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[Tom]

Are there any companies that handmake all of their bats in England still? From basic cleft to final finished bats.

Every day I seem to hear about a company moving production abroad or insourcing part mades/machine mades.

[SillyShilly]

this was being discussed the other day in a similar topic - there seemed to be a growing consensus that fewer and fewer companies are handmaking the entire bat.
 However, from a business point of view, it makes sense as it increases profits and there seem to be very few regulations surrounding the classification of 'handmade', so many companies are able to pass off bats as handmade when in truth they are not. It would be interesting if we could compile a list of batmakers who, truthfully, craft the entire bat.....

[Tom]

It would be a very short list, I'd be very suprised if it was more than 5.

Hawk?
Hell4Leather?
Fusion (exc. Skyer)?

Even those 3 I'm not sure on!

[SillyShilly]

Redback??
SAF?
CE?
Talisman?
Charlie French?

[Tom]

Most of those on that list shape part mades. Which isn't an easy job at all and makes little difference (I used to do it too) just interested as to whom shapes completely.

CF may be one who makes them completely.

[SillyShilly]

fair enough - i wouldnt know having not been to the workshops, but like you say - few companies offer an entirely handmade bat in the traditional sense.

[Tom]

Yep, I think the last 5yrs haven't been great for English batmaking. With some moving abroad to work, others moving production abroad and unfortunately a couple passing away.

The positive though is that there are 5/6 companies who currently shape part mades, I can see them moving to complete production with presses et al in the future.

[SillyShilly]

I think the costs invlolved in making a entire bat is quite high, like you mention, quite a few companies may start by shaping part-mades and once established can up production - there is little point in buying all the gear if you cant sell the bats. Conversly, you may sell more bats and build a stronger reputation by making the entire bat in the uk, not being involved with any companies i wouldnt know? However, i would imagine the latter is less common and i'm imagining the costs involved would make this difficult for most

[yvk3103]

What about

WARSOP


Most of of the bigger brnads/companies have shifted the production of their lower end and junior bats to India or Pakistan or SA as the margins are lowers and the time require is the same as a senior bat.

I would assume that most of the top end bats from Salix, Newbery, GN, GM etc are still handmade (to some/large extent) in the UK.

We have ourselves to blame..... on a average (i guess) each forum member would have at least 5 bats

Tom/Leo, how many forum members do we have?

[Tom]

Warsop I'm not sure if they handmake all, there was a photo at there place with some bats shaped by machine in.

[Richie]

Crown Sports?

[procricket]

chase---dan swaine???

[SillyShilly]

not from what i have heard

[Apple]

Its a shame that there are so little

[e4sby]

The main problem the batmakers face is competing with the GN, Pumas and G&M's of this world.  There is a niche in the market for a small company but from my point of view i couldn't even consider doing it full time cos of this (not that i'm good enough).

The outlay of workshop space, press, specialist equipment, rates etc just makes it a distant dream, if i was to win the lottery then i would consider it otherwise its a nogo. 

If i lived on the south coast i'd consider working the weekends FOC just for the love of the art.