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[norbs]

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?

[tim2000s]

I'm pretty sure he is still doing BTBlades.

[Red Ink Cricket]

I'm pretty sure he is still doing BTBlades.

arent his tk pressed/handled though? again probably another false rumour ive heard.

[Ciaran]

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.

[Six Sixes Cricket]

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! 

PS Max Recoil is still making me smile!!!

Does JM have a press?

[Kulli]

Does JM have a press?

Seemingly not.

[procricket]

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

[Steveo1000]

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.

[RossViper]

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?

[Ayrtek Cricket]

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

[Blank Bats]

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

[fatbats]

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

[hell4leather cricket]

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?

[Ayrtek Cricket]

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

[tim2000s]

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.