[MLD-Grounds-Keeper-Willie]

It doesn't surprise me that Gondor would have expensive armor. When a war comes along, they don't just buy 4,000 or whatever amount of field plates. They're bound to have them from over the years, and they can usually be repaired after battle. They would be collected after wars and stored in Gondor's military inventory.<P>Not to mention that during war, Gondor would mobilize and immediately blacksmiths would be working for teh military, producing whatever was needed. Now, there would be a price of course, but it would most likely be paid after the war was over, once the country had made a profit off it. And their would be other benefits for the blacksmiths to take the place of money. But you have to remember, Gondor was ruled by a king, and at times, a steward, and whatever he says goes. So blacksmiths would have to do it. And they would still have to do it anyways because if they don't, they might lose the war, and in that case, they know that the forces of Mordor would take over Gondor and who knows what would happen then.