Steel-Mastery.com - Armoury

[DW Peters]

Kabuto

These guys are in the Ukraine, which might scare some, but I have read nothing but good about their customer service from the folks over at armourarchive.org. Yurri, who answers the emails, speaks great English so do not fret about communication.

Contact info from the website:

Our e-mail addresses:

[e-mail] (Yurri Zaharchuk)

[e-mail]

Our address:

Kiev city, 03187

Ukraine

Tel.: [phone]

Sell phone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

When I inquired about the Kabuto I was told that manufacture would take about 3 weeks and shipping (to the USA) about 2 more. Not a bad wait.

[Shinmen Ukyo]

My kabuto is from Steel Mastery....

They do have serious issues with the plates. Their customer service is extraordinary....to a limit. When I brought up the plates, they advised me that the plates were exactly as I described them and they were unable to change them.

They also had some issues with the shikoro...

The helmet pictured on the website is in fact, my helmet. The helmet was completed in 4 weeks. A very strong selling point.

Incidentally, the helmet I received was almost an EXACT replica of the picture I sent them. In my haste to explain what I desired, I failed to QI the picture. I think they are incredibly good at replicating what you show them. By their own admission, they are unfamiliar with kabuto, so I'm sure they replicate what they see...and they do so very well.

They do not use the correct lacing. I advised them I would lace it myself.

Also, my chin strap was approximately 3 inches too short. I'm going to have to fix that myself, as obviously I am not going to send it to the Ukraine for repair. Unfortunately, as previously described I have little to no ability with metal, and no idea how to affix a chin strap. I had to buy a different chin strap setup, and it is apparently not fixed in the same way.

Overall....I highly reccommend them, however, make sure you present an exact photo of what you want.

I would also like to point out....Yurii sent me an e-card congratulating me on my wedding, as I had discussed it with him regarding shipping and being out of town.....I must say I was highly impressed by Yurii. I have friends that haven't bothered to congratulate me.....for a complete stranger to do so.....I am VERY impressed.

Ukyo