Posts: 5,739 Location: Wichita, Kansas
Wed 10 Aug, 2005 10:29 pm
| Derek Hand wrote: |
I think I'll go through Christian. His Scabbards are definitely more budget-friendly.
What about sword belts, I mean nice wrapping ones, anyone know a good maker?
[EDIT] I probably shoulda looked at Christians site bit more huh? Any other good makers though? |
Check out Russ Ellis as well.
http://www.tritonworks.com/
Posts: 50 Location: NW Montana
Thu 11 Aug, 2005 6:49 am
Derek,
I'm sure you are already aware of it, but just in case, and forgive me for belaboring the obvious if that is what I am doing, if you are in search of a hand-and-a-half sword, the Laird doesn't fill the bill as it is strictly a one-hander. Albion does, however, offer quite a nice selection of 1 1/2 swords in the Next Gen lineup in that same price-range, a few that are even a few $ less.
Back to the Laird, however, I have the Caithness and love it. I've heard good things about the Knight as well (the three share the same XII blade), although haven't heard a whole lot about the Laird. I like the guard on the Laird a lot, kind of wish they'd combine that guard with the pommel on the Caithness.
Posts: 288 Location: Finland
Thu 11 Aug, 2005 7:30 am
| William Hurst wrote: |
| Well, it seems only logical that, if you want an Albion, it would be better to take the money you were going to spend on the Cold Steel and put it towards the Laird (or whatever sword). I've wasted my money on cheaper swords before and have regretted the decision less than a week later. Just my opinion though. :) |
I find I regret careless spending on anything that's not long, sharp and shiny.
Posts: 288 Location: Finland
Thu 11 Aug, 2005 7:36 am
| Patrick Kelly wrote: |
| With Albion standing at a one year wait for even a simple campaign scabbard I really don't consider them an option anymore. |
Their backlog must have skyrocketed. A year ago when I got my swords I didn't have to wait at all.
Posts: 9,545 Location: Dayton, OH
Thu 11 Aug, 2005 7:39 am
| Kenneth Enroth wrote: |
| Their backlog must have skyrocketed. A year ago when I got my swords I didn't have to wait at all. |
It would seem so. :) Mike quoted me at least 6 months for a Campaign Scabbard around a month ago. I heard from another customer that they'd been told a year wait more recently.
Posts: 288 Location: Finland
Thu 11 Aug, 2005 7:40 am
Maybe it was Albion that put Wilkinson out of business.
As long as you don't have to wait a year for a sword I guess it's ok. But who knows?
Posts: 50 Location: NW Montana
Thu 11 Aug, 2005 9:23 am
Sounds as though maybe Albion is wanting to get out of the scabbard business. A 1-year wait for that sort of thing is simply too long. Might not be a bad little industry for someone with the time, equipment and knowledge to get into.....
Posts: 11,553 Location: San Francisco
Thu 11 Aug, 2005 10:00 am
| Robert B. Allison wrote: |
| Sounds as though maybe Albion is wanting to get out of the scabbard business. A 1-year wait for that sort of thing is simply too long. Might not be a bad little industry for someone with the time, equipment and knowledge to get into..... |
That may unfortunately be true. My understanding is that Kevin, Albion's resident scabbard-man (or God?), is tasked with other work besides scabbard-making these days, reducing the resources given to their scabbard business. The order backlog and reduced resource allocation seems like a pretty good indicator of the priority of this part of the business. I've always suspected, and this is only my own opinion, that it's not possible to have a profitable business model around authentic scabbard production. Then again, with Albion's large backlog of orders, they've already proved me wrong about grabbing orders at their price point. The remaining question is if it is profitable or not.
Posts: 14 Location: Colorado`
Thu 11 Aug, 2005 4:42 pm
Patrick,
Thanks muchly, I think Triton is probably where I'll go... no bad-looking and very affordable.. I mean scabbard AND belt for under $200 :D
Posts: 3,646 Location: Midwest
Thu 11 Aug, 2005 5:48 pm
| Nathan Robinson wrote: |
| Robert B. Allison wrote: | | Sounds as though maybe Albion is wanting to get out of the scabbard business. A 1-year wait for that sort of thing is simply too long. Might not be a bad little industry for someone with the time, equipment and knowledge to get into..... |
That may unfortunately be true. My understanding is that Kevin, Albion's resident scabbard-man (or God?), is tasked with other work besides scabbard-making these days, reducing the resources given to their scabbard business. The order backlog and reduced resource allocation seems like a pretty good indicator of the priority of this part of the business. I've always suspected, and this is only my own opinion, that it's not possible to have a profitable business model around authentic scabbard production. Then again, with Albion's large backlog of orders, they've already proved me wrong about grabbing orders at their price point. The remaining question is if it is profitable or not. |
Perhaps the question should be whether production can be organized in a way that will make it profitable, or make it more profitable. Assuming blades are consistent (within defined tolerances), one option might be to subcontract production of the cores to somebody specializing in basic woodworking. Maybe some basic scabbard finishing could be subcontracted too?
If there are several firms that can work to spec (there usually are), put up a reverse auction forum to bid out the work. See if you can bend your suppliers to your terms and make the subcontractor hold parts in their inventory (tax advantage) until you need them. Refuse reciept of any cores that don't pass a QC inspection per contract terms. Only subcontract the less popular scabbards when there are enough in the que to justify bidding the work. Do the finishing work in house but constantly look to allocate any tasks that can be made basic (not that are, but that can be) to a less critical resource (internal or external). Focus the time Kevin gives to scabbards on specific high value tasks.
This is all pretty standard in manufacturing, and Albion already more or less does this with some cast components (I think). Perhaps they just haven't had time to think about scabbards much with everything else they've been racing to get done. :D
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