think that it could go higher for more complex or decorated designs.

Each basic type of simple chapes should be made in small/medium/large sizes, as mentioned in the original post, to fit anything from a dagger to a larger sword.

Having chapes available would certainly motivate me to try making some simple scabbards but chapes could also be useful for some of my all leather scabbards made by A&A and available at Kult of Athena, as these are inexpensive and functional, but a steel or brass chape would be a nice addition and could be epoxied on.

Metal bits for the throat of scabbards might also be useful ?

Tom King · Posted: Sun 06 Apr, 2014 8:33 pm Post subject:

not to rain on the parade, but Tod of http://www.todsstuff.co.uk/todsfoundry/scabbard-fittings.htm undercuts the low ball of $90 by about 30% for basic to semi ornate chapes, even with shipping from england.

Not saying that this wouldn't be a lucrative niche market and very helpful for those of us with scabbard projects (myself included) but many of us attempting to make our own scabbards are doing so because we don't have the funds (or extravagant tendencies) to furnish all of our swords and sword projects with $500+ custom scabbards; at least from my point of view, a chape costing a significant amount of the cost of a full scabbard doesn't sit will with my wallet. But I feel the magic sub $50 mark would get you more orders than you could fill Big Grin

Andrew Pribor · Posted: Mon 07 Apr, 2014 3:00 pm Post subject:

Your sample lower priced chape would be ideal for any number of projects. I for one would be most interested in sub $60 chapes if this is at all practical.