Those new rubber basket hilts...

hjalmr · Post by **hjalmr** » Tue Oct 29, 2002 11:35 am

...are now legal in Meridies.

They will be announcing the news soon, if not already, with some changes to they way they must be made -which means we may not see anymore of them.

Supposedly, the maker will have to put a date on the hilt (signifying when it was made) and they will only be legal for 2 years. The process which with they are made has to be modified a bit, and the SCA is trying to get the maker to lower the price due to the expiration date.

I just though that those of you with these hilts would like to know, if you didn't know this already. So use em if you got'em -you've got 2 years till you have to buy another one....

(^_^)
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Kenric de la Terre
Squire to Duke Sir John The Bearkiller
Barony of Grey Niche

[This message has been edited by hjalmr (edited 10-29-2002).]

Vermin · Post by **Vermin** » Tue Oct 29, 2002 11:51 am

No sympathy here.
Buy cheap and ugly, you get what you pay for.

VvS

Captain Jamie · Post by **Captain Jamie** » Tue Oct 29, 2002 11:55 am

Hjalmr- What are the deficiencies in the original and why would there need to be an expiration on any new ones? What business does the SCA have in setting prices for a merchants goods?

------------------
Captain Jamie-a marvellous valorous gentleman, that is certain
Failure is the price of knowledge
Changing the face of warfare one weapon at a time

hjalmr · Post by **hjalmr** » Tue Oct 29, 2002 12:19 pm

hjalmr <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Captain Jamie:
Hjalmr- What are the deficiencies in the original and why would there need to be an expiration on any new ones? What business does the SCA have in setting prices for a merchants goods?

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

The SCA wants the maker to add more of the "sun protecting" addative that he is currently using. The original hilts are supposedly weakened considerably by sunlight, kinda like fiberglass spears.

The SCA has no authority to make the maker sell them at a cheaper price, they are just asking.

I have heard rumors about how these baskethilts are unsafe. Several people have sustained hand injuries through the hilt and armor (hockey gloves, and demi gauntlets) because the hilts supposedly get soft over time -hench the 2 year rule.

Everything that I am stating is hear say and I am not an authority on this matter. I was told by several members of the chivilry, a few marshals, and a BOD member about the above. I just wanted to pass along what I have heard and see what anyone else is hearing. I personally hate these basket hilts, as well as all other basket hilts.
I just wanted to let my fellow AA members know about the situation as it unfolds...

(^_^)
-------------
Kenric de la Terre
Squire to Duke Sir John The Bearkiller
Barony of Grey Niche

losthelm · Post by **losthelm** » Tue Oct 29, 2002 2:16 pm

I have sceen simmalur decay in some plastic body armour. instead of being abs it acts more like a cheep plastick lawn chair. usualy acompanyed by what would look like termite trails on the surface.

Xanthier · Post by **Xanthier** » Tue Oct 29, 2002 2:38 pm

Stupid question..

Are these different from the plastic ones? (heard there were two.. one rubber, one plastic).

Like the ones that GAA sells for example.

Paladin · Post by **Paladin** » Tue Oct 29, 2002 11:58 pm

I think I may have seen one at the last war, kind of a large molded semi flexible plastic. You can squish it quite a bit just by hand. My concern would be the back of the hand area which seemed would bottom out on the back of the hand under a forceful blow. The hilt I inspected was brand new.

I could not really figure out why someone would want to use one, perhaps weight, but they are big, ugly, and rather clumsy. I would think a more compact aluminum guard would serve better. Perhaps they are dirt cheap, usually the reason people use for using plastic and other ugly materials/items.

Pheylin Quinn · Post by **Pheylin Quinn** » Wed Oct 30, 2002 12:31 pm

The hilts in question are produced by Duke Baldar out of Trimaris. The same person who makes the "Baldar blunts".

They are sold through a couple of sources. One of which is Master Geoffrey. I know that Bokalo had some a while back, also.

As for the price, I mark mine up just enough to make a slight profit. While I do not like the looks of them, they are functional and light weight. Puts more weight to the tip of your sword.

Personally, I do not think that they look any worse than some of the aluminum or steel baskethilts.

Samuel · Post by **Samuel** » Wed Oct 30, 2002 6:46 pm

As one of the biggest "plastic sucks" picketers and president of the southernchapter of "hells angels dont wear plastic" I traded a rubber rathbone axe for one of these hilts...

Ive been using it on my estoc for a while now and having put some decor on it ( brass fluer) it looks vaguely like the really old heavy leather waxed hilts of yesteryear.. holding it next to my bar stock basket makes me feel bad because it actually looks better than my 11 year old bar stock basket.... as for it being soft and flexible bah humbug.. you shouldnt block with the back of your hand anyhow:-)

just from my perspective if you take such shitty care of your things to leave them in the sun by storing them outside or throwing them about the ground at events they should fall apart. IMO this is not due to faulty manufactor its due to your lack of maintenance.. just like spears if your breaks cause you left it in the sun.... you should not have a spear ...