Ultimate Collectors' Forums

I'm pretty sure that's what Derek meant when he said "sold out" and "oversold": simply that if you didn't get in on this first batch, you will be waiting a while longer. So, technically speaking, you've just confirmed that there can be more demand than supply at this point as things are only just starting out, right?

Still, I think it is smart for UC to make smaller batches at a time so as to not create a glut of unsold product on shelves. Eventually all the LOTR stuff sold out pretty much, but UC should be more cautious and not over stretch themselves too early.

Ha, ah. I would say the exact opposite. Get as much out there as possible when the film is still in theaters and fresh on peoples minds. Especially when you find out another company was given the exact same license. Obviously you have build and stock based on safe projections, but I am not a big believer in the "wait until you have a bunch of orders, then make some" way some companies run.

[quote=""Nasnandos""]Ha, ah. I would say the exact opposite. Get as much out there as possible when the film is still in theaters and fresh on peoples minds. Especially when you find out another company was given the exact same license. Obviously you have build and stock based on safe projections, but I am not a big believer in the "wait until you have a bunch of orders, then make some" way some companies run.[/quote]

I take it you're referring to Noble Collection being this other company with the same license? or is there someone else going to be producing replica weapons now?

Well there is Noble and the stuff Weta is doing.

According to Derek, these are finally shipping out us. He said again that UC has over sold the product, meaning UC will likely have to produce more very soon to meet this high demand. Derek does have five extra staves that are not assigned to any pre orders so if you want one soon, contact him ASAP.

Mine got here today, and it's huge, heavy, and very very awesome.

Mine too, pics (not the best quality) in the "Report your latest acquisition" thread. Awesome piece. Makes the previous two staves feel like fancy broom handles.

Yes! Derek shipped mine a few days early. It is on it's way today!

Hey,this goes out to all the people who have bought the hobbit staff of gandalf. How is the quality in this piece? Does it suffer any damages like the first run of the GTW staff? Is it a piece worth getting? Thanks

[quote=""Gandalf The White""]Hey,this goes out to all the people who have bought the hobbit staff of gandalf. How is the quality in this piece? Does it suffer any damages like the first run of the GTW staff? Is it a piece worth getting? Thanks[/quote]

Amazing, no, and YES. There's your answer.

What do you mean? I'm confused!!

The quality of the piece is amazing, there are absolutely no defects whatsoever, and you should definitely buy it if you're on the fence. It's worth every penny. It puts UC's old Staffs to shame as far as sturdiness. This thing is heavy-duty, solid, and won't fall apart anytime soon.

Found this on Budk's facebook page



New helmet of Sauron and shield of Gondor as Kit mentioned as well as a few other items going back into production.

I love the new stand for Sauron's helmet

Interesting. Very interesting. I really like the new Gondor Shield, including that banner, but there's just no way I can afford to replace the one I currently have. Legolas' Knives look good, I might add. Really good, actually.

I might pick up the shield and/or the helm. How much do you think the real prices are going to be? About half of what's listed?

I'd probably guess about $200 for the shield, $250 for the Helm. I don't know why they even bother listing those prices, seeing as no retailer ever sells them for MSRP.

I have officially decided to buy Weta's Gandalf staff, simply based on the fact that they will combine shipping with Radagast's staff saving me like $40, which is the difference between the UC and Weta version anyways. Unless, there is some new development that proves that UC's version is somehow more accurate, I shall be putting in my preorder next week.

[quote=""Elysium""]Glad you made that decisions Rev
The total shipping cost for both of mine is going to run at $230. Ouch.
But...Well there is no but. There is no other option [/quote]

$230 from NZ to Aus? Weird...

[quote=""RevAnakin""]I have officially decided to buy Weta's Gandalf staff, simply based on the fact that they will combine shipping with Radagast's staff saving me like $40, which is the difference between the UC and Weta version anyways. Unless, there is some new development that proves that UC's version is somehow more accurate, I shall be putting in my preorder next week.[/quote]

I think the only way one of them could be more accurate is in the paint job. I'm lucky that the shipping cost for Radagast's staff isnt too high, its being sent to the UK warehouse and then out to me.

I wonder how long we'll have to wait, I'm realling looking forward to getting it. I am planning on getting Gandalf's staff but I'd rather just go with UC's. I am going with Radagast's from Weta because at this point there's still no certainty that UC will make it.

The retailer I pre-ordered Orcrist with is e xp ecting to have the replicas in by mid January. Hopefully they'll be here soon, I love Orcrist

Why UC over Weta?

[quote=""RevAnakin""]Why UC over Weta?[/quote]

Because I can't afford both the Weta staves at the moment so I decided to just go for Radagast's. Im betting that by the time I get round to getting Gandalf's staff (having saved up the money) the Weta one will have sold out. Also, hopefully I will be encouraging UC to make more products by buying the staff, even though it won't be a for a few months yet

Any interest in the Dwarven army helm form the Moria flashback? Or Thror's crown/helm, Thrain's war hammer?

Out of all the designs in the film, the stuff in the Erebor attack prologue and the Moria was flashback was the most interesting to me.

[quote=""Nasnandos""]Any interest in the Dwarven army helm form the Moria flashback? Or Thror's crown/helm, Thrain's war hammer?

Out of all the designs in the film, the stuff in the Erebor attack prologue and the Moria was flashback was the most interesting to me.
[/quote]

I saw that in the video you posted yesterday. I love the helmet. I like Thror's crown, I can't remember what Thrain's war hammer looks like in the film though. Is it the same as it is the Weta art book? if so then yes I'm interested

Count me in as interested! I also agree on the flashback scenes being some of the coolest stuff they did. I'd really love for Weta to do a Thror statue and his crown would be very cool as well.

Some echoes of Gimli's helm in the design of the upper portion of the Dwarven War Helm. I would definitely be interested in that, as well as Thror's crown, though UC nearly dipped its toes in the crown market last time around, then backed out at the last moment. Not sure about hammers though. I would like Dwalin's, but we'll see.

If you mean Aragorn's crown, yes and for good reason. We were being screwed.

Thror's crown looks more like armor though, and less like jewelry. He had a cool sword too.

[quote=""Nasnandos""]If you mean Aragorn's crown, yes and for good reason. We were being screwed.

[/quote]

How so? I wasn't into collecting when these things were being developed so I don't know much of what was going on back then.

[quote=""Lindir""]How so? I wasn't into collecting when these things were being developed so I don't know much of what was going on back then.[/quote]

UC began development and nearly completed a prototype of Aragorn's Crown but Noble Collection beat them to the punch and brought theirs to the market first. I think UC decided to cancel the project then so as to not have to compete with Noble. If there were other issues going on, only Kit can tell us. A shame really because I think UC's display was far superior to Noble's. Maybe Kit can repost those old photos and you can see what almost was.

Some retailers back then also got a bit ahead of themselves and advertised the Witch-king's Crown of Twilight but I don't know how real that was.

There was much more too it than that, but not worth getting into now. Over and done with now...well, not really. Seems history repeats itself.

I still have that crown display and the embroidered pillow boxed up somewhere. The Witch-king crown was never going to be made. We did have the prop, but after seeing the film we killed the idea.

[quote=""Nasnandos""]If you mean Aragorn's crown, yes and for good reason. We were being screwed.

Thror's crown looks more like armor though, and less like jewelry. He had a cool sword too.[/quote]

[quote=""Valkrist""]UC began development and nearly completed a prototype of Aragorn's Crown but Noble Collection beat them to the punch and brought theirs to the market first. I think UC decided to cancel the project then so as to not have to compete with Noble. If there were other issues going on, only Kit can tell us. A shame really because I think UC's display was far superior to Noble's. Maybe Kit can repost those old photos and you can see what almost was.

Some retailers back then also got a bit ahead of themselves and advertised the Witch-king's Crown of Twilight but I don't know how real that was.[/quote]

Very interesting, never heard these stories. Love to hear all this old gossip!


As for all those things you mentioned, Kit...yes, yes, and oh, yes! I like them all, especially the crown and helm. I've got the perfect spot for them, right next to Gimli's Helm. It seems that PJ and Weta really outdid themselves yet again in a prologue. just like LotR!

My wife bought me that crown for Winter Solstace. If only my derned head wasn't so large!

Your head is not large. People, including myself, have all noted that unless you are a child, Aragorn's Crown from Noble is pretty much unwearable. This same holds true for all their previous LOTR headgear, like the circlets and tiaras I posted pics of a while back. I don't know if they do this on purpose so people won't wear and damage them or what, but it's kind of annoying.

We sized our LOTR helms going by the "average" hat size, which is actually too big for me, but it supposedly fits most people. Odd that Noble's are too small.

Aragorn's crown did have to be reduced on set to fit Viggo's head though, so maybe that's why the replica was so small. We actually engineered our crown to be adjustable about two hat sizes. There was a really simple way to do it.

I really wish UC had made those crowns. Oh well, maybe this time around.

On another topic, my Gandalf Staff arrived today but I was not home and missed UPS. Now I have to wait until Tuesday.

Funny, they just left mine on my doorstep.

Mine has C.O.D., happens when you live in another country.

[quote=""Valkrist""]On another topic, my Gandalf Staff arrived today but I was not home and missed UPS. Now I have to wait until Tuesday. [/quote]

That's why I have my UPS packages delivered to my workplace. It's waaaaay too frustrating to miss a delivery like that. When my Gandalf staff was delivered my colleagues wondered what the heck was in the box... it's *huge.*

Well don't tell em it's an assault rifle or all hell will break loose

Lol, tell them it's curtains.

[quote=""Fingolfin""]Lol, tell them it's curtains. [/quote]
Especially when it's an assualt rifle!

About the Sting Scabbard....

I think this has been somewhat discussed earlier in this thread but I cannot find it.

I know it's leather and not suede like the LOTR scabbard (or faux leather and faux suede) and also comes with the strap, which wasn't included in my LOTR scabbard but I heard was included in later runs.

So addressing this question to those who have both the LOTR scabbard and the Hobbit scabbard what are the other differences?

What I'm wondering is, is the H. one significantly different or better looking (or better made) to warrant getting it?

I admit I do like the leather look. And $70 through Derek is a good price.

Hey guys, I just got in my United Cutlery catalog in today and there is a listing for Orcrist scabbard for spring of 2013! Here is a pic.

Deimos, I only have the old LOTR scabbard but one other obvious difference I can see in photos is that the scrollwork has not yet been added to the metal collar in the Hobbit version.

Other than the leather change and lack of engraving, the metal fitting shapes are actually slightly different on the Hobbit version than LOTR. The most noticeable difference is the longer curl on the tip cap, and the shape of the tip on the cap.

The props do vary somewhat in shape from prop to prop, especially the different scaled versions, but there is actually a logic to why the general shape would be different. The vine decorations on the LOTR version are raised in the metal, not recessed, so it was not simply an engraving change. Steel had to be added. It would have been easier for the smiths in Rivendell to simply remake the parts, which could e xp lain why the metal fitting shapes are not identical later in LOTR.

Excellently detailed answer, Kit...many thanks.

(Still can't decide if it's reason enough to buy the Hobbit version, though... )

I was debating on getting or not getting Hobbit Sting or not since I have LotR Sting, as of now I have decided I will probably get it eventually, but I think I will hold off and see what else comes out for the Hobbit first, or maybe see about getting some LotR stuff I haven't got yet

What size are the scabbards and Sting anyways, Human size like the actors had it or scaled down like in the movie to Hobbit size?