[Lance K.]

Well really I have no interest in spending that kind of money on a material possession, especially one that serves no practical use, though it is certainly a joy to admire and a treasure to behold. I'm not really a collector of "stuff". My Viceroy is an outer symbol of the warrior within, but when I feel for the joy of admiration I step into the woods, and from microcosm through macrocosm and back my head is filled with the beauty of the wonders of the workings of the universe.

Looking at those swords is to me like looking at a nice car I could never own. Certainly one who looks at a Bentley or an Aston Martin is going to wonder at the price, and for good reason. After all the price is part of the beauty, a symbol of the energy and creative will behind the creation its self, whatever its expressed form may be. A $25,000 Bentley just doesn't seem so majestic. Anybody could own one, and there's not much fun in that.

In regards to the meaning of this post, it seems to me the query is in its self the research. I can spend 30 seconds by posting a query, then sit back and receive, or I can waste a hour of my time in research on something that really means absolutely nothing in the broader view of life. In all research one must discern its true value, so I'd rather spend the 30 seconds and let life do the work. Certainly it will be somebody’s interest and joy to deliver another to what they seek. I know I find no greater joy than enlightening others to the understanding life has given me of its eternal mysteries.

I can certainly say what I have received with that initial 30 second investment has returned to me many times what I would have received in an hour of research. What has come to the surface in this thread is quite valuable, and interesting indeed.

From the American heartland,
Lance

[Shane Allee]

Kind of avoided this topic, but it finally hit a nerve.

Lance don't take this as an attack on yourself, this is just my feelings about the attitude you expressed in your last post. A good number of people here on this forum do have that attitude of why bother, someone will do it for me. The idea of hand feeding people information doesn't work well on academic forums like this though. If everyone has that mentality then all we are going to have is the same stale information being regurgitated ad nauseum. A good many people on here spend a great deal of time and money on research, but it can get very frustrating to share that and it not be appreciated or taken advantage of by people who aren't willing to put forth any effort of their own.

I really don't think that it would have taken an hour to get an idea of the price of custom smiths. The thing about it is that if you had taken an hour to research who knows what you might have found, you could have found a totally new sword type you didn't know about and love, a relatively unknown swordsmith, etc. The possibilities are endless, but you probably would have found what you were looking for and then some. If you don't take that step though, all you are going to get is what others are willing to give. It is all a matter of what others can teach you vs learning how to educate yourself.

Shane

[Nathan Robinson]

[Lance K.]

I am very pleased with what this thread has revealed. The question was simple though it's more than a simple question. The answer was simple though it's more than a simple answer. In any case I have found what I was looking for and then some.

More than a question this is a topic of discussion, a discussion which I have enjoyed learning from.

Fresh opinions are more valuable to me than old opinions, as they are given within a living context. The thread as it unfolds moment to moment is the living context, and I can glean much more from the surface of the words through that living context than I could ever hope to do by reading old posts. I learn through the people, not the words. Education of ones self is a living matter, not one of academics alone.

If the knowledge you hold is so valuable that it cannot simply be offered to a simple question, then keep it to your self. Mine will be freely given to all who ask.

As a sword newbe I have not a lot to offer other than my admiration of the sword. When I first came here I was invited to ask any questions I had, which I have done, and was told that’s why you're here.

Lance

[Stephen S. Han]

[Deleted upon reflection and comments by cooler heads.]

[Jean Thibodeau]

( Edited comments. ) Dropping the subject comments deleted: Getting back to more productive discussion for me.

[Patrick Kelly]

Nathan was subtle and polite. Let's try the other way................................

This line of discussion is neither relavent or beneficial to this site. Everyone needs to check their attitudes.

Any further pissing in this sandbox should be done via e-mail, not here.

Stop it

[Nate C.]

Greetings all,

I personally would like to thank those who contributed to this thread with ballpark figures and their other (more valuable?) concerns. I personally belong to the group who will someday own a custom but can only dream about it for now. With grad school expenses looming and my present financial status (too broke to pay for school, but too well off to get it paid for ) I can only dream and plan for a custom right now. It's nice to have confirmation of my educated guesses about the price and some of the other factors that relate to price of custom work.

I congratulate those of you who have by either will or circumstance managed to acquire one of the many fine custom works that have been posted on this forum from time to time. I hope to join you in the future. I plan for my first custom to commemorate my Graduate degree in a few years. Until that time I will content myself with researching the makers, cost and process of custom work.

Cheers,

P.S. - Any ideas on deciding which of the ~400 ideas I have

[Joel Whitmore]

[Stephen S. Han]

[Russ Ellis]

[Aaron Schnatterly]

[Lee O'Hagan]

I've had the same experience... it's the stuff you haven't done before that bites you

So do you guys prefer the stuff you havent done before,
i've got a habit of ordering things that makers havent done a version of for one reason or another and always find when i look at the item i receive,i know there is normally alot more -in- than what i've paid for.although when you say to the artisan as you like or just roughly along these lines it makes the hit that little less painfull,,i hope

[Aaron Schnatterly]

[Stephen S. Han]

[Aaron Schnatterly]

[Jean Thibodeau]

For custom work I usually spend a lot of time researching and thinking what I want before I start the process with a maker.

I generally know at this point what the outline of blade, guard, pommel should look like when the project is a sword.

Where I would depend the most on the maker is suggesting improvements to the design that are very difficult to figure out on paper that affect handling and subtleties that can only be worked out actually making the piece such as distal taper, balance, and historic accuracy if it is not a pure fantasy piece.

There should be some give and take as far as design is concerned. ( And a learning curve for me. )

Before actual work on the project starts I may make minor changes or improvements to the design: Hopefully not driving the maker to distraction i.e. being a pest. ( See my Langue de Boeuf custom project topic for as an example of my modifying / refining the design graphics. )

Now my background is in graphic arts so I tend to want something close to my ideas in the finished product but I realize that the maker will not be happy unless he finds the project interesting to make: Likes my design, I hope!

This is my approach for something I have been making / designing in my head for quite some time before I contact the possible maker for a quote and to see if he is willing to make it.

THE OPPOSITE APPROACH:

But I can see where liking the style of work of a maker / artist I would only give minimal indication of what I want or like of his previous work and just give the go-ahead after getting a ballpark figure as to price and delivery time: In a case like this TOO much input would mean NOT being surprised by what he would make ! As you can't be surprised if you design it yourself and you would not get a product reflecting the unique creativity of the maker.

[Thomas McDonald]

My cyber ears are burning ..... ;-) Mac

[Jean Thibodeau]

Thomas;

Great looking sword and a very high quality photograph of it: I'm impressed by both.

[Russ Ellis]