The Short Version

We won't waste your time with lots of clichéd waffle.

We build leather stuff for LARP, it’s good stuff and we’ve been doing it since swords were made of carrymat, curtainrail and gaffa tape. If you can’t see what you want here then contact us and we can probably build it.

A Story to stop you getting bored…

Oh Brother

Brother Arnie pulled up his leather hood to keep his ears from flapping in the strong wind. It also covered his newly-shaved bald spot nicely. He stood by the roadside and watched the troop of heavily-armoured soldiers march by. Bright sunshine glinted from the rings of their vambraces and the studs of their greaves. An officer, resplendent in crested helmet and plated battle coat, barked out an order. The column drew to a halt.

Until recently these men had been Arnie’s comrades. That was before the scandal with the pleasure sheep and the nun from the Moniack monastery. He had been given a choice – be Court Martialled or take Holy Orders. He reached down to his extra-long belt– at least food was good in the monastery – to seek out his tobacco pouch. He found only his trusty potion carrier – empty of course. The Abbott forbade such pleasures as smoking and drinking. He hadn’t asked but he was pretty sure that pleasure sheep were out of the question too.

Arnie glanced down to the rear of the column. There was a wagonload of wounded back there. He ambled along in that direction checking that his tokens of power were still in their holder about his neck. He began to tend the wounded. Soon his power was exhausted and he resorted to more mundane methods. He took out the first bandage from his Healers Kit.

“Well, if it isn’t my old mate Arnie.”

Trooper Fred sat in the furthest corner of the wagon, the ever-present fag hanging from his bottom lip. He flipped open his beer carrier and withdrew a container of Rabble’s Brainbuster Brew.

“Let’s have a drink and you can tell me where all your hair went.”

And for those who are really interested…

The Long Version

Tim Belcher is the main man at Darkblade, lives in Oldham, has been married for 8 years and has 2 small daughters who always seem to need new shoes. He/Darkblade has been producing leather stuff for LARP for the past 7 years (and 5 years before that on a “hobby” basis). Don’t ask how long he’s been playing because his memory isn’t that good after so many head shots.

Darkblade are usually around at the majority of events but now offer this new website as an easy, alternative, way to purchase our goods.

Darkblade is based in the Oldham area and inhabit a 460sq ft workshop to manufacture the goods. During the course of a typical year we get through 250,000 rivets and 6,000 sq ft of leather and suede…this is usually hammered and shaped on a ¾ HWT anvil and then stored in (approx.) 150 crates…yes, the workshop is cramped.

Even though we carry a large amount of stock most of the goods you see on this website are hand made, therefore there may be a little delay in shipping your order as we may have to build it. But, if you let us know when you need that vital bit of kit for we will try and accommodate you. Also, if you have an idea for a piece of kit and can’t find it here let us know and we will see if we can build it (see The Short Version).