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[Bats_Entertainment]

Was just wondering since there is no longer anything on their website that clearly states that they do.

Newbery's site, on the other hand, has plenty of show-offy "handmade by master craftsmen in the UK" stuff.

Priorities may have been re-assessed?

Jake will know.

[KettonJake]

They definitely are still making bats in Huntingdon, and it will still be possible, as always, to have a custom made bat made in front of you as many people do every year, just ring up and book in.

[Bats_Entertainment]

Yes, I knew they were making bats in Huntingdon and that you can have a custom made there. Like you can get a custom made at Millichamp and Hall.

I fear you are avoiding answering the question, Jake. You know I was talking about their own brand 'shelf' bats. But it doesn't matter if you don't want to say anything else.

[KettonJake]

I wasn't avoiding anything. I didn't realise that a bat made and sold by Hunts from their UK workshop would not be classed by you as their own range.

To be specific, to the best of my knowledge the Insignia, Caerulex, Custom/Players grade and the new Caldius are made in Huntingdon.

I'd imagine that as required based on stock levels and also dictated by the willow that comes in, certain other models/grades will be made in Huntingdon from time to time.

[joeljonno]

From the website... I guess it doesn't absolutely state that their off the shelf bats are made there, but it does give that impression.

HOW WE GOT STARTED

County Bats were first made at St. Neots in Huntingdonshire by the Trimmins family in 1904. Production continued here until the factory moved to Huntingdon in 1983. The craftsmen from St. Neots are still making bats at Huntingdon which enables us to use the slogan 'bats made for centuries'. Our bats are still made in the traditional way in order to get the best possible bat from the selected materials. It is for this reason that County Bats are sought after all over the world and are available wherever cricket is played.

BAT MAKING HISTORY

Yes, our bats do grow on trees! Salix Caerulea to be precise. Every year we produce and supply over twenty thousand cricket bats worldwide. The shape of the cricket bat has evolved over the years from the original `hockey stick` to the modern familiar shape. There is no weight limit for a bat, in the 18th century bats of over 5lb. were in use and in the 19th.century 4lb. was a common weight. A bat inscribed J.C.1729 is kept at The Oval and is the oldest surviving bat, unless you know of an older one!

 

 

[Bats_Entertainment]

I wasn't avoiding anything. I didn't realise that a bat made and sold by Hunts from their UK workshop would not be classed by you as their own range.

To be specific, to the best of my knowledge the Insignia, Caerulex, Custom/Players grade and the new Caldius are made in Huntingdon.

I'd imagine that as required based on stock levels and also dictated by the willow that comes in, certain other models/grades will be made in Huntingdon from time to time.

1. Ones with Newbery (for example) stickers on aren't classed by either of us as their own range.

2. Yes, I guess I was asking about those models specifically. I know that until recently the Insignia and Caerulex were advertised as UK made. At least some of the 'Players' Grade' unstickered bats were Indian made, though - because they told me so.

3. Dictated by workload demands from outsourcing brands too, I'd imagine?

[Bats_Entertainment]

From the website... I guess it doesn't absolutely state that their off the shelf bats are made there, but it does give that impression.

In the same way that M&H and Newbery give the impression that they make their own bats?

[jamesisapayne]

Yes, I knew they were making bats in Huntingdon and that you can have a custom made there. Like you can get a custom made at Millichamp and Hall.

I fear you are avoiding answering the question, Jake. You know I was talking about their own brand 'shelf' bats. But it doesn't matter if you don't want to say anything else.

Jesus christ what sort of response is that. Jake doesn't owe you anything and was trying to help you out, your reply is basically implying that he's lying when all he did was honestly answer what was a very ambiguous question in the first place.

If you're so desperate to know the truth give them a call, ask them yourself and be done with it. Jeez.

[Bats_Entertainment]

I'm not desperate to find out. But I do find who actually makes bats for who is one the more interesting topics on a forum which is essentially about cricket bat
making.

A 'story' where a manufacturer clearly priorises work for other brands over its own would be especially intersting to me, and and an indicator of exactly where the industry is at right now.

People get very touchy about this stuff, don't they? Especially those who are themselves involved in sticker brands, it seems. (Unless we are talking about M&H when it becomes a pile on!)

Jake's answer was a 'grey' one. Whether deliberately so, I really don't know. But I wouldn't have been at all bothered if he had said nothing at all. He doesn't owe me anything, like you say.

I certainly can't be bothered with does it matter/doesn't it matter?/'haven't you got anything better with your time?' arguments again.

As it happens, I have for several years always recommended Hunts bats as a VFM option to young cricketers I know.

[Bats_Entertainment]

a very ambiguous question in the first place.

Was absolutely not an ambiguous question.

[Buzz]

This is a properly random thread going nowhere so will lock it.

It was a reasonable question to ask and Jake gave as good an answer as he could.

It seems to me that it was one of those questions where you are better off speaking to the firm in question and asking them... Even better buy a bat from them and tell us about the experience. (with pictures 😂)