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Angus Trim
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 Posted: Tue 13 Nov, 2007 10:48 am Post subject: "Historically Inspired" line |
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This isn't anything really new, I talked about it a year ago. Disasters and life kind of swept this away last year though..... but the machine contract is one week away from being over......
As part of the "reboot" of the bizz, this is going to be a major part of the future. The first pieces will wind up at CF's place early next year....
I've had feedback both pro and con on the peening. So, some of these will be offered with a recessed nut, some will be peened...........
No copies...... there won't be any copies of existing antiques. Though most of these will be inspired by something existing........like XIII.1 {Records}. One of the first "models" will be a type XIII with three fullers..........
"Models" as such really won't exist. There won't be any model numbers, and I don't know if there will be any names. These will be limited in production. The XIII mentioned above, will likely be introduced with three pieces to start with, and I may only make five more..........
These will be separate from the more classical AT stuff..........
swords are fun
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Bill Grandy
myArmoury Team
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| Posted: Tue 13 Nov, 2007 11:07 am Post subject: Re: "Historically Inspired" line |
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| Angus Trim wrote: |
"Models" as such really won't exist. There won't be any model numbers, and I don't know if there will be any names. These will be limited in production. The XIII mentioned above, will likely be introduced with three pieces to start with, and I may only make five more..........
These will be separate from the more classical AT stuff.......... |
I think this is exciting, Gus. I also think it's probably a savvy move from a business perpective. I'm looking forward to this!
HistoricalHandcrafts.com
-Inspired by History, Crafted by Hand
"For practice is better than artfulness. Your exercise can do well without artfulness, but artfulness is not much good without the exercise.” -anonymous 15th century fencing master, MS 3227a
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Steve Grisetti
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| Posted: Tue 13 Nov, 2007 5:42 pm Post subject: Re: "Historically Inspired" line |
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| Angus Trim wrote: | | ..... but the machine contract is one week away from being over.... |
CONGRATULATIONS in advance!
"...dismount thy tuck, be yare in thy preparation, for thy assailant is quick, skilful, and deadly."
- Sir Toby Belch
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Lee Reeves
Industry Professional
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| Posted: Tue 13 Nov, 2007 5:44 pm Post subject: |
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deleted
Not everything has to be decided at the point of a sword, but somethings can only be decided at the point of a sword.
Last edited by Lee Reeves on Tue 13 Nov, 2007 8:36 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Robin Smith
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| Posted: Tue 13 Nov, 2007 6:13 pm Post subject: |
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Any chance we will see a nice type X like the 1211 or 1215 with a peened pommel?
A furore Normannorum libera nos, Domine
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Angus Trim
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| Posted: Tue 13 Nov, 2007 6:33 pm Post subject: Re: "Historically Inspired" line |
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| Bill Grandy wrote: | | Angus Trim wrote: |
"Models" as such really won't exist. There won't be any model numbers, and I don't know if there will be any names. These will be limited in production. The XIII mentioned above, will likely be introduced with three pieces to start with, and I may only make five more..........
These will be separate from the more classical AT stuff.......... |
I think this is exciting, Gus. I also think it's probably a savvy move from a business perpective. I'm looking forward to this! |
Thanks Bill.............
swords are fun
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Chad Arnow
myArmoury Team
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| Posted: Tue 13 Nov, 2007 6:39 pm Post subject: Re: Gus |
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| Lee Reeves wrote: | would you contact me on our orders.
Lee |
This post shouldn't be in a public forum as it's not for the public. Your business transactions should be handled between the two of you via email, phone, PM, etc.
Thank you.
ChadA
http://chadarnow.com/
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Angus Trim
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| Posted: Tue 13 Nov, 2007 6:44 pm Post subject: |
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| Robin Smith wrote: | | Any chance we will see a nice type X like the 1211 or 1215 with a peened pommel? |
I'm not sure where they're going to fall on the timeline, but I have planned a pretty much standard Xa, X, and a X with a double fuller, maybe two...... and a Xa with flared shoulders...........
Christian Fletcher will be the point of contact for these, and there won't be any preorders, backorders, or waiting lists....
My two biggest failings of the last 18 mos, and in particular the last year has been customer support and managing expectations........... I intend to correct this during the "reboot", and this is part of the start.........
swords are fun
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Jean Thibodeau
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| Posted: Wed 14 Nov, 2007 12:19 am Post subject: |
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| Angus Trim wrote: | | Robin Smith wrote: | | Any chance we will see a nice type X like the 1211 or 1215 with a peened pommel? |
I'm not sure where they're going to fall on the timeline, but I have planned a pretty much standard Xa, X, and a X with a double fuller, maybe two...... and a Xa with flared shoulders...........
Christian Fletcher will be the point of contact for these, and there won't be any preorders, backorders, or waiting lists....
My two biggest failings of the last 18 mos, and in particular the last year has been customer support and managing expectations........... I intend to correct this during the "reboot", and this is part of the start......... |
Making stuff and putting them up for sale when in stock and shipping quickly is sort of delay and missed expectations free !
Now taking specific orders for swords not kept in stock or accepting custom orders or customization of standard models does mean managing expectations. Figuring out the balance between the number of swords you produce without an order and those that are ordered is a question of what is optimum use of your available time.
If you could be sure that anything you produce would be sold as quickly as you can churn them out means that filling orders should be a smaller part of your production: 20% orders, 5% custom work and 75% work at your own pace maybe ( Just a suggestion as the percentages that work for you might be very different ).
In the work flow the custom and promised for a deadline work should take priority as any down time should affect the number of the other swords you can produce.
You're " swords without an order " could be standard good sellers and the occasional one-offs just as a mental heath change of pace or for prototype units that could become stock items or not !
An occasional, maximum effort piece might be worked on intermittently as personal project in small increments of time over long periods ? These might be sold at a " reverse " of a sales price  i.e. more expensive than your normal production: Just an extra idea that would depend on your interest in pushing the creative envelope and finding the time to do it.
You can easily give up your freedom. You have to fight hard to get it back!
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Jean Thibodeau
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| Posted: Wed 14 Nov, 2007 12:27 am Post subject: |
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Oh, just a though: Previous clients could maybe put themselves on a mailing list and could get an e-mail head-up about what is currently in stock and ready for sale at Christians site when something new or unique is produced ?
Just a little targeted marketing as the people on the list would want to know this information and it shouldn't be " spammed "
to everyone who has ever bought anything before.
You can easily give up your freedom. You have to fight hard to get it back!
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Angus Trim
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| Posted: Wed 14 Nov, 2007 7:51 am Post subject: |
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| Jean Thibodeau wrote: | | Angus Trim wrote: | | Robin Smith wrote: | | Any chance we will see a nice type X like the 1211 or 1215 with a peened pommel? |
I'm not sure where they're going to fall on the timeline, but I have planned a pretty much standard Xa, X, and a X with a double fuller, maybe two...... and a Xa with flared shoulders...........
Christian Fletcher will be the point of contact for these, and there won't be any preorders, backorders, or waiting lists....
My two biggest failings of the last 18 mos, and in particular the last year has been customer support and managing expectations........... I intend to correct this during the "reboot", and this is part of the start......... |
Making stuff and putting them up for sale when in stock and shipping quickly is sort of delay and missed expectations free !
Now taking specific orders for swords not kept in stock or accepting custom orders or customization of standard models does mean managing expectations. Figuring out the balance between the number of swords you produce without an order and those that are ordered is a question of what is optimum use of your available time.
If you could be sure that anything you produce would be sold as quickly as you can churn them out means that filling orders should be a smaller part of your production: 20% orders, 5% custom work and 75% work at your own pace maybe ( Just a suggestion as the percentages that work for you might be very different ).
In the work flow the custom and promised for a deadline work should take priority as any down time should affect the number of the other swords you can produce.
You're " swords without an order " could be standard good sellers and the occasional one-offs just as a mental heath change of pace or for prototype units that could become stock items or not !
An occasional, maximum effort piece might be worked on intermittently as personal project in small increments of time over long periods ? These might be sold at a " reverse " of a sales price i.e. more expensive than your normal production: Just an extra idea that would depend on your interest in pushing the creative envelope and finding the time to do it. |
Hi Jean
I've had the opportunity over the last few months, post shop flood, to do a bit of introspection on this, and separate what's worked, and what hasn't.........
What worked best was working with Josh Hemingway, who's philosophy was stock, and sell the stock, with the occassional backorder. Truth to tell, it was likely about 70% to 30%.
What hasn't worked was trying to keep up with correspondence and phone calls, and the shipping and handling was something that sometimes wasn't done in a timely manner either........
With the machine contract at an end, I now have the opportunity to fix things. With the Naval work becoming a thing of the past, that will free up a lot of time for swords, but there's things I've been good at, and things that I've sucked at, read above......
So...... Christian Fletcher and his wife will be the "point of contact" very soon, will be doing the retail stuff, and it will all be run from CF's site. The classical AT stuff, the "historically inspired" {whatever that winds up called in the long run}, the tactical stuff, and the tac knives. Email communication will be fixed then, as spam doesn't seem to work against the mac systems. And there'll be someone to chat with on the phone........
This won't be in effect until early next year.........But the transition has started.........
swords are fun
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Angus Trim
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| Posted: Wed 14 Nov, 2007 7:53 am Post subject: |
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| Jean Thibodeau wrote: | Oh, just a though: Previous clients could maybe put themselves on a mailing list and could get an e-mail head-up about what is currently in stock and ready for sale at Christians site when something new or unique is produced ?
Just a little targeted marketing as the people on the list would want to know this information and it shouldn't be " spammed "
to everyone who has ever bought anything before. |
I think Christian might do something like that........but that's up to him.
There'll also be the occassional collaboration where CF dresses something up to the max.........
But I don't plan on doing any custom stuff, anytime in the forseeable future.......
swords are fun
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M. Eversberg II
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| Posted: Wed 14 Nov, 2007 1:30 pm Post subject: |
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When you're done making one, you could auction it off, starting at cost.
M.
This space for rent or lease.
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Tim Lison
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| Posted: Wed 14 Nov, 2007 1:55 pm Post subject: |
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Gus-
This is great news. I've been waiting for this line ever since you announced it about a year ago. I think having Christian as a point of contact will work well as he's always been very good about communication. I truly look forward to this release.
-Tim
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Angus Trim
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| Posted: Wed 14 Nov, 2007 6:31 pm Post subject: |
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| Tim Lison wrote: | Gus-
This is great news. I've been waiting for this line ever since you announced it about a year ago. I think having Christian as a point of contact will work well as he's always been very good about communication. I truly look forward to this release.
-Tim |
Thanks Tim
Like what I talked about last year, lenticular blade contours from the fuller to the tip, appleseed edges, etc........
swords are fun
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Darwin Todd
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| Posted: Sun 18 Nov, 2007 9:20 am Post subject: |
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Good luck Angus. I think this will prove to be a good move for you and CF both. I can"t wait to see the new models.
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This is a standard topic