KoA dropping Windlass products? -- myArmoury.com

Christopher Gregg · Posted: Wed 11 Mar, 2015 6:56 pm Post subject: KoA dropping Windlass products?

I was just at Kult of Athena's website to browse their Windlass selections, and could find no category or product lines. Have they dropped the entire Windlass line? Anyone know what's up?

Terry Thompson · Posted: Wed 11 Mar, 2015 7:01 pm Post subject:

It appears to be a glitch in their storefront. The items are there. They just aren't showing up as being "windlass steelcrafts". I looked-up European sword and Sword of Malta and several daggers, and they are all there. Just no company associated with those pieces.
-Terry

Edward Lee · Posted: Wed 11 Mar, 2015 8:04 pm Post subject:

The price did go up.l for certain models.

Christopher Gregg · Posted: Thu 12 Mar, 2015 12:28 pm Post subject:

This is from Ryan Whittlinger, of Kult of Athena, posted with his permission:

"Windlass no longer sells to dealers. We still have some of their items available, but are no longer promoting them as a brand. Once our existing stock sells out, they will be gone. The items we still have are available in their respective categories. The windlass page still exists for the moment, but we do not list them as a manufacturer any more."

So it is a I feared, but even more so. I suppose the only place in the future to purchase Windlass will be from Museum Replicas LTD. Not that that's a bad thing, but I personally really enjoy the great customer service provided by KoA, and the good prices.

Roger Hooper · Posted: Thu 12 Mar, 2015 1:52 pm Post subject:

Windlass may not have cared for the substantial discounts that KOA often offers. (as do some of the other dealers)

Jeffrey Faulk · Posted: Thu 12 Mar, 2015 2:11 pm Post subject:

This was an across the board move by Windlass starting this year. I suspect the real reason is that Museum Replicas simply doesn't make all that much book anymore for the parent Windlass company (which has interests beyond simply making swords and such), so they decided to cut their retail partners off at the knees. If you want Windlass pieces, you will have to check the used market, any retailers still carrying pieces in stock, and Museum Replicas. At least MRL still has its 'Weapon Weekends'...

Eric W. Norenberg · Posted: Thu 12 Mar, 2015 2:30 pm Post subject:

That bums me out. It was alway encouraging to know that, before it went into the box, Ryan and co were giving the products one last inspection. Without that and without KoA's very agreeable pricing a lot of windlass products just dropped off my wish list.

Tom King · Posted: Thu 12 Mar, 2015 9:11 pm Post subject:

Such a contraction of market share doesn't pose well for Windlass continuing as the go to brand for economical entry level swords. Museum Replicas has ok prices, and their deal of the day can be quite a deal, but I and I assume many others here are past the point of spending $200+ on entry level swords.

With Universal swords having so many offering from the early modern era and Hanwei getting back on it's feet regarding it's medieval collection...