I'm expecting to spend roughly about $700 on my next purchase, though I could possibly go higher. I was originally saving for an A&A rapier, but got lucky and got one off SFI's classifieds for an incredible deal. So now I'm probably going to save for another A&A piece... been really eyeing that town guard sidesword of theirs. Unless if I'm somehow lucky and Erik Stevenson's wait list suddenly clears, in which case I'm getting a rapier from him.

I guess my next purchase will be in the $451 - 750 range, probably a Templ onehander for about $500.

Mine is a Kevin Cashen L6 XVIa longsword, due in the second half of next year. Includes a green raykin handle wrap with silver wire bining, polished steel mounts and I'm thinking of a gold inlay of DUES VULT in the fuller. Approx US$2000. Should be a beauty.

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I been getting more expensive tastes of late and right now have $1200, $1500, and $2000 projects in the pipe that will get paid in that order. Depending on work conditions and a host of other variable other projects might get lumped into the mix.

On the subject of rayskin, it's a bit overdone in my opinion. Something like shark skin dyed the appropriate color would be just as nice without being too hard on the hands. It's very tough and durable as well.

Geoff,

Shark skin is a different animal from ray skin (no pun intended). Ray skin is exactly that, the skin of the manta ray, sting ray, etc. While shark skin has a rough texture it isn't nearly as granulure as ray skin. I have a belt, holster, and magazine pouch that are covered in shark skin. I've used these for off duty carry for years and they still look nearly new.

price point 1501 which I thought would be my latest when the poll was posted...nope AT1420 was the other day... not now gasp I just made the under $200 yesterday with a repro Patton Sword :wtf: , since I am still looking for a good quality original....can I change my $1501 to Under $200 :p

Taylor,

First, there's no such thing as "staff" around here. We prefer to keep things in their proper perspective.

Anyone is welcome to become a contributor, in fact, the more the better. It helps take the strain off the rest of us in terms of generating content.

If you'd like to write a review by all means, please do so. Run it by Nathan when it's finished, and provided that it fits the required format it shouldn't be a problem adding it to the features section.

Nathan, you're in my head again :eek:

Here is a scan of one of my sharkskin grips ( by Eljay Erickson) ......

[ Linked Image ]

And here is a rayskin example ( also by Eljay ) .......

[ Linked Image ]

Mac

I fall into the mid-range; my collection is aimed (more or less) at covering a wide range of historical types. Next up is a longsword, possibly Atrim's German longsword or one of his very long longswords; perhaps the A&A Durer (which I personally prefer to the English longsword, although both are very nice).