Category Archives: Project X Updates

Goodbye to a handful of designs but a BIG HELLO to a VERY nice Limited Edition Forge Direct Katana Design..!!

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Well, September 7th came and went and as promised we have deleted the Project X Choji Line, wished the four beasts Jian on its way – and we were supposed to do with one more model too.. But I just could not find the heart and managed to negotiate a pretty sweet deal…

But that’s not the heart of what this post is about and I will circle back to that. Because what I am talking about started in February this year: you might recall to Celebrate the year of the Dragon we pulled out all the tops and made a stunning Forge Direct Limited 10 piece collection called the “KuryuKen” with the Master Smiths at Forge Direct.

The Original Forge Direct Red Dragon “Kuryuken” Design

With many limited features not available on the normal custom line and priced so low that we might as well as closed up shop and gave them away – they sold out pretty darned quick (can’t remember just how fast it was, but it wasn’t much longer than 48 hours for 9 of 10 to sell and the last one, about a week later).

At the same time of this release, we also promised that while it would be the the first Forge Direct Limited Edition Model, it would not be the last. And so here it is, the second Dragon Sword in the series, after months in the making – and likely the last year model for the year!

INTRODUCING:

The NEW Limited Edition Black Dragon Orouboros Katana

As usual with these limited edition designs, there is a lot to take in and not a whole lot of time to think about it before they are sold out and gone for good. So here’s the basics:

Because of our special status with the forge, these limited edition designs get a lot of unique features that the usual custom line don’t have access too, but if we priced it out it would come to around $989 or so (stupidly low, it really should be well over $1200 but at SBG we try to keep margins as low as humanly possible) but the 10 pcs that are available are even discounted, and available at $899.99 with FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING.

But that is how our line will be, (I hope at least) cool designs with unique features and the best possible pricing for 10 like minded individuals out there:

Forge Direct Black Dragon Ouroboros

Couple of Post Scripts Before I forget in my old age..!

P.S. Before I forget in my old age, while we quietly archived some Forge Direct and Project X swords not all that long ago, there was one that I just could nor bring myself too, especially after the forge saw it got a few last minute sales, sparking their interest in its potential..

I am talking about the ‘Sword of Heavens’ because it was a kind of demo sword from the forge to show what they could do and it’s so good we are willing to sell it even it it just breaks even because, well, it’s just so cool for $650

I don’t know how long either of these designs will be around for, so if you snooze on these, you definitely lose..

And before this post turns into “War and Peace” – there was one final (and rather large) mistake we made pricing the New Dragon Dao.. Several major charges were left off our pricing, meaning that the current price of $999 was way to cheap and it needs to go to $1,299.99 to cover our costs and make a small profit, while at $999 – well that’s a sure fire way to go out of business.

We agreed to hold the price until the 12th of September, so there’s an untended bargain for you! Sorry about that, we are usually really careful when it comes to pricing as our margins are as low as possible, so this is definitely embarrassing and once again costly at a time when we need to up our sales. But it is what it is, so until the 12th grab it at the grandfathered price before it gets back closer to what it is actually worth…

Dragon Dao

P.P.S. Don’t get distracted too much by the other details, the Black Orouboros is where it is at – but at that quality and that price, I’d be surprised if it was there for much longer..

New Dragon Dao MK II and other BIG changes going on over at Forge Direct & Project X

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We have a tried a LOT of unique traditional Chinese sword designs over the years. But it would seem that as the industry has slowed down and lost momentum for high end Chinese swords (and honestly, who can blame them, some of the entry level stuff is pretty darned good!) – the time has come to more or less settle on the designs that will define the brand.

So quietly over the last few weeks and months, we have been re-organizing Forge Direct Chinese – bringing back two new blades, and getting rid of almost all the others until we have the best of the best, those blades that customers send us in glowing reviews time after time.

‘Swords’ such as the ‘Boar Killing Spear’ (technically a short hafted blade with extra long handle):

BOAR KILLING SPEAR IS BACK

And then at the Elite end, the complex Windsteel laminated folded blade and stunning fittings of the Monkey King sword (and with this one, if you need to ask how much it is, then you can’t afford it):

RETURN OF THE MONKEY KING

And then, one final hurrah on two swords before they go before the end of the month – the NEW Four Beasts Jian and the Dragon Tiger Jian. Maybe it was the economy, maybe people just didn’t like them – but they are on crazy discount pricing over on the HOT SPECIALS section until the end of the month, after which they join the sword graveyard in the sky..

And if that was not enough, at the end of the month we are also discontinuing our Project X Elite high polish Choji Katana and it will be sold off at Forge Direct levels until the end of the month.

It’s pretty crazy how the sword industry often doesn’t actually buy what it says it really wants – but either way, they aren’t many of these in the world so if you want a truly unique blade before its too late in a few days time, you had better put that custom order together quick quick..

Hi Polish Katana
Hi Polish Wakizashi

And FINALLY (told you there was a lot of Forge Direct and Project X news going on right now) – we are proud to announce what might well be the last addition to the Forge Direct family.. The Dragon Dao Mk II!

Unlike the limited edition of 20pcs (that ran for around $1800 or so) – the simplified but hardly ‘stripped back’ version of the Dragon Dao is available all year long, looks as mean as hell and one cut and you will be hooked for life..

Check it out and the entire brand new and we hope more permanent, stable line up over at Forge Direct today:

Forge Direct

Forge Direct and Project X Price Increase April 5th 2024..

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Attention all sword enthusiasts and collectors! Our store is offering a limited-time opportunity to purchase master smith crafted swords at discounted prices. While the sale on Forge Direct and Project X has officially ended, we had managed to extend these discounts to our customers.

However, as we mentioned in this post from February 5th:

“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..”

Unfortunately, these sales targets were not achieved as we had hoped for, and so without an economy of scale, prices on ALL Forge Direct and Project X swords will be raised by an average of 15-20% early next month. This is your final chance to acquire these exceptional swords at such affordable prices.

Project X
Forge Direct

Visit our store today and browse through our exquisite selection of master smith crafted swords. Take advantage of this limited-time offer before prices increase next month. Secure your favorite sword now and add a touch of elegance and history to your collection.

SALE ENDS APRIL 5th, 2024

Get in the Que early to minimize delay and maximize your value, because sadly this will certainly be the last time you see these blades available at this price..

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

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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:

Forge Direct Japanese
Project X Japanese

Project X now potentially available all year round!

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In past years, perhaps because the economy was in better shape generally and because the price was around $600 less than it is now (and also perhaps because took 2-4 months less to make) – everytime we opened up to take new orders of Project X Japanese we would always receive more orders than the forge could possibly handle and so usually after about a week (sometimes a short as 2-3 days however!) we would close off on new orders and only open them again once the batch was complete..

This meant that to be able to actually get in on one of these swords, it was necessary to be on ‘stand by’ for the notification that we were taking new orders, and so demand would build up and quickly overwhelm us within a few days of opening up again..

It looked like we were on the same treadmill with the relaunch of Project X – the next generation swords, but after I posted we were about 50% of the way to the forges maximum capacity, the orders stopped coming in for the first time since we launched Project X 10 years ago – and have seemingly reached a point where we are optimally balanced between demand for these swords and the forges ability to supply them.

As such, unless we receive a sudden influx of orders that threatens our ability to make the swords in a timely manner – like it’s offshoot forge direct, Project X Japanese will be available all year round..!

We will keep you informed if we get close to being forced back into the position of ‘batching’ the orders again – but for now, the rush and the pressure to get an order in before the opportunity snaps shut again is off and you can take your time designing your perfect high end custom laminated Katana or Wakizashi..

Project X Japanese