Ordered my Mage just over 3 and a half years ago.
After it was
finally painted by Sam at Mask F/X I received it. And I had the original Hasek style cage that Sportmask produced.
I went with a simple paintjob. One of the stock versions at the time that Sam spruced up a bit.
Put my childrens birthdates on the back as well as a kanji symbol for "protector/gaurdian" called Mamoru. Have it as a tattoo as well.
After a couple fo months, I switched to one of the regular SM-50 style cages (which is patterned after the GL-100).
It is a great cage, but lacks the throat coverage. So I switched over to the SM-90 cage a few months later.
I also use the Jofa 481 dangler. Fits great, doesn't clank around the way I have it tied up and covers all the spots I need.
The SM-90 cage is a great design.
Covers the side of the head and gives good neck coverage. It's still a cat-eye, so there are some inherent design problems, but that's with any cats eye.
If only I could convince Tony to make a hybrid of the two cages. The bars of an SM-50 with the design and shape of the SM-90. That would be an awesome cage, in my opinion.
You'd get all the protection and strength of a cage from a HECC style and the ear/side of the head coverage and extended throat drop of the SM-90. Granted, it still would need a higher forehead entension (hey, I'm an old Jofa 390/387 guy)
I just have to keep bugging him. Hmm, perhaps I should make a poll to see how many people would like those cages....
I do like the cat eye simply because the vision straight forward. But the lack of support in some areas of the cages is something I think needs to be addressed. And the blade/butt end of the stick issue, too. I've never had any problems, but it can happen which is why I prefer a hec style.
But you have to weigh the options. There are good and bad about both designs. I decided that the bad of the SM-90 still wasn't as much as the bad of the SM-50. I'd rather have the extended coverage.
I've tried on the Mage II's and they are great masks. great field of vision, very protective and the chin and face is away from the shell which gives an added benefit of protection.
Plus, Tony has been great to deal with. Always answers questions, took care of any issues I had (which really weren't caused by Sportmask) and he's always trying to come up with new ideas. He definitely doesn't rest on his laurels.
My wife also owns a Sportmask as well.
Ricochet with a Beast paintjob.
She also got hers at the same time I ordered mine. Tony also did a custom job on the backplate for her. Since she has a pin-head, the backplate kept rubbing against her C/A spine supoprt and would push the mask up. She used her old backplate for a while to make up for it. When she had it repainted, Tony fixed it for her.
Turned out great and she has zero problems with it moving around now.
If I didn't have the stuff I do on my backplate, I'd have Tony do the same to mine. If I ever need to get another one, I'll have it done then.
I really don't know if I'd go back to a regular style mask again after using the Mage. It's comfy, protective, I can actually breath in it and it looks cool. Sure, I always get the odd comments because not many people in the area I live have seen them, but that's ok. Function outweighs style in my book.
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