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by Valkrist
Regardless of their name, United Cutlery is not shy about contracting other companies to reproduce items for them that do not fall into the traditional definition of 'cutlery.' For all intents and purposes, a sword can't really be called cutlery either under the traditional definition, or do you keep Anduril in your knife drawer at home and use it cut your steak with?
Anyhow, my point is, just like the Helms, Crowns and Tiaras, and Spear & Pikes license, UC did at one time also hold a license to make LOTR licensed Bows. I've been around long enough to remember this announcement by them. Unfortunately, they chose not to make use of that license mainly due to the fact that another company also acquired the rights, and UC rightly feared competition.
The other company was known to make bows, and thus UC's fears were not unjustified. Sadly, this other company has not seemed to have produced the bows either. To date, I saw one officially licensed repro a long time ago, on some german website, and it was for a non-functional Prologue Elven War Bow. I've heard nothing else since, though there are a variety of independent bowmakers that make close but unlicensed and functional replicas of Legolas' Mirkwood and Lorien bows, as well as Aragorn's bow, and Dunedain bows.
PS. Windlass Steelcrafts is indeed under contract to make the steel helms for UC, though I don't believe they are part of the design stage. UC handles that part. I'm not sure who makes the fibreglass helms like Sauron and the Elven Helm though.
Last edited by
Valkrist on Sun Dec 11, 2005 4:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.