"Who are we?"
ATF has been in existence in one form or another since 1992. We provide exact reproduction WWII uniforms and gear for re-enactors, collectors, museums and films.
The initial impetus was the lack of reliable suppliers for German field gear. I started making it in my basement as a side job, and through accident and occasional intention, the business kept growing. Unlike most suppliers, I tried to avoid the pre-order (take the money and then worry about making the item) syndrome, because the production and delivery delays were always far greater than anticipated, which pissed off everyone immensely. This is why we have a policy of no custom orders.
Currently, we have 15 employees and we manufacture 75% of our uniforms and 50% of our field gear in our own facility. Most of the other itmes we stock are made exclusively for us to our own specifications by contractors in the US and overseas. This allows us far greater flexibility and control than any other company, the majority of whom contract with other companies and are at their mercy for quality control and production schedules.
ATF is located in central Kentucky, near Lake Cumberland, in a dry county, dotted with thousands of churches and scenic trailer parks.
Many companies embellish or exaggerate their size, capabilities and delivery times. We try to understate everything in order to avoid disappointment. A pleasant surprise is far preferable to most customers.
A peek inside our factory:
 The new factory 5,500 sq. ft. of natzzee uniform production |
 Webbing stash |
 Boot room |
 More boots |
 Cutting canteen covers |
 Currently we have 45 sewing machines and 3 steam presses |
 Our products |
 HBT's going together |
 Double needle felling machine making a 401 chain stitch |
 More HBT |
 Fieldgear pieces, ready for assembly |
 US medic bags going together |
 |
 |
 We do indeed make our own fieldgear |
 HBT and more HBT... |
 Two of our ladies, showing off their latest creation (a super-size coveralls) |
Business Philosophy:
I have over 20 years of personal experience in this market, first as a customer and later as a dealer. My company's business practices reflect these lessons and seek to prevent any problems for our customers as well as ourselves. Some of ATF's policies are not popular, but they are for YOUR protection as much as our own.
If you are new to the world of militaria collecting, you need to be aware that it, like the internet, is fraught with counterfeit products and less than totally honest businessmen. There are many reputable dealers as well, but after a visit to a military collector show or a quick cruise on one of the online auction sites, one can rapidly get the impression that honesty and ethics in the militaria business are often taken very lightly.
Is it real? Yeah, sure, you can touch it can't you?
We are not implying that a large majority of our competitors are dishonest. Most are not. But those who are have made quite a name for themselves and this business as a whole.
1. ATF will attempt to give you our honest opinion 100% of the time. This means that it will frequently be "We don't know." Especially in the case of "When will you have this or that item in stock?". We will only give an answer if we are very certain of its correctness. (For example, the item in question is in production in the factory) If we have a slim idea or only a suspicion, we will still say "we don't know" because suspicions are often wrong, and our answers are usually taken as gospel, leading to us being accused of lying if we are wrong. Thus, if we are not 100% certain, "we don't know".
2. ATF will not take your money for an item we do not have. If the item is not in stock, physically in production in our factory, or on it's way to us (verified by tracking number or waybill), we will not take your money. In all but a few RARE cases we will never take "pre-orders". These have been the downfall or the cause of serious trouble for dozens of reproduction vendors. This is not due to laziness on our part, but rather a result of years of experience, and many hard lessons that things nearly always go wrong and products are delayed or canceled. Please appreciate our honesty in this case instead of squealing at us for failing to fulfill your fantasy. Likewise, we will refund your money (less shipping) in a timely manner so long as the item is returned to us in unused condition.
3. The customer is often mistaken. The business of recreating any historic item is a bit like forensics. ATF, in 95% of cases, first acquires an original item of the product to be replicated, and researches the history and details through the best sources available. Many historical misconceptions exist regarding color, patterns and construction of militaria. Many people do not realize that most items were produced in millions or tens of millions and there are variations among them. We try to copy the most "typical" pattern, but sometimes we are restricted due to the unavailability of certain materials, or some elfin impulse on our part to make an oddball. Just because that stupid Dragon figure (man-doll) has a blue belt buckle does not mean that all originals were blue. Bottom line, ATF does not "make up" our colors or patterns. We copy original uniforms and gear, not reproductions or clothes from those faggy dolls.
4. ATF endeavors to make the best quality reproductions. Period. Nearly all of our hardware and fabrics are custom made to our specifications, meaning we send an original sample to copy. Only rarely will we cut a corner and this is only when securing an exact material or the labor time of replicating it (like handstitched buttonhole) would raise the price of an item without a commensurate increase in quality.
5. ATF has an attitude. This is evident from the text on the website. It is not our desire to insult anyone, but we are as straight forward as possible, which also means we do not tolerate bullshit or any sort of shifty antics very well. Please treat our employees respectfully, and we will do the same in return. We don't grovel, and threatening us with lost sales (because we don't offer "dealer status" to everyone with an FFL or a re-enacting unit) or legal action (because your order did not arrive until the day after you placed it) will get you cut off. And don't even think about using anyone's credit card other than your own. ATF screws no one but our partners, and we don't tolerate unsolicited buggering attempts.
6. Our policies are to protect us as well as the customer. After some hard lessons in years past, we do not accept checks (nearly 10% bounced, wasting many hours chasing them down), we do not extend credit (90% pay late or not at all), we don't ship C.O.D. (30% were refused because a money order was required and/ or the wife was not aware of the delivery), we ship all U.S. orders via UPS (because they have 100% accountability, and tracking numbers) and we don't do preorders because our best guess is almost always wrong as to how long it will be until we make or receive an item. Lastly, we are not a historical reference or appraisal service. The people that want to chat for 4 hours every day about the color of Japanese Army jock straps are the same twits who squeal because it takes us more than 7 seconds to process, pack and ship their order. We try to be informative enough on the website to help customers make a decision with little or no help. So we have time to pack your orders, not because we are cruel and antisocial.
7. The owner's sense of humor is nearly always crass and tactless. I hate boring prose, so by personal choice, I sometimes opt for odd, shocking, mildly disgusting, perverted or somewhat hateful comments on my website. This is directed at certain individuals who are unbearably annoying, troublesome or are simply a waste of organic matter and I choose to poke fun. Most comments are only sarcastic and are not specifically intended to offend Muslims, Christians, heterosexuals, people of high moral fiber, twits, drunks, goths, trans gender things, guys who play with dolls at 44 years of age, nor anyone else in particular. I pick on whoever earns it with no discrimination. (Exceptions: I consider it open season on Plushies, pedophiles, TV evangelists, and khaki-nazis at all times and no respect or restraint will be exercised. Guys that compare our stuff to items in their "action figure" collection will be drawn and quartered. If you had played "dress up" with your sister's Ken doll when I was a kid you would have had your ass kicked by your buddies. Work it out for yourself. Playing with dolls after 3rd grade is creepy. Try telling your co-workers about how excited you are that Franz and Lothar are coming out soon and see how they share your anticipation......)
Yes, I like George Carlan.
This is often a strange business, and it occasionally deserves comment. Not all of them will be nice. That'd be boring anyway. That's all. If you are horrified by my infrequent use of expletives or our April Fool's exposé (crude pics of naked fat things or sacrilegious items), grow up. The filth that appears here from time to time is simply a joke and most people enjoy it. If you want to be offended, tune into CNN and watch what people do to one another in the real world on a daily basis. If a pic of a purple dildo sends your blood pressure soaring and sets your eyes alight, then you need to calm down and step outside of your cave once in awhile. We won't actually send you such a thing. Promise.