The Armour Archive

Hi Folks.

Well I go back and forth on items to carry, either buying for resale, or making in house. We have been building up our business as you have probably noticed over the last few years and still looking for items to sell. With the way I work my day job, being a divorced dad, ( I get my kids every other week), and really try to spend quality time with them, then work the leather as well, it doesn't leave alot of time for having fun and just going to events. Even when I go to an event, being a merchant, it's alot of work setting up and breaking down. I usually make stuff and talk to folks the entire time I am there, so I don't get much time to go out and just look.

So here is my question. I am trying to supply our hobby. I have been a member of the SCA since 1985. I have gone to a few living history events and done my share of Renn Faires as well. So what else can I make or supply that is needed for the community at large that I am not already carrying. Or what products can I expand on, i.e. different shoes in stock. Different bracers, etc.

I know one answer will be bazubands, they are already on the radar. Working on a Nordic or Viking style pouch of sorts. Have started selling Bran's Drinking Horns. Gonna start selling AL's buckles to give them a go. Just thought I would ask, while it was on my mind.

Thank you.

Frank

Well...how about some bazubands..or maybe you could start selling some of Bran's horn?


Seriously though, you might consider offering a splinted kidney belt. Varangian guard persona's seem to be increasing, you might offer a "Varangian bra".
I recently ordered a bunch of lammelar plates from you for my kids' armour. You could offer a kit with the plates, lacing materials, and possibly some leather with buckles for straps. Rawhide shield edging. Quilted leather helmet liners. If you hated yourself you could start offering sole leather weapon heads since Vitus is removing himself from the market.

I have been interested in doing some large production runs of cast bronze, brass, and steel objects but I do not have a merchant outlet if your interested PM me and we can work out some details.

I like the rawhide shield edging suggestion

I dunno if you would get many bites but i have seen a lot more of the cylindrical shoulder bags/pouches..

For the life of me i cant find a good pic.. But it basicly looks like an air mattress bag with a strap attached, drawstring top and all.

Find out what your comfortable with selling on consignment.
A number of people make good stuff but are not intrested in "merchanting"
Or being production driven shop where the fun goes out of the process.

It's a fairly easy way to increase variety with low overhead.

Make sure to cover assorted problems that can happen in wrighting.
Theft, damage, shipping cost and method, percentage, and invintory disputes.

Caius705 wrote:I like the rawhide shield edging suggestion

Yes!

I am in fact, not Lee's long lost twin brother who fell into a time warp, despite all the evidence to the contrary

Seriously, we post way too many things that are way to similar....No worries.

So for the rawhide shield strips, how long and how wide do they need to be? I have a supplier of the rawhide, I can get it in the full hides, but haven't worked with it yet.

Frank

Personally, i would LOVE to see a leather cuirass from you (maybe something a little more Celtic hint hint wink wink nudge nudge). I know you stock breastplates but a front and back kind of set that worked with the already amazing legs and arms you make. I'm already saving up for a set of legs and a c-belt from you (pennies at a time but saving still) but I would be thrilled to have a choice of body armor!....


and maybe leather sabatons... just to ya know cover my totally period safe step boots...

Gorgets maybe?

VikingLeather wrote:So for the rawhide shield strips, how long and how wide do they need to be? I have a supplier of the rawhide, I can get it in the full hides, but haven't worked with it yet.

Frank

Perhaps you could sell it by the linear inch?

(I'm not sure how wide)

Actually, a couple things for the "little details" I'd like to do:

(1) Strap end plates/caps. A simple "U" that would go over the end of the strap to make it look a little more "upscale". Kind of like this:



Except without the buckle, and plain/undecorated, and as wide as the strap is. An option to buy just the ends, or an option to buy straps with them already on, would be nice. My straps are fine, so I'd like to just add the ends, but for people replacing both getting straps with the ends already on would be convenient.

Or something with a tapered end like these (without the point) - https://www.quietpress.com/Images/b29.JPG

(2) Bulk rate for fancy rivet rosettes / washers. Like these:

https://www.quietpress.com/Images4/RH-1W.JPG
https://www.quietpress.com/Images4/RH-2W.JPG
https://www.quietpress.com/Images4/RH-3.JPG
https://www.quietpress.com/Images4/RH-4.JPG

Shamelessly using images from Raymond's quiet press. $1 each for the decorative washers seems high; I've seen 8 packs for upholstery for $1 (for but they're the wrong size for armor.

The strap ends linked above are for 1" belts, and not sized for armor straps (3/8" or 1/2").

Not sure who else would be interested in those, but, tossing it out there.

Turkish or Persian boots would be nice for my persona. I know a few others that are looking for something along those lines as well.

Actual period correct generic Medieval-early 17th century brass and pewter or TIN buttons would be amazing. Very few people are selling them in the US. Also nice would be inexpensive points for clothing (cords with metal aiglets or chapes on either end). Same thing- almost no one is making them, yet there's a crazy need for them for all kinds of kits that span many centuries. Odds and ends never hurt either- bone or wood spoons with a period-correct shape would be fantastic. They're around, but at about three to four times the price you can find later styled ones for at Rendezvouz events.