Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Equipment => Bats => Bat Making => Topic started by: norbs on January 24, 2013, 10:47:01 PM
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Name the UK bat makers......
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Salix, H4L, SAF, Redback, Nixon, Warsop, Vulcan, Rob Pack, Aldred, Fat Bats, Red Ink, Kelsall.
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Name the UK bat makers......
All of them? Every bat maker in the UK or all the main ones?
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Do you mean the people or the brands? ???
Ever get the feeling that this forum is sometimes a bit like a Monty Python film? An African Swallow or a European Swallow?
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Andrew Kember!
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John of woodstock
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Do you mean the people or the brands? ???
Guys that make them not sticker them!!!!
Or state they sticker them... if you can on CBF and they can defend themselves
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John of woodstock
Hmm...
Charlie French
John Gasson
Alexander Hohenkerk
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Make them to what level? Complete?
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Make them to what level? Complete?
They can make them from start to finish....
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Not many then. If only I had a press!
You
Nixon
Matt
keiron from heritage
Dan chase
Tk/ his cnc/ workshop
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Hmm...
Charlie French
John Gasson
Alexander Hohenkerk
I should know this but John is he GN as well?
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Gary Sanford at choice
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Gary from Choice Cricket - beaten to it eh!
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Not many then. If only I had a press!
Your bats are excellent... it takse time to build up all your tooling and you podshave with real tools so you can be in the list.... Keep up the great work
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Andrew Kember
Alex Hohenkerk
Christopher King
Tim Keeley
Paul Aldred
Tony Cook
Andy (SAF)
Matt (H4L)
Gary@Redback
Dan@Chase
Rob Pack
Charlie French
Dan Nichols
Rob Chambers
Nick Nixon
Marcus Charman
Kieron at Heritage
Nick Taylor
(Someone at Kippax and also at Shark)
Off the top of my head, definition being, "Capable of making a cricket bat start to finish".
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John of woodstock
?
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Are we sure all of those press themselves?
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I believe John Gasson (sp?) is GN's head batmaker - I'm sure thebigginge can confirm though
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Andrew Kember
Alex Hohenkerk
Christopher King
Tim Keeley
Paul Aldred
Tony Cook
Andy (SAF)
Matt (H4L)
Gary@Redback
Dan@Chase
Rob Pack
Charlie French
Dan Nichols
Rob Chambers
Nick Nixon
Marcus Charman
Off the top of my head.
I'd disagree Tim
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John of woodstock
I'm afraid to say when I visited John there was only a couple of clefts the rest where package up, and looked similar to TK bats, I know the one I had was a tk. If it was a part made that he' shaped, or a bat straight from him I'm not sure.
Plus he tells a good story that his cleft is still down in his workshop at his old home, I got the bad around this time last year, and visited in September with a friend to get some softs, still hasnt't got his press there.
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I believe John Gasson (sp?) is GN's head batmaker - I'm sure thebigginge can confirm though
Yep got him on the radar... I should know but god damn it GN are lying low on the UK made front
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What!? i cant remember his last name... im bad with names ok!! DONT JUDGE ME! haha
john from Woodstock
I'm afraid to say when I visited John there was only a couple of clefts the rest where package up, and looked similar to TK bats, I know the one I had was a tk. If it was a part made that he' shaped, or a bat straight from him I'm not sure.
Plus he tells a good story that his cleft is still down in his workshop at his old home, I got the bad around this time last year, and visited in September with a friend to get some softs, still hasnt't got his press there.
i visited not long ago and there where loads of clefts there!
with woodstock being my sponsor ive been there, and seen every thing and he has shown us everything
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Wasn't 'John of Woodstock' out of Robin Hood?
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I'm afraid to say when I visited John there was only a couple of clefts the rest where package up, and looked similar to TK bats, I know the one I had was a tk. If it was a part made that he' shaped, or a bat straight from him I'm not sure.
Plus he tells a good story that his cleft is still down in his workshop at his old home, I got the bad around this time last year, and visited in September with a friend to get some softs, still hasnt't got his press there.
Having dealt with him I don't believe he has one or didn't then. He talks it up as having one but the clefts I got from him were def cnc'd shouldered and looked very tk ish.We're pretty average clefts too. Sent them back and didn't try again. May have changed though
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Why don't you tell us Norbs? ;)
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Wasn't 'John of Woodstock' out of Robin Hood?
OII!! dont mock me... soooo not fair :$ Im sorry oke! hahaaha
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Chris Kippax.
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I'd disagree Tim
Could they make a bat start to finish? I think they could? Do they make a bat start to finish? That's not for me to say.
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What!? i cant remember his last name... im bad with names ok!! DONT JUDGE ME! haha
john from Woodstock
i visited not long ago and there where loads of clefts there!
with woodstock being my sponsor ive been there, and seen every thing and he has shown us everything
He hasn't got a press. Unless he's bought one since I've been up there. I know there are clefts about, there was a few when I was there. He's a genuinely nice bloke.
His last name is Newsome I think
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Having dealt with him I don't believe he has one or didn't then. He talks it up as having one but the clefts I got from him were def cnc'd shouldered and looked very tk ish.We're pretty average clefts too. Sent them back and didn't try again. May have changed though
I was there late September and as I said, no press there. I don't think it's changed.
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Could they make a bat start to finish? I think they could? Do they make a bat start to finish? That's not for me to say.
So your saying could make a bat if they had access to the necessary tools etc but do they have access your not saying. In that case you could add a few names in there.
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Andrew Kember
Alex Hohenkerk
Christopher King
Tim Keeley
Paul Aldred
Tony Cook
Andy (SAF)
Matt (H4L)
Gary@Redback
Dan@Chase
Rob Pack
Charlie French
Dan Nichols
Rob Chambers
Nick Nixon
Marcus Charman
Kieron at Heritage
Nick Taylor
Off the top of my head, definition being, "Capable of making a cricket bat start to finish".
Hell of list who would you have some make a bat for you on the list?
Tim / Andrew K / Matt / Paul / Dan / Nick / Alex / Gary
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So your saying could make a bat if they had access to the necessary tools etc but do they have access your not saying. In that case you could add a few names in there.
Do they have access? I don't necessarily know!
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Hell of list who would you have some make a bat for you on the list?
Tim / Andrew K / Matt / Paul / Dan / Nick / Alex / Gary
Any of them assuming I could go direct to them. They all know more than I do! Does this mean we are in a good place Re: batmaking skills in this country? How does this compare with 20 years ago? Less? More?
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Hell of list who would you have some make a bat for you on the list?
Tim / Andrew K / Matt / Paul / Dan / Nick / Alex / Gary
Made bats for me:
Tim Keeley
Tony Cook
Andy (SAF)
Kieran Harris at Heritage
Nick Taylor
Had bats from but not necessarily made for me:
Andrew Kember
Matt (H4L)
Gary@Redback
Dan@Chase
Would have a bat from:
Alex Hohenkerk
Christopher King
Gary@Redback
Rob Pack
Charlie French
Dan Nichols
Nick Nixon
Marcus Charman
Mr Hawk
Martin Berrill
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if you are looking at people that make bats from start to finish including pressing?
i bet there are only about 5-6 people on the list
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If that
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Tim, excuse my ignorance but who is Tony Cook? Not a name I have heard before?
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^ Hunts
Who's Nick Taylor?
And does Heritage do the whole shebang?
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He was in Duran Duran mate!
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if you are looking at people that make bats from start to finish including pressing?
i bet there are only about 5-6 people on the list
That's my point. What's the question? These guys all can make bats from start to finish. Do they currently? Probably not.
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^ Hunts
Who's Nick Taylor?
And does Heritage do the whole shebang?
When you talk to him, he claims to.
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i know Ryan is now doing everything apart from pressing his wood...
full slab of wood so id add him to the list
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Hell of list who would you have some make a bat for you on the list?
Tim / Andrew K / Matt / Paul / Dan / Nick / Alex / Gary
Sorry I should say who'd I like to make a bat for me...
If I'd have choose out of all of them, Nick Nixon! Unassuming bat maker that seems to let everyone do what they do and still does a cracking job himself
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Without any specifics to the original rather ambiguous question the list could be made quite lengthy, if however its only made up of the start-finish process them it will be more than halved
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Keiron I believe does have a press which he designed himself. He used to play at my club. I've not seen it but knowing him have no reason to doubt him
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Without any specifics to the original rather ambiguous question the list could be made quite lengthy, if however its only made up of the start-finish process them it will be more than halved
Yes, and I did put my list in context of people that could, but may not necessarily be.
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Without any specifics to the original rather ambiguous question the list could be made quite lengthy, if however its only made up of the start-finish process them it will be more than halved
Genuine Questions - Name the UK bat makers
It isnt ambigous at all...
Name who you think is bat maker in the UK?
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Keiron I believe does have a press which he designed himself. He used to play at my club. I've not seen it but knowing him have no reason to doubt him
Keiron makes bats for Jamie Oliver!
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Maybe easier to say which of these have a press in their own Worksop and uses it ?
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Keiron makes bats for Jamie Oliver!
I know!!!
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Had a chat with gary over in guernsey the other day who doing some too so I'm sure there are others that could be added to the list
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Maybe easier to say which of these have a press in their own Worksop and uses it ?
Nope that isnt the point.....
Name who you think is bat maker in the UK?
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Had a chat with gary over in guernsey the other day who doing some too so I'm sure there are others that could be added to the list
I like him he seems really keen
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Always an interesting question, but does come back to, I could purchase a cleft and handle, and shape a bat. I don't have a press, so I would have to take it to someone to use theirs. I have the tools required and I have shaped something (badly). Am I a batmaker? In it's rawest sense, well yes, but a very amateur one. Would anyone want me to make a bat for them, no! There are a few of those on here... The best bat I have made was pressed by Matt H4L and everyone who has used it loves it. What does this tell me?
Anyone can make a club but it's hard to press a bat well!
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I think I know who presses their own bats and its not many from that list.
They can all make a bat though.
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Tim the question was a leading one yes.... but we argued over the small bat makers
No one mentioned GM and I didnt know the GN bat makers apart from the big Ging!!!!
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does it really matter?
most people buy bats for the shiny stickers.
even on here.
using blank bats as an example, how much better do their bats look with the embossed chrome action..
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Yes, but who on the list fells the willow and cuts it into rounds and then splits it into clefts? Because if they don't do that, then they don't make the WHOLE bat...
:D :P
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I think I know who presses their own bats and its not many from that list.
They can all make a bat though.
I'll leave that one alone
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Bearing in mind that whether they have a press or whether they buy in pressed and handled clefts is irrelevant in this question then surely the answer is every maker who is based in the UK is a UK batmaker??
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Yes, but who on the list fells the willow and cuts it into rounds and then splits it into clefts? Because if they don't do that, then they don't make the WHOLE bat...
:D :P
Matt H4l / Tim K and is Kippax on there they do it as well!!!
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Tim the question was a leading one yes.... but we argued over the small bat makers
No one mentioned GM and I didnt know the GN bat makers apart from the big Ging!!!!
No-one knows who the batmakers are at GM, as most of us on the forum don't consider programming a CNC to be require the same level of knowledge of bats as someone using a drawknife, however, we probably should and we should include David Bacon if we are going to look at it that way, even if the tool they use is not traditional...
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Yes, but who on the list fells the willow and cuts it into rounds and then splits it into clefts? Because if they don't do that, then they don't make the WHOLE bat...
:D :P
TK
Kippax...
end of thread
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Matt H4l / Tim K and is Kippax on there they do it as well!!!
Pretty sure Tim K isn't cutting down trees and making clefts... GN are though.
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Tims place is on a saw mill owned by his dad so I'd think they do a far bit
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Tony Sains from Warsop made one of the best performing bats ive ever owned.
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(Someone at Kippax and also at Shark)
I do not believe Shark have the capabilities to make a bat from start to finish.
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kippax dont cut the trees down either! that's what proper felling companys/tree surjeons are for!
but they do look after the trees and transfer the tree into logs then cut the logs into clefts etc
it looks an absolute ball ache to me!
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I do not believe Shark have the capabilities to make a bat from start to finish.
really? i thought dan Nichols was making there bats?
pretty sure shark where open about it?
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Pretty sure Tim K isn't cutting down trees and making clefts... GN are though.
Yep he is
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Mike Hawk from Hawk in Worcester definately make their own bats.
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This thread is epic. Talking about the thing we all love!
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Is Dan in Oz, ex Vantage chap right?
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I stand corrected on Tim and Trees. Forgot about Warsop!
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Is Dan in Oz, ex Vantage chap right?
Dan still makes the bats for Vantage.
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Good point Tim, Tony @Warsop the most ignored bat maker in the UK maybe?
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Yep he is
A skilled woodsman all round then!
To take it a step further and complete the process - does anyone grow their own trees?
Kippax must do, don't GN have some of their own willow aswell?
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Good point Tim, Tony @Warsop the most ignored bat maker in the UK maye?
Yes, very much the case!
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Dan still makes the bats for Vantage.
Cool that's great news. I honestly thought Dan as in Oz
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Kippax must do, don't GN have some of their own willow aswell?
Kippax, H4L and GN definitely do. Not sure about others. I was reading a website earlier today where a batmaker was talking about growing their own, but can't remember who it was.
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Kippax, H4L and GN definitely do. Not sure about others. I was reading a website earlier today where a batmaker was talking about growing their own, but can't remember who it was.
i hope it wasnt me :o
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Gents I am going to have to leave you for this evening....
Thanks most enjoyable thread discussion for a while for me
No harm meant and no harm done I hope.... The greats are still great and we still trying to get there!
Night all!!!!
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Gents I am going to have to leave you for this evening....
Thanks most enjoyable thread discussion for a while for me
No harm meant and no harm done I hope.... The greats are still great and we still trying to get there!
Night all!!!!
goodnight
enjoy the hangover :)
Mike
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goodnight
enjoy the hangover :)
Mike
Hangover on a school night !!!!!
Do you think I'm from Blank bats or something :D
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There are only to my knowledge only 2 self sufficient uk companies that grow/source/cut/make there own bats and don't buy willow from any other source , what a great business model to have and position to be in.
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There are only to my knowledge only 2 self sufficient uk companies that grow/source/cut/make there own bats and don't buy willow from any other source , what a great business model to have and position to be in.
expensive outlay tho Matt ..
and a lot of experience required i think. i am sure a lot of people would love to be in that position
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Kevin Stimpson
Me? :p
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Gary at Reback makes his bars from start to finish and presses his own clefts!!
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How many of the mentioned bat makers have their own press ?
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Norbs - no mention of 'Max Recoil'! Didn't he handmake everything?
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Gary at Reback makes his bars from start to finish and presses his own clefts!!
if u say so
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if u say so
i heard a rumour they were from a certain bat maker and gary then finished them. again this is just something i heard and may not be factually correct.
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I'm pretty sure Paul Aldred has a press.
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I'm pretty sure Paul Aldred has a press.
I thought he shared Charlie French's press?
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Paul has a press and so does Gary - Max Recoil doesnt have a press
This wasnt an outing exercise it was a question to find out who makes.... After listening in to JM do an interview on the radio he said there were around 10-12 genuine podhshavers left in the world [I think I got the number right]
We came up with a few just for the UK! :o
PS Max Recoil is still making me smile!!!
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Max recoil sounds like a 'super bat maker, the likes we will never see on this planet ever again'
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i heard a rumour they were from a certain bat maker and gary then finished them. again this is just something i heard and may not be factually correct.
i spoke to a batmaker a while back that said that, although I'm sure that was only when he was setting up/ finding his feet. I'm sure he does everything now.
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The Evil Dark Lord is responsible for an aweful lot of rumours thay have become "fact" on this forum. Not all of them are close to being true.
I really think Max Recoil needs a spot in the bat makers shed.
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Max Recoil was a legend on CSF - he invented a wonder handle as well!
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Matt Cooksey - HCB
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Matt Cooksey - HCB
Sabre to the rest of us.
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Is Staxx still going?
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Dunno, but David Banks of STAC is one we forgot about!
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Dunno, but David Banks of STAC is one we forgot about!
Thats him Tim another norbs typo!
Ben Thane anyone know about him, is he still going?
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I'm pretty sure he is still doing BTBlades.
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I'm pretty sure he is still doing BTBlades.
arent his tk pressed/handled though? again probably another false rumour ive heard.
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Does it stop you being a bat maker if you buy handled / pressed bats?
Obviously you lose a little of the control aspect, but people still seem to turn out some great bats after.
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Paul has a press and so does Gary - Max Recoil doesnt have a press
This wasnt an outing exercise it was a question to find out who makes.... After listening in to JM do an interview on the radio he said there were around 10-12 genuine podhshavers left in the world [I think I got the number right]
We came up with a few just for the UK! :o
PS Max Recoil is still making me smile!!!
Does JM have a press?
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Does JM have a press?
Seemingly not.
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Dan Swaine does it all himself
I think Chris Leaf as well is a pod shaver.
Company's wise not bloody many
Love how many say tk made
Did he really make your bat
Millichamp gets them in form india
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Ben Thane plays for Hook and Newham in the Southern Electric prem league I think. Didn't realise he made bats. If its the same person that is.
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Has anyone mentioned Gunn and More, I think they still make a lot of bats in the UK no?
what about Solitaire and Black Cat? Does black cat grow his owe willow?
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Lots of smoke and mirrors goes on, I don't see what the shame is in not pressing ur own bats and admitting it.
GM haven't popped up but they do the whole process obviously.
People can have their own tree's but no press or have a press but no tree's. As the end consumer who uses the product as long as it does what I want it to when parting with the money to buy it then thats all that matters to me.
There are some skilled craftsmen out there that are keeping the craft of making a bat alive :)
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Lots of smoke and mirrors goes on, I don't see what the shame is in not pressing ur own bats and admitting it.
GM haven't popped up but they do the whole process obviously.
People can have their own tree's but no press or have a press but no tree's. As the end consumer who uses the product as long as it does what I want it to when parting with the money to buy it then thats all that matters to me.
There are some skilled craftsmen out there that are keeping the craft of making a bat alive :)
Well said young man :)
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It's all down to perception as anyone that can go from a cleft (whether handled and pressed or not) and make a nicely finished balanced bat is a bat maker in my book as if you look at it like a butcher persay if you can cut your a butcher but to be a master butcher you have to be able to
Buy
Kill
Cut
Sell
Very few if any do all that now but having the ability is the thing
So for me to be a true pod shaver you would have to have the ability to
Plant
Care for
Fell
Press
Handle
Shape
Finish
Balance
So it's all down to what you perceive but everyone will have an opinion as no industry standard in cricket as far as I know but with a butcher you have to have those 4 skills to be classed as a master butcher
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Might sound a basic question but how many owners of companies would actually know the difference or be able to spot a cricket bat willow?
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I do well to spot a bat let along tell what's needed to make one from, could be shaving down the infamous Canadian willow for all I'd know.
Carbon fibre on the other hand, I know what that looks like :)
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So for me to be a true pod shaver you would have to have the ability to
Plant
Care for
Fell
Recognise a Salix Alba Caerulea tree
Cleft
Dry
Press
Handle
Shape
Finish
Balance
Don't think you need to be a Horticulturist to be a Master Podshaver, but you do need to know about splitting a round and drying it.
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Like I said different perceptions but to me knowing the full range of info doesn't mean they have to do it all just that they have the knowledge and ability as a few makers have ability to do most of that but choose not to as more cost effective
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Has anyone mentioned Gunn and More, I think they still make a lot of bats in the UK no?
I did mention a couple of pages ago if you look, kev is one of the best around in my opinion
I am being taught everything and I mean everything about making bats and there are a few more in the factory that can make/finish bats but I would class Kev as a podshaver
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With the questions around who the best pod shaver around is, I thought I would bump this - not least because Perkins has mentioned the name of the GM Master Craftsman - Kevin Stimpson
http://www.gm-cricket.com/community/news/2012/8/24/the-futures-great-with-gunn-and-moore.aspx (http://www.gm-cricket.com/community/news/2012/8/24/the-futures-great-with-gunn-and-moore.aspx)
nice pic James..!
(http://www.gm-cricket.com/upload/blog/posts/mainimages/nb47.jpg)
Brucie - just for you Chris King is the Master Craftsman at GN.
This is a terribly UK centric thread and there are a few guys who can make a bat outside the UK. ;)
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I thought Stuart Kranzbuhler was rated highly?
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He is, not many brands I haven't seen and tried and he is the standout for me. He is making me one at the moment, I will stick some pics up when it arrives.
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With the questions around who the best pod shaver around is, I thought I would bump this - not least because Perkins has mentioned the name of the GM Master Craftsman - Kevin Stimpson
[url]http://www.gm-cricket.com/community/news/2012/8/24/the-futures-great-with-gunn-and-moore.aspx[/url] ([url]http://www.gm-cricket.com/community/news/2012/8/24/the-futures-great-with-gunn-and-moore.aspx[/url])
nice pic James..!
([url]http://www.gm-cricket.com/upload/blog/posts/mainimages/nb47.jpg[/url])
ah the memories! cheers buzz that mist be 2 years ago?
I have said it before but Kev is very underrated as he doesn't like attention but he is celebrating 40 years this year and has made bats for some of the true greats in the sport.
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I suppose a pod shaver shaves pods and a bat maker makes bats. I doubt anyone does it how they used to do it because the process has changed along with the tools.
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Just reading this thread, I am now living in Aus and still making bats. ive been teaching a mate of mine which can be found by searching for DNB on facebook.... and yes we have a press.