OK guys. First. I can't tell you who I will be working with until the 20 of June. Its a large company, but not MRL or CAS Iberia. I can tell you some of the swords we're planning on doing. The River Witham Viking Sword, a copy of my rapier that I bought from Ewart Oakeshott, a two hander (Swiss/German style) A falchion, old style, based on several comtemprary drawings, several knives, sword hilted, rondel, baselard, etc. a Dussack, hand and a half, medieval sword, a very good copy of the sword of Henry V. Also in the works are some axes, probably maces and war hammers. Still the same problem about pole arms. Shipping is a killer.
From the work I have seen, I expect very good swords. We do plan on offering threee levels of swords, Top end, middle, and lower cost. However even the lower cost swords should be quite good, and easily worth the money. Plans are also in the works for both re-enactment and theatrical blades. I would appreciate, and listen, to all comments and suggestions for various swords. Can't guarantee that I will make them, but I will most assuredly give it a lot of thought.
On a separate note, with a separate company, at the Blade Show onSunday, we will put on a demonstration of the new sparring swords that Eddie and have developed. We at last got the patent, so we're hoping to have them available before Christmas..
Also, thanks for the kind words and support. Let me try to repat it with excellent swords at very good prices. Hank

I look forward to seeing the results Hank. :)

Your pending announcement and business venture sound very interesting, Hank. I will be keeping an eye out.

Hank,

Please reconsider pole weapons and just ship the head with instructions on how to do the haft. Let the end user do or have the haft done. There is a huge void out there in the way of availability of quality pole weapons.

Hank;

Just a couple of ideas that might or might not work with the business model / company you will be working with:

First approach would be making all your own product and / or sub-contracted with good quality control.

A second approach would be to make in-house the medium and high quality range and go outside for the economy but still well made / designed product.

Also, a third possibility would be to in addition to the above distributing the best of the inexpensive stuff out there: I'm thinking of looking at East European made stuff that is very well made and very " cheap " pricewise as an alternative to the India or China made stuff.

Just to name a name off the top of my head: Importing and distributing Lutel maybe or maybe just some of their Pollarms ?
Or just unmounted Pollarms heads if shipping " loooooooooooooong " Pollarms is just not economical.

A lot of these Eastern European or Ex USSR countries make very appealing products but personnally I am a little paranoid about sending my Creditcard info over there or ordering anything not in the U.S.A. or Canada. ( I might take a chance on the well established ones though ! But would feel a lot more at ease with somebody else importing stuff to North America. )

Hey Guys, thanks again. I will start trying to work on the pole arm problem. The cost of shipping is just very high, and most people wont want to pay it, but I will see what I can do.
For your own information, spears are really not a problem to get shafted. Many spears have sockets that are about one inch in diameter, and broom poles you can find. They are hard wood, and quite tough. You may also check out the KMart, local hardware store, and some Wal-Marts in the drapery department. You can find very tough hardwood shafts, some fluted and some with twists, and in lengths ranging up to 10 feet, have even ran across 12 footers. Usually these are poplar.l I've stabbed and chopped with them and haven't had one break yet...Hank

Any chance for proper period armor (wedge rivet maille, 14 - 16 awg mild steel plate)?

Hank,

The 20th of June, you say? The anxiety begins! :p Best of luck in your endeavors! I hope it all works out for you. :)

-Ted

I have split these posts into their own topic and placed them here in the "Makers" forum because they're much more of an announcement than a general discussion. Like others, I'm eager to know more about this new venture.

Cheers!

Hank, may I request a rondel dagger engineered for WMA use? There's a real lack of good practice daggers.

I'd like to put in a vote for...........................

you guessed it..............................a Mortuary :D


Cheers,

Bill

I would love to see some good falchons, Cutlass/Hangers and even some good Sabers made by a good company that are at least closer to originals than many companies make. I don't know what the demand for such weapons would be for most of the public, but I'd definitely buy one of each! :-)

Ohhh, it sounds good Hank!

There are already many Medieval and Renaissance swords on the market. It might be interesting to supply some less represented types like -

Hangers and Cuttoes

Migration era swords

Bronze Age swords that aren't pathetically overweight.

It is possible that these types are underrepresented because only a few want to buy them. But ODF does have a 2 year backup on its 18th century stuff.

I'm also casting a vote for swords specifically designed for reenactment and stage combat. I hate using heavy clunkers onstage.

[quote="Geoff Wood"]

Jean Thibodeau wrote:

... so you just get ripped off by... (your bank).

Albersons: Money order= $.85 FWIW

[quote="Alex Oster"]

Geoff Wood wrote:

Jean Thibodeau wrote: ... so you just get ripped off by... (your bank). Albersons: Money order= $.85 FWIW

Sorry, don't know them. Maybe I should limit my comments to UK banks.
Geoff