Auction Gorget and attached pauldrons

[Tatsuo Okami]

This is my first auction on the Archive. This actually the first step of my armoury back into full time. Please visit the website to see the steps that had to be fulfilled for this to happen.

Item up for auction: Brig gorget in designated color, of appropriate size, with attached Alwhyte style Pauldrons, in either Stainless steel with full polish or (6061 T-6 .080 Thick) aluminum with "Quick Polish".
The reserve price (starting Bid) is $200.

[Tatsuo Okami]

Here is a view of the effect achieved with proper mounting
Gorgets are Made from 3-4 Oz leather over .080 6061 T-6.
Interior Circumference >Front Collar Heighth As follows:
XL: 22 1/2" >2"1/4. L: 21" >2". M: 19" >2". S: 17" >1"7/8. XS: 15 >1"3/4.
Colors Available are: Black, Kelly green, Varangian Red, Light Grey, Navy Blue, Oxblood, Buff, And Cocolate.
Pauldrons are: 16 Ga spaulder With 18 Ga lames for the SS; and 6061 T-6 .080 for the Aluminum

[Tatsuo Okami]

Ok... If no one has any interest in this auction I guess I will pull it

Just curious:
Price too High?
Not good enough to bid on?
The fact that it would be for an item not completely finished yet?
Or Just Right Place /Wrong Time... ?????

[brucer]

To answer your questions:

Price too High?

- a little- I can get a nice brig gorget for $75.00 from several vendors. Same with paldrons- $60-85 for alum or stainless.

Not good enough to bid on?-

no, your stuff looks good. no complaints there, just see price issues above. Remember, if you start an auction, that's different from a "buy it now" If I were wanting to move my stuff out there, I might start bidding @ $100 and set a reserve of $150 just to get some stuff out there and have people write reviews.

I would also put it on e(vil)bay- you might get your $200 there, or not...

The fact that it would be for an item not completely finished yet?

- that is part, I don't know you from Adam, and I am less likely to commission stuff from somebody I don't know - no offence meant.

Or Just Right Place /Wrong Time... ?????

And that is part too- you can have the best 13th, 14th, 15th, 10th century stuff in the world, but if nobody is looking for that at the moment, it won't sell.

Don't be discouraged, just keep plugging away and offer stuff as it comes available and if it doesn't sell, put it on ebay.

best of luck, and keep hammering.

Brucer

[InsaneIrish]

pretty much what Brucer said.


I also went to you site. Now, you must charge what you feel your time is worth. But from what I have seen of your competitors, $200 for a pair of simple spaulders is a bit much. May I suggest you look around on the net at your competitors products and see what they charge.

Your work looks good though.

[brucer]

Ok, curiosity got the better of me. I went out to your website to take a look at your other offerings just like Irish did.

located here:[/url] http://www.ironriver.arador.com/stock.html

I am confused

You are offering what looks like really NICE mitten gauntlets (nice shape and lines, looks like solid construction) for $150 with steel cuffs and $170 w/Leather cuffs. WTF? Steel construction usually cost more than leather, those should be reversed. Regardless, your pricing is low for what you appear to be offering. You could easily get 175-200 for good gauntlets with a period style.

BTW, I can't see the thumb construction on either set, and a good thumb is a make it or break it feature for gauntlets. (having unbroken opposable thumbs is only reason we are not all eaten by our housecats )

You are offering shields at very reasonable prices-in line or below what others are selling for.

Your flat-top bar-grill barrel helms made me smile and reminisce about 1985. $100 w/shipping is probably a little high, there's not a lot of call for those hats here on the AA - but you can probably get that out of one on e(vil)bay.

Your paldron prices are just way out of line. Most of us here know one of the easiest starter pieces you give a new fighter/armourer are paldrons/spaulders. Your competition is offering equivilent or nicer pieces for well less than half the cost. (nothing wrong with yours, there are just a lot of talented metalworkers out there doing the same thing) I'd be suprised if you move these at all at that price. The greenwich spaulders are nice, but I have bought and sold nicer for less than 125.00 on ebay.

Your lamellar harnesses strike me as huge bargain. I don't do early period, but I do know what it costs for the pieces to do one of these, and 400 for the full set w/shoulders (don't know what you call them, I know it's not spaulders or paldrons) and 200 for the set w/o are great prices. Somebody here ought to buy them.

In short- I would not be discouraged at the lack of response on the gorget and paldrons. I WOULD take some time and check out your competition and their pricing - folks that make their living at it like IceFalcon, James River Armory, Knights Armory, Stonekeep, Mad Matts, etc... (don't mean to leave anyone off, those are the ones that come to mind first) Then figure out what your margins are and start selling.

I look forward to seeing more of your stuff here.

Brucer

[Tatsuo Okami]

Speaking of BTW's..
PLEASE Realize the website is HORRIBLY out of date and I have not been able to get the person "Servicing" it to update it. (I'm getting a new one today or tomorrow.

NOTHING (as per specific Pieces) on that web page is for sale any longer.

A much better view of pieces I've done and will do for stock or order is my picture page. Listed in my profile under "Interests": http://community.webshots.com/user/ironriver
There should be pix of the thumbs there. I don't mount them to the Gauntlet proper because: both, I feel they "wear" better sewn to the glove and if they are going to be mounted to the gauntlet it needs to be done for each individual's hand.
As to the price difference... Leather costs more per square inch... Plus to mount the steel cuffs takes a slight edge roll on both cuff and metacarpal plate (Hand) <easier>... to mount the leather cuffs (Properly IMO) I need to turn a half inch lip almost 90 to line it up with the cuff for riveting.
And I do get 200 a pair for My Articulated wrist gauntlets (henry 8th cuff MS) 400 for polished Stainless Steel . On a regular basis. More for Gothic style (Scallops and Flutes).
The Lamallar harness was a matter of: I got it... ; I want to get a quick sale to start things off. So I priced quite low for the work and material. Now I just sell lamae and let people lace their own.

As to the Stated prices you "can get pauldrons and gorgets for "...
I would love to find out where your shopping.

I checked every armourer you listed and ebay and couldnt find ANY pauldrons to match the quality( listed Alum type,& 16Ga Cop/ 18Ga lames for SS) and coverage in that price range. Stone keep has some GREAT prices for thier Stainless Shoulders... But from what I see they neither have the coverage mine do or the type of fit that would let you reach up and put your hand behind your neck with the shoulder still being protected to the front and back. (See the third pic on the second Post)
As far as Brig gorgets.... again: for level of protection and quality of construction;..... The only one I found that comes close is Icefalcon who sells his for $125.
I wont even mention the armourers that dont do any thing remotely similar that charge differently from me.
I mean, if you want to quote comparisons, lets talk apples to apples ; oranges to oranges.

That Said...

Thanks for responding. and giving me your opinions Brucer (you too Irish)

Some notes. I do the Alwhyte style in MS for 100 and the Greenwich for 150 in MS(Sans Rolled edges thru out). 50% extra for Stainless (or non dished Aluminum) 100% extra for dished aluminum, and 50% extra for full polish... the first and last were industry standards for most of the years I was doing full time professional armouring.

[audax]

I bought a brig gorget for $50 from a James River Armory ebay auction about 5 months ago. Looks just like yours. Willing Pell sells spaulders all the time on here for about $75. Mad Matt sells spaulders for $55 a pair in mild. His mild gorget is $25. Just a couple examples from the AA.

[brucer]

TO,

I don't mean for you to take offense - none is meant. I just clicked on the WWW link here on the AA and so it took me to that page, my psychic powers are on the blink at the moment so I didn't find the other page till you helpfully brought it to my attention.

You make some mighty nice stuff. I like your gauntlets. If I didn't have 5 pair already... Seeing a full body of work gives me a much better idea of what you can do.

You asked me where I shop - some on ebay, a lot here on the AA - I've built a lot of armour over the years, commissioned a fair amount and bought a LOT the last few years - here are a few examples of the pricing I've found.

http://www.jamesriverarmoury.com/GORGETS.HTM - $60
http://www.jamesriverarmoury.com/SHOULDERS.HTM $65-90
http://www.geocities.com/madmattsarmory/ - paldrons - $75
http://www.windrosearmoury.com/zc/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_7&products_id=69 - Gorget -$95
http://www.windrosearmoury.com/zc/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_7&products_id=228 -Gorget - $75
Windrose seems to be in line on your Alwhyte paldrons - but I like yours better.
http://www.whitebatarmory.com/ - Paldrons $45 & up, no brig gorget, but great late period plate gorget - $120
http://www.anshelmarms.com/gorgets.html - $75
http://www.truehearth.com/index.html - gorget - $45 - paldrons $65-100

Etc, etc...

I am NOT running you down- just answering your query "where do I shop". I believe in diversity in the marketplace- it keeps prices down and gives lots of choices.

As Master Trevarr of Steelholm always told me "If every man liked the same thing, that would be one tired gal"

I'm looking forward to seeing more of your stuff out there in production. I might even buy some next time I'm in the market. (first I have to sell some of the ever growing pile of my own I don't wanna, but I don't have any more space- I'm almost as bad as Murdock, I just try to keep my addiction secret " Hi, my name is Bruce and I'm an armorholic... ":oops: )

Brucer

[Bruksbear]

Tatsuo,from what I've seen here on the AA,the majority seems to be snatching up the munition grade stuff like hotcakes.The quality/price of your armour would go to a smaller market.Stonekeep is selling armor like kettle corn at the county fair.You might try a few munition grade pieces with your flair,to hit a broader market.Or,keep plugging the good stuff,your bound to get some takers,its good stuff.