Panther Primitive Tents is going out of business Need recommendation

Now that Panther Primitive tents is no longer taking orders and will soon close, does anyone have a recommendation on a new tent source. Not sure type tent I want to be honest but need something.

Boy, I have a Panther tent, 2 actually (wedge & wall) and I have no idea who I'd go to now, but before I'd source a new vendor, I'd decide what type of tent I'd want and then go from there. Some might be better at a certain style that others, ya' know?

The loss of Panther will be a BIG hit to the reenacing and MZL'ding community, as their catalog was FULL of great items, besides tents and camp stuff. I've attached their catalog here for you - in case you didn't have it - take a look. Notice the key build details that they put into their tent designs. Maybe that will help you decide whom is best for your next tent purchase. Good luck!

RK lodges would be the closet to Panther .

I thought RK was out of the business? I'd be happy to be wrong. Spring Valley and Tentsmith come to mind if looking for a new lodge.

rangerzdral said:

Now that Panther Primitive tents is no longer taking orders and will soon close, does anyone have a recommendation on a new tent source. Not sure type tent I want to be honest but need something.

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Hopefully the new owners of Tentsmiths are up to the former standards. Check their online catalog for styles/types.

Coot said:

Hopefully the new owners of Tentsmiths are up to the former standards. Check their online catalog for stylest

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Thanks I'll check them out.

pat i. said:

I thought RK was out of the business? I'd be happy to be wrong. Spring Valley and Tentsmith come to mind if looking for a new lodge.

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They still have an active website. Their tents are a little less expensive than
Tentsmiths don't know about the quality of either because I've always used Panthers

rangerzdral said:

Now that Panther Primitive tents is no longer taking orders and will soon close, does anyone have a recommendation on a new tent source. Not sure type tent I want to be honest but need something.

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Red Hawk

I got my order in last month for a small "guest" tent and oilskin tarp to go with the Mini-Wall I got last year. At my age I probably won't need anything else but am sad to see a good merchant close. Hopefully somebody will take up the reins.

pat i. said:

I thought RK was out of the business? I'd be happy to be wrong. Spring Valley and Tentsmith come to mind if looking for a new lodge.

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I thought Dick and Katie's kids had taken over RK?

pat i. said:

I thought RK was out of the business? I'd be happy to be wrong. Spring Valley and Tentsmith come to mind if looking for a new lodge.

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Don Strinz?

Siringo said:

Don Strinz?

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Didn't Don die?

Flint62Smoothie, thank you for posting the catalogue. There is an absolute wealth of knowledge there. Maybe the catalogue can be preserved as a sticky for future reference as it is so complete. Not just about pricing. Way more about tents/shelters/materials.

My two lodges.

RK 8x10 Marque, about 2010. Still going strong. Stood up to 40mph winds no trouble
It breaths in and out like a balloon in wind gusts, without affecting a candle flame inside.

Tentsmiths 1750 French wedge bellback, about 2000. With dining fly. Another great tent.

I don't know if RK is still in business.

Are tent expensive ? Yes, but they are essentially custom made by hand for you. so consider that. Tentsmiths took a while with my dining fly sidewalls, but they say they are small and working non-stop.

I never stretch my canvas tight. I put it up as it is supposed to be, then leave some slack. The canvas will grow and shrink as it gets hot and cold/wet. I feel it's much easier on the canvas, and slows down the thinning of the cloth.

I just called RK and the guy I talked to said they were retired so scratch that one off the list. It's really too bad because I have an RK wedge and it's a nice lodge. I have a Panther wedge too and it's equally as good. Im not far from Spring Valley Lodge and see Jim's products at a lot of rendezvous. He makes a great lodge too. It's just too bad the choices are getting fewer and fewer.

Davis tent in Denver they make about anything you want, good outfit.
they have a new wedge tent out now.

I have not ordered from them in over 15 years but Tentsmiths was first-rate. I had them build a custom medieval pavilion to my plans.

I bought my wall tent from Blockade Runner two years ago. I think they make them in house .

pat i. said:

I thought RK was out of the business? I'd be happy to be wrong. Spring Valley and Tentsmith come to mind if looking for a new lodge.

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Dick has died and his daughter who took over years ago has retired and RK is no longer in business.

rangerzdral said:

Now that Panther Primitive tents is no longer taking orders and will soon close, does anyone have a recommendation on a new tent source. Not sure type tent I want to be honest but need something.

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I’m quite happy with the 10x12 wall tent we bought from Blockade Runner several years ago. https://www.blockaderunner.com/Catalog/catpg30.htm
Jay