Greaves as used by Late Romans

[Damianus Albus]

The problem with that is that not everyone can do that. There's two guys in the U.S./Canada that can, them being Matt Lukes and Jeffrey Hildebrandt, both of whom have long waiting lists.

And not all craftsman can do even a pair of Kunzing Greaves for $130 dollars. Prices of materials, etc. vary from country to country. And they have to make a living off it too, and living in the U.S. or Canada is a lot more expensive, so everything costs more too.

I don't take explanation of long waiting list. Reanactment is not like going to grocery.
We are showing history, not quasi-history. Romans had used high quality equipment and so should we.

If I want to buy shoes for 400$ but I can't afford them I buy good shoes for 100$ not looking for fake 400$ shoes, right?

I can't afford layered spatha for 4000 euro but I won't buy layered spatha from Pakistan, made by machine for 500$, I'd rather order high quality mono-steel spatha which I can afford.

In other words, if I can't afford proper greaves I will save money or forget about them.

And one more thing. In XXI century I won't accept when people are saying that they don't now any craftsmen. We are living in time when ordering from different continent is not difficult ergo finding craftsman in USA, Austria, England, Poland - whatever - is not difficult for someone who wants to.
Unless you want to have everything right away and you give a damn about reality and authenticity, but then you shouldnt be reanactor.

It's better for get 2-3 new things per year but with high quality rather than whole outfit right away but with poor quality, so when you stand next to a proper roman reanactor you will look like a clown.

Sorry for being harsh.
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Everything costs more but you also earn much more. In mu country minimal mothly wage in dollars would be 425$ while custom mono-steel spatha is around 300$, squamata 500-600$, custom made Koblenz 1000-1400$.