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Craig Johnson
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PostPosted: Tue 15 Nov, 2005 10:06 am    Post subject: Polearm Extravaganza         Reply with quote

Hey Guys

Yes Joe that is your Halbard. Russ and Gordon's Pieces were just out of the shot. It is all underway and moving forward. Maybe we will have to photoshop togtehr a group pic of you all once they are all finished.

Best
Craig
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Russ Ellis
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PostPosted: Tue 15 Nov, 2005 10:54 am    Post subject: Re: Polearm Extravaganza         Reply with quote

Craig Johnson wrote:
Hey Guys

Yes Joe that is your Halbard. Russ and Gordon's Pieces were just out of the shot. It is all underway and moving forward. Maybe we will have to photoshop togtehr a group pic of you all once they are all finished.

Best
Craig


Now THAT would be pretty cool. Of course mine's just going to be the pointy end so it won't look nearly as impressive as the other guys but it would still be cool! Thanks for the update Craig!

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Jean Thibodeau




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PostPosted: Tue 15 Nov, 2005 4:01 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Looking forward to seeing all those other polearms also. VERY Cool Cool Cool

Russ: It not the size of the polearm it's how well you design it. Razz Razz Laughing Out Loud

Oh, Russ yours is an Italian Bill I believe: The standard model or a custom variant ? I think the head of the standard one is about 30" long ! Maybe 40% of it top spike, not what I would call small. Eek!

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Russ Ellis
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PostPosted: Wed 16 Nov, 2005 6:50 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

[*+quote="Jean Thibodeau"]Looking forward to seeing all those other polearms also. VERY Cool Cool Cool

Russ: It not the size of the polearm it's how well you design it. Razz Razz Laughing Out Loud

Oh, Russ yours is an Italian Bill I believe: The standard model or a custom variant ? I think the head of the standard one is about 30" long ! Maybe 40% of it top spike, not what I would call small. Eek![/quote]

Hey Jean, mine is the standard model and as you say just the head alone is a pretty significant chunk of steel. However it's going to still look pretty minimal when lined up beside your what... eight foot lang de beouf or Gordan's custom job. Anyone that starts commentinng on my inadequacy paranoia is going to get in BIG trouble...

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Jean Thibodeau




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PostPosted: Fri 20 Jan, 2006 6:22 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Some more progress Picts from Craig at A & A : Very impressive, this is going to be bigger than I thought ! Looking real good.

A few more weeks before it's ready. Cool



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Joe Fults




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PostPosted: Fri 20 Jan, 2006 7:13 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I think Craig likes forging those spikes and the end result is nifty.

My halberd will get its first test against the box army tomorrow. Big Grin

"The goal shouldn’t be to avoid being evil; it should be to actively do good." - Danah Boyd
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Jean Thibodeau




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PostPosted: Sat 21 Jan, 2006 2:41 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Joe;

Craig did say that finishing is a challenge when it comes to the transition between spike and the wide part of the blade: What looks easy and simple in a 2D drawing becomes a complex merging of shapes in 3D and making the transition aesthetic and functional takes a lot of thought and WORK. Eek! Laughing Out Loud ( More than he anticipated: Something that seems to happen the first time one attempts a new design. My take on it not his words for this last comment. )

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Bill Grandy
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PostPosted: Sat 21 Jan, 2006 4:01 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

You know, I didn't quite appreciate how large that blade is until I saw the picture with Craig hammering on it. That thing is going to be really cool when it's all done!
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Joe Fults




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PostPosted: Sat 21 Jan, 2006 11:31 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Jean Thibodeau wrote:
Joe;

Craig did say that finishing is a challenge when it comes to the transition between spike and the wide part of the blade: What looks easy and simple in a 2D drawing becomes a complex merging of shapes in 3D and making the transition aesthetic and functional takes a lot of thought and WORK. Eek! Laughing Out Loud ( More than he anticipated: Something that seems to happen the first time one attempts a new design. My take on it not his words for this last comment. )


Jean,

Craig never led me to believe it was easy, but he seemed very pleased with the end result when I spoke with him. Maybe the challenge and the fact that these are just a bit off the beaten track as things seem to go.

On a side note, I did not get to kill the boxes today. Darn inlaws stopped in unexpectedly.

No jokes about missed opportunites are required! Razz

"The goal shouldn’t be to avoid being evil; it should be to actively do good." - Danah Boyd
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Jean Thibodeau




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PostPosted: Sun 22 Jan, 2006 1:25 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Joe;

Oh, I don't think Craig was complaining only saying that it was a challenge: From a creative point of view challenging is a good thing. Big Grin But I think if Craig was making another one he might charge more knowing exactly how much time and work is actually involved.

In any case he seemed pleased with the results and so far so do I: It's always interesting to see what you expected and what is different than what one visualized when designing something. (Better than I imagined. )

I didn't want to micromanage what Craig would do because I assumed rightly that any changes to the design would be based on his knowledge and research of similar polarms that would produce a historically and functionally sound weapon.

It does look to me like something I wouldn't want to face in the hands of an opponent, and if in period, if I had to defend a narrow bridge, pass or breach in a wall by myself it would be a good choice. Eek! Laughing Out Loud

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Russ Ellis
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PostPosted: Sun 22 Jan, 2006 7:41 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Looks good so far Jean. Can you believe I STILL haven't hafted my roncone? I've REALLY got to get that done so we can compare stats when your new toy shows up.
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Jean Thibodeau




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PostPosted: Sun 22 Jan, 2006 8:23 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Russ;

You should add a review of your Roncone with Picts on your site http://www.tritonworks.com/
( A little free advertising. Razz Laughing Out Loud )

Looking forward to the Tritonia scabbard you are making for me. I should have the sword in hand later this week or next week at worse if the shipping company drags it' s " FEET " ( Well, wheels or wings. Razz )

As with Craig I am not micromanaging the project as I want to win the custom Client of the year award. Laughing Out Loud

Roncone ??? I thought you ordered an Italian Bill from A & A ? Or is this another pollarm that you also have.

Is the Roncone one of those trident types with a thick central spike and two crescent shaped hooks / blades at the base of head ? Sort of like a Partisan in shape but with a spike rather than a wide blade ?

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Jean Thibodeau




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PostPosted: Tue 02 Jan, 2007 1:36 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Well, the Langue de Boeuf is finished and should be shipping soon. Big Grin

Craig sent me a lot of high resolution pics at my request that I can use to produce a nice montage of it including zooming into details. ( Since I don't have a digital camera I can use these when I get it to go with my comments about it and for all intents and purposes is the same as if I shot the pics myself ! And any Photoshopping will be limited to cleaning up the pics so that they look like what I will have in hand i.e. contrast changes to highlight all the very complex bevels of the piece. )

Will try to do this graphic stuff soon after I have it here.

In the mean time I can show you quick and lower resolution pics of the butt and head, as it would be cruel to not show you guys anything after all the blah blah blah above. Wink Laughing Out Loud



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Last edited by Jean Thibodeau on Tue 02 Jan, 2007 11:05 am; edited 1 time in total
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Russ Ellis
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PostPosted: Tue 02 Jan, 2007 6:32 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Hey Jean,

It looks like it has turned out very nicely indeed! Congratulations. You must make sure you give us a report when you have it in hand!

I guess I never saw your post above back in January a year ago. (Has it really been that long?) The "Italian Bill" is the Roncone. I'm not sure why the boys at A&A call it a bill but whichever.

I've added another polearm or two since then, in fact just this weekend I finished hafting an A&A Bec de Corbyn (discontinued item) When I got it, it was pretty beat up, dings and nicks in a lightly rusted blade and the haft had been cut off just below the langets. It's all back together and cleaned up now, I'll try to get ambitious and post some pictures...

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Addison C. de Lisle




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PostPosted: Tue 02 Jan, 2007 7:13 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Wow that's really cool! I like the endcap a lot.
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Allen Andrews




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PostPosted: Tue 02 Jan, 2007 8:16 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

The beast looks great. Once again it was fun to watch your project through the design/construction/completion phases. have fun wielding it and be sure to let us know how that goes!
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PostPosted: Tue 02 Jan, 2007 8:17 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Hello all!

Wow!

Yet another staff weapon I wouldn't want to be on the wrong side of!
Looks wicked.

Congratulations, Jean.

Nice work, Craig.

Stay safe!

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Kenton Spaulding




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PostPosted: Tue 02 Jan, 2007 8:44 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Wow Jean, that is very impressive, and looks like it will be well worth the wait. That is a pretty mean looking contraption, certainly wouldn't want to go up against it, no matter what kind of armor I might be wearing. One of the more interesting reproduction pole arms I've seen.
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Craig Johnson
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PostPosted: Tue 02 Jan, 2007 8:49 am    Post subject: Jean         Reply with quote

Thanks Guys

I need to make a comment here about the project and Jean. It is always a very nice experience working with him, but in this case he went beyond what I expect a customer to be happy with from us. Due to a whole raft of issues and shop problems this project went way beyond the expected completion time. I strived to keep Jean informed and I know he exhibited patience beyond the call of duty. I must take full responsibility for the delays and extended completion schedule and just wanted to thank Jean for his patience and commitment to the custom process. It can sometimes be like a wet snake in your hand a bit tough to manage.

The piece is being packed to ship as we type and I hope it meets his expectations. But in a real way I need to thank him for his patience and understanding.

Happy New Year to all
Craig
A&A inc.
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Jean Thibodeau




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PostPosted: Tue 02 Jan, 2007 11:37 am    Post subject: Re: Jean         Reply with quote

Craig Johnson wrote:
Thanks Guys

I need to make a comment here about the project and Jean. It is always a very nice experience working with him, but in this case he went beyond what I expect a customer to be happy with from us. Due to a whole raft of issues and shop problems this project went way beyond the expected completion time. I strived to keep Jean informed and I know he exhibited patience beyond the call of duty. I must take full responsibility for the delays and extended completion schedule and just wanted to thank Jean for his patience and commitment to the custom process. It can sometimes be like a wet snake in your hand a bit tough to manage.

The piece is being packed to ship as we type and I hope it meets his expectations. But in a real way I need to thank him for his patience and understanding.

Happy New Year to all
Craig
A&A inc.


Well trust in the integrity of the maker helps a lot because any delays / problem / things beyond their control are easy to believe: So even if delays may be frustrating they are NOT worrying. Big Grin

I also think that Craig didn't just " grind " ( pun ) something out as fast as he could to get it finished but instead really got personally so invested in the project that he couldn't stop himself putting more time tweaking all those complex bevels.

I'm sure that his hourly rate on this one wasn't even close to making a profit: So considering the price he quoted versus the effort and artistry he put in I'm very much ahead here. Wink I would add a smily ( Big Grin ), because I'm pleased with the results, but I wouldn't want it to seem that I am happy about all the extra " unprofitable " time he put into it. Sad Big Grin

And Craig, thanks for your comments as I am very appreciative of them.

Now if anyone wants a similar one made I have no problem with that, but I think it might be just a touch more expensive if Craig even wants to make more ! Eek!

In any case I will report on my hands on impressions and more pics, but it looks real good. Big Grin

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