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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2009 23:40:02 GMT
Hello all!
As some of you know, I am getting a sword made by a swordmaker in Tampa named Chris Fields. He is also making the scabbard for this sword....however...there is a slight hitch.
Not really a problem, but a hitch. Chris has told me he normally down not make scabbards. He suggested Christian Fletcher to me, but he is out of my price range. Chris is doing it himself for a very good price, but as I said, he's not a scabbard expert, or so he says.
So, I am looking for any and all scabbard makers who might be able to fit my needs.
This is a very basic design I came up with along with Chris, so that he could make an attractive Scabbard without too much complication.
Materials: - Wood Core - Leather outer - Bronze wire wrap - Iron mouthpiece, and perhaps an iron Chape. - Originally designed with Light-brown leather chape.
With that said I am look for the following:
- Price: $150 - $200 - Experienced maker - Does not have a year and a half long waiting list (like Triton Scabbards. He looks like the best deal in the world, but is back ordered 18 months).
With that said, can anyone help me? I understand I might be asking a lot.
Thank you
Crockett
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Post by genocideseth on Feb 4, 2009 23:49:08 GMT
If I knew how to work with Iron and Leather I would take you up on that deal. But then again, I am not sure if I would know how to make the scabbard without the sword....
I was actually thinking of getting a DSA Saxon and customizing it to look like that awesome design you made me. The only problem I would have is mainly the pommel...
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Post by Dave(utilityslave) on Feb 5, 2009 0:06:55 GMT
Brian of DBK does very nice scabbards but you would have to get a quote from him on cost and styles he will do.
brian@dbkcustomswords.com
Hope it helps!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2009 0:15:58 GMT
Thanks for the post, Slave! 'preciate it. And check your PM's, Seth.
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Post by Brendan Olszowy on Feb 5, 2009 0:27:57 GMT
Brian does greta work. Maz here does good scabbards too. And has done a furry one before as well. PM Maz. However, good work by free men never comes cheap.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2009 0:39:21 GMT
Indeed, Brenno. Like I said, I realize I may be asking a bit much.
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Post by enkidu on Feb 5, 2009 1:35:07 GMT
Save some extra bucks and go with Brian, i have commissioned him twice and i have nothing but good words for his work. And the waiting time way less than with Fletcher or Triton. ( havent tried Triton but i have experienced the long waiting process of M. Fletcher. ) Besides he already has made something similar to your idea
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2009 2:10:33 GMT
That dissapointing....someone's already made an Ulfer? Darn.,..I was hoping it was unique.
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Post by Brian of DBK on Feb 5, 2009 2:54:37 GMT
Just to put in my two cents, and I mean all of this in the most kind, polite, and customer service way I can;
Hand labor is one of the most under-estimated values in this day and age. With most of what we consider in today's 'machine' built market, it's hard to understand why a high-tech computer will sell for $500, but there are swords that cost as much if not much, much more. This is a fickle market for the artisan, as that is what a sword smith & scabbard maker really are. It is an art that requires many hours of hand labor. The more skilled the hands, the more money it will cost. Hence, you get what you pay for.
The fact that you can get a sword for under $300 that is as good as some of them are is really a statement of just how cheap overseas labor is.
So to get more to the discussion, $150 to $200 for something that will cost $30 to $70 (guess) in material and 15 or more hours of labor is not going to happen, unless you find someone willing to donate their time. But, as said before, you get what you pay for.
Something to think about is, a picture is relatively unfinished without a frame. Often the frame cost's just as much as the picture and sometimes even more. But the frame finishes the piece, and they both compliment & define each other. The sword deserves a good scabbard, much like the picture deserves a good frame.
What would I charge for something like that? The metalwork alone would be around $200 from what I gather. The wood core & leather outer is another $350. The strap bridge looking object I would guess at $50. Already we're at $600 and I probably haven't completed the ideal vision yet. I would have to guess this would finish in the range of $700 to $800 dollars.
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Post by Dave(utilityslave) on Feb 5, 2009 3:23:20 GMT
Well Crockett, there's a reality check! Thanks for weighing in Brian.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2009 3:38:27 GMT
Yup. I already knew it was a lot to ask, but I am glad a maker decided to chime in. I do appreciate it.
I suppose I have two options then: Take Chris's kind offer for the scabbard and then get another one later, or get the sword without the scabbard in the first place. I'm thinking I'll get a scabbard...I'll need SOMETHING to protect the blade. And I already know Chris will put his heart into making it. I cannot deny an offer like that, in the end.
And Brian, thank you for your "two cents," I really do appreciate it. To be completely honest, that price range is the reason I did not go to you or C. Fletcher at first. But I suppose I'll need to just wait and save. And, I do not mean to undermine your hard work. Looking at your work, I'm positive you or C. Fletcher would be worth every cent spent. So I apologize for any offense made.
Thanks again!
Crockett
PS,
For the metal work, Chris said he could do the metal for fairly inexpensive. I cannot remember why he said that about the iron, but the bronze wire he said he could buy by the spool fairly easily. I think that may be the main reason he was able to do it for the price he gave me.
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Post by Brian of DBK on Feb 5, 2009 6:43:40 GMT
No offense taken. I'm here to help.
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Post by Brendan Olszowy on Feb 5, 2009 7:14:25 GMT
Thanks for making those points Brian. It's hard to spend such long hours and put your heart into something, and then try to put a price on it that will appeal to a market conditioned with slave labour.
And Scabbards are an Art. I certainly don't want to start that art any time soon. I make swords. I'm not a polisher, thats not my passion. And I'm not a scabbard maker, again not my passion. Just as Scabbards are obviously Brians passion, not blades - and the results are spectacular.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2009 7:56:05 GMT
Then saving up it is. I'll let Chris do his thing and then eventually get a scabbard his work deserves.
You know, I can only wish I could do what you giuys do. But I would be useless without someone to actually teach me. Thanks for all the input, guys!
Actually..while I think of it...
Brian, what about adding customization to a pre-existing Scabbard, like what DBK does with AoV? Would you need to see the scabbard for yourself before you could tell? This may not cut much off the price, I realize, but it might save you some time.
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Post by Brian of DBK on Feb 5, 2009 14:33:18 GMT
I actually try to limit what I offer on the lower end of the price spectrum, as my time is limited and I don't want to be one of those 'other' scabbard makers with an 18 month waiting list. If this ever becomes my one and only job, I'll open up many more possibilities, including lower priced scabbards with 'entry' level pricing.
Also, working on pre-exisiting scabbards makes it much hard to make metal work for, as I have pre-made 'templates' for metal chapes that I design my woodwork to. Something that is already made requires more hand labor to get something to fit properly.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2009 21:39:32 GMT
I'm currently working on the covering of two scabbards. I did the wood cores, and came out pretty decent to my eye, even put a half-round riser on one. My wife and I were working on the covering for one today, and it came out very good. The time I've put in is quite a bit. Enough to make this expensive if I were charging to do it or paying to have it done. I'm sure Brian can do it more efficiently, but still time-consuming to custom fit the wood to the sword. Then, where to get the leather? I went to the Tandy fairly nearby, they had very little that appealed to me. I did get a royal blue split suede from them. I got the finished leather for my current piece on Ebay, very tough to match up the color, unless you get lucky. I got close, but not perfect. Now, what to do for a decent chape and throat? I could go with another piece of leather, not bad, but I want a metal chape. I know little about metal-working, save that it is easy to screw up if you don't know what you're doing. Still pondering a solution there. I bore you with this to point up that it takes time and skill to make a proper and properly adorned/finished scabbard. Look at Brian's page, and you'll see some really outstanding work - custom colors, chapes, effects, etc. I saw some swords at Albion that sell around $1,400, with scabbards that sell at $1,200. I see little difference between them and Brian's work. IMO, if you're at $200, and the sword is special enough, save up to $350 or a bit more and get a worthy quality item from Brian.
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