New Project X Custom Katana and the Forge Direct Limited Edition ‘Kuryuken’ Dragon Katana

It has been several years since we have seen a new Project X Katana blade – so it is with great pride we announce one of the most attractive looking traditional Katana blades ever produced outside of Japan, the Project X Next Generation Elite T10 Choji Hi Polish Custom Katana!

Leveraging the already proven Forge Direct and Project X Soshu Kitae Custom Katana furniture sets and customization options, this Master Smith forged blade is polished to near perfection by Master Polishers using Japanese fingerstones to make the clear natural hamon line POP like never before, and shows just how refined a T10 tool steel DH blade can be when no expense is spared.

Just take a closer look at how defined and clear the nioi of the blade can become, with prominent ashi..

With this sword added to the line up of Custom Katana we have available at SBG, there are now FOUR distinct levels or Tiers of Custom Katana blades available, from entry level Ryujin builds at Tier I (whose blades and fittings are made at the same forge, but shipped as parts to the USA and assembled to order) to Forge Direct at Tier III, which are built entirely at the forge and shipped worldwide from Longquan, and now two models of Project X at Tier IV – the new Choji blades which refine the T10 blade to its highest possible level, and the complex laminated 1095/1060/1045 blades of the original Soshu Kitae Project X Custom Katana.

This new blade also announces the end of the current sale on Forge Direct and Project X. However as we have taken all the data from the sale to arrive at the fairest and most sustainable price points for the entire project, the new sale prices are ALMOST unchanged – the Forge Direct Custom Katana only goes up from the sale price of $629.99 to an even $700 with almost all other prices remaining where they are for as long as we can sustain current sale levels – which is good news for everyone!

And speaking of good news, as we are now only days away from the official start of the Lunar New Year of the Dragon in 2024, we release a luxurious Forge Direct Limited Edition design, the Forge Direct LIMITED EDITION Elite T10 “Kuryuken” Dragon Katana!

This T10 Choji Hamon Forge Direct Master Smith blade is complimented with a suite of Dragon themed fittings, from the 24K gold plated Dragon tsuba to the elite Mother of Pearl inlaid Dragon saya to an exclusive and highly detailed premium Dragon horimono engraving (which at $100 on one side, is normally not something we offer on the custom Katana series) complimented with upgraded Black leather ito with hishigami.

If you add it all up, the total cost of this build would normally be $924.50, but is available at the same price as the base custom Katana for just $700 shipped – and with only 10pcs ever to be made, is definitely a unique and attractive offer for lovers of Dragon themed blades..

Pretty exciting stuff – check out the current full line ups for current pricing and models available:

Dragon Dao orders – missing order slots from last year allow one final opportunity..

In June last year, many years after the first limited release, we offered our most discerning customers two of our finest high end heirloom quality Master Smith forged Chinese historical swords – the Jian of Marquis Yi and it’s wickedly curved bladed sister, the Dragon Dao.

We fulfilled the very last 10 orders for the Jian and it has now been PERMANENTLY RETIRED from the Project X line up. So for the Jian of Marquis Yi, the show is over and if you wanted one, the only way to get it would be to get lucky on the secondary sword market and get a used/pre-owned one.

But for the Dragon Dao, due to a miscount and one cancelled order due to unexpected financial difficulties of the buyer, it turns out we only sold 7 of the final 10 pieces we had planned – leaving 3 slots still remaining unfulfilled..

This had been bothering me in the back of my mind over several months, because this was going to be the last time we would offer them before retiring them permanently, and it was frustrating that we left 3 of the 10 available pieces on the table, and three people ended up missing out,

So after much thought and deliberation, I decided that as we tick over to the Year of the Dragon, what better time is there to fill up those very last slots and retire this blade once and for all as well..!

The Dragon Dao – the Final Three

The only catch is, with Chinese New Year (the year of the Dragon appropriately enough) around the corner, the forge will be downing tools in about a week which will add around 3 weeks to the usual lead time. However, as we have noted year after year, after Chinese New Year is often when the smiths do their very best work, with excellent crisp early spring weather invigorating the smiths as they return well rested from their break and eager to get back to doing what they do best.

So if you missed it last time around, this is it, your final chance to own a piece of SBG history.

Next Level Discounts GALORE!

Looking at the HOT SPECIALS page on our site this month and you will find 6 full PAGES and 6 ENTIRE product lines on sale from 10 to a whopping 40% off the usual prices..

But just when you thought the deals could not get any HOTTER – THREE ADDITIONAL Product Lines have also gone on sale at unprecedented discounts.

First up, all the gorgeous hand made in the Philippines BCI swords from Kingdom of Arms, all available with a 15% discount until the end of the month and while stocks last:

But it gets even crazier – we talked with the Forges in Longquan and they are hurting bad from low sales all year long, and so we were able to secure some truly AMAZING discounts on Forge Direct Japanese and Project X!

This sounds impressive, but when you look closer you will see it’s an unprecedented discount level when applied to the 5 custom sword variations available for these projects..

Forge Direct Custom Katana – MSRP on this one is $1200 and we sold it for many years for $899.99 with a 99% satisfaction rate.. Now it $629.99 – and STILL with FREE WORLDWIDE shipping.. Basically the equivalent of a high end Dragon King T10 sword, but for several hundred dollars less and with many custom options to make it uniquely yours!

Forge Direct Custom Wakizashi – Make a custom Daisho set or a standalone lightweight and super-fast Ko Katana (O-Wakizashi) MSRP $1000 even. Sold in our store for $729.99 for many years, NOW just (WAIT FOR IT) — $499.99!!!!

Muramasa – The unique laminated blade made with modern technology and steel (T10, 1065 and 1045). MSRP on this baby is $1350, and sold in the store for $999.99 – now available for a mere $729.99 with your choice of custom fittings. Each one is unique, check out a couple of variations below:

Project X Laminated Katana – The pinnacle of all the custom sword projects we have been involved with to date – the second generation of Project X Master Smith crafted Soshu Kitae laminated Katana. Extremely traditional construction. Quality that blows people away. MSRP $1750, and we used to sell it for $1499.99 and now it is more or less a STEAL at $1,049.99!! For that money, if you can find a better sword, buy it!!!

Project X Laminated Wakizashi – make a custom Shoshu Kitae Wakizashi or Ko Katana, was $1,199.99 now just $839.99! Crazy..

While we are hoping to be able to lock these new prices in long term, it really depends on how well they sell this month. So show your support for the Project, help keep it going and worst case scenario, you nab yourself one of the best quality blades made in the last 20 years for the lowest price humanly possible..

Project X: Limited Edition Meteoric Daggers!

Over the years, Project X has developed many unique, high end blades. From the original Soshu Kitae Katana line that started it all off, to limited edition designs such as the Dragon Dao and the Jian of Marquis Yi, and expanded into Forge Direct Chinese and Forge Direct Japanese, Project X blades have become must-have items for the discerning collector and sword enthusiast..

So it is with great excitement we announce what is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to purchase daggers that have been forged from actual meteorites!

Spearheaded by our friends at Ronin Katana, who pioneered high end meteoric blades made entirely from this otherworldly metal, a recent visit to the forges to complete his apprenticeship in traditional Chinese sword smithing saw Chris Scoggin discover these two amazing designs and offer them to Project X members on a first come, first served basis..

The blades themselves are forged ENTIRELY from meteorites with no added steel (each blade requiring several pounds of meteoric iron that are smashed up, placed in a crucible and heated up until they are molten) and forged by Master smiths in a Damascus steel pattern, polished by Master polishers and mounted in premium solid silver fittings with a Purple Redwood scabbard.

There are two designs available, one with a Dragon themed handle and the other an ancient Han Dynasty fitting set.

Dragon Dagger

Han Dynasty Dagger

Only 5pcs per design will be released, and once we have sold 5pcs we will be removing the products from sale.

So how much will these elite otherworldly blades cost? Well, the normal price on these would be from $7,500 each and Chris told me straight out that they would be no less than $6,500 at Ronin if he was selling them himself. But as usual, at SBG we offer the VERY best price humanly possible. So they are available for just $5,500 each with free worldwide shipping..

True enough, these are not for everyone – but if you have the means and are interested in very rare blade types at the best price humanly possible, they might just be for you..

Forge Direct and Project X Chinese Final Closeout MegaSale!

It’s no secret that this year has been a very hard one for the sword industry. But behind the scenes in Longquan, China – many of the forges are having an especially hard time. So much so that the very industry that they were famous for for over 2600 years, specifically traditional Chinese sword production, is under threat…

Many of the smiths are seeing such a dramatic decrease in sales and re-orders that they are considering moving exclusively into generic Katana designs (or worse, preparing to exit the industry entirely).

However, we have a solution for you. Before these swords become scarce and difficult to source, we are offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to purchase premium swords at closeout prices. This is your last chance to add high-quality swords to your collection, so don’t miss out on this amazing offer. Our swords are crafted by master artisans and are guaranteed to impress. Take advantage of this limited-time sale and add some of the finest swords to your collection.

First up, from the archives – we are re-releasing 10pcs each of two classic Project X designs on the 10th year anniversary of their first release. The stunning Jian of Marquis Yi and the Dragon Dao:

The Jian of Marquis Yi

The original classic design that kicked off Project X Chinese comes back one last time.. Truly amazing quality, normal price on this sword is over $2600 but is available for just $1599.99

The Dragon Dao

One of the most fierce one handed cutting swords ever made, the stunning Dragon Dao is valued at $3,400 but is available for just $1,799.99 one last time..

As noted, only 10pcs of each model will be sold, after which time these designs will go back to the archives, almost certainly never to be seen again..

But while this is quite dramatic, what follows next takes the sale to a whole new level..

Forge Direct – Final Closeout Sale

As we mentioned at the outset, many of the master smiths and large forges that specialized in high end traditional Chinese swords are preparing to wind up their production of high end, fully functional replicas.

But before they disappear from the store, from now until the 17th of July, the following selection of Forge Direct Chinese swords have been marked down from 30% to 40% – the highest level of discounts ever seen!

Check out the bargains on offer – each one of these swords is heavily marked down to a final closeout price as below. Simply click on the image for the swords details:

Water Lily Jian: $1,000.00 – 40%, NOW $600


Ring Pommel Dao: $1,000.00 – 40%, NOW $600


Damascus Proto-Tanto: $600.00 – 40%, NOW $360


Fire Jian: $999.99 – 30%, NOW $699.99


Double Dragon Jian: $1,599.99 – 30%, NOW $1,119.99


Golden Dragon Feathersteel Jian: $1,599.99 – 40%, NOW $959.99


Dragon Boar Killing Spear: $749.99 – 30%, NOW $524.99


Sword of the Ancients: $900.00 – 30%, NOW $630


Imperial Dragon: $849.99 – 40%, NOW $509.99


Yue Maiden: $810.00 – 40%, NOW $486


Rosewood Dao: $599.99 – 40%, NOW $359.99


Imperial Yi-Dao: $1,485.00 – 40%, NOW $891


Nine Dragon Jian (antiqued finish): $1,300.00 – 40%, NOW $780


Yuchang Jian: $2,000.00 – 30%, NOW $1,400


Red Copper Ruyi Jian: $1,695.00 – 30%, NOW $1,186.50


And a couple of NEW releases..

While we have no idea of its long term future, we have not given up on Forge Direct Chinese quite just yet.. Even after all the models above go left of center stage on the 17th and are discontinued, two new swords have just been added to the line up. Two sword types that have taken a lot of behind the scenes work to have made because WE wanted them for ourselves..

First up, a fully functional Master Smith forged version of Shuangjian – in other words a Twin Jian set!

NEW: Shuangjian (twin jian set) – $999.99


And the second sword, the ULTIMATE Taichi sword – both in terms of quality and price.

NEW: Five Blessings Ultimate Taichi Jian – $599.99


With so many amazing deals on Forge Direct and Project X Chinese until the 17th of July, we are pretty sure that you will find at least something of interest and we hope do your bit to support this struggling sub niche of the sword industry in its time of need.

To check out EVERY offer currently on the table, click the link below: