Category Archives: Paul’s Rants

As the trade war flickered off—only to roar back to life within 24 hours—a handful of swords from two major brands managed to slip through the gauntlet. Despite the brief tariff suspension at customs, the shipment still faced a much heftier duty than ever before. The silver lining? It wasn’t the dreaded 145% and it did NOT raise the price for customers… Small victories, right?

This marks one of the first restocks since the industry was effectively frozen by the April 2nd announcement. While it wasn’t a major shipment, any sword that makes it through is a hard-fought win for collectors and enthusiasts alike.

In times like these, we welcome every scrap of good news with open arms.

So here they are—three newly restocked swords, fresh from the forge and ready to find their rightful place in your collection:

Kingston Arms Scottish Claymore – Brown Leather

Legacy Arms Roman Gladius

Legacy Arms Maintz Gladius

Quick Hanwei Update (Vanishing Blades)

While a few brands have managed to push stock back onto the shelves, Hanwei is seeing the opposite—its swords are disappearing faster than ever. And the worst part? We have no idea when (or even if) some of them will be restocked.

Restocks will be handled on a case-by-case, model-by-model basis, and any future pricing remains uncertain. This means that if you don’t grab these swords now, there’s no telling when your next opportunity will come—if it comes at all.

Here are a few models that are on the brink of selling out (indeed, it is happening so fast now that one item has become sold out as I was typing this out!):

Hanwei Shinobi – LAST ONE

Hanwei L6 Bainite Oni Katana – LAST FOUR

Hanwei Celtic – DOWN TO LAST 5

If you’ve been eyeing one of these blades, now’s the time—before they become relics of a bygone era.

We’ve always been transparent with our customers, and the truth is, we’re navigating a tough situation in the sword industry right now.

Sword prices are changing dramatically, and no one can say with certainty what the future holds. Since our first official update on the tariffs posted April 6th the situation has continued to worsen, going from an expected price rise of 30-54% to 145% – and still no end (or clarity) in sight..

This makes providing any information about the moving target that is the tariffs and China-USA trade war extremely difficult – as it is still not clear how it will all play out..

Here’s what we do know:

Swords already in the U.S. remain at normal prices (APOC, Hanwei, Kingston Arms, Legacy Arms, Ryujin), but once stock sells out, restocks will be significantly more expensive and/or significantly delayed (restocks, new models and the reboot of the Hanwei line are still progressing at the forges for now, however with impossibly high tariffs, all US based brands are avoiding any new imports until tariffs return to a reasonable level. Right now, with tariffs over 100%, all these brands have become cost prohibitive and are effectively a brick wall against imports).

Direct-from-China swords will be affected starting May 2nd (Black Dragon Forge, Project X, Swordier). We plan to build any cost of tariffs into the actual costs once they are known (currently it is not clear how much will be charged after May 2nd). Regardless, expect prices will rise sharply after May 2nd (existing orders will be addressed on a case by case basis). Naturally this is very disruptive to these lines and furthermore the sheer number of parcels in transit right now trying to beat the May 2nd deadline is a looming disaster of unprecedented proportions. We will not know how it will actually play out until it hits the May 2 ‘Paywall’ so stay tuned for an update on this accordingly…

Non-Chinese brands won’t see huge price changes (Darksword, Kingdom of Arms, Scorpion Swords, Windlass), though minor increases are likely over time due to inflation and increased material costs worldwide…

We’re hopeful that new U.S.-based sword manufacturers will emerge to fill the gap, but let’s be honest—makers like Valiant Armory, Albion, and Arms and Armor already charge premium prices, and that isn’t likely to change. We also are not expecting any local manufacturer to spring up and start selling $150 Katana made in the USA – so sadly we are facing whatever plan the powers that be have in mind is simply going to be very destructive and expensive for the sword industry..

What Happens Next?

Some of our projects have been delayed or shelved while we figure out the best path forward. However, some upcoming releases have made it through and will be released over the coming days and weeks.

Here’s a sneak preview of some of the new swords coming down the line:

Our biggest piece of advice right now? Lock in today’s prices before they disappear (especially on the landed stock lines, because once they are gone – some or many may never return).

We’ll keep monitoring the situation and sharing updates, but the future of affordable imported swords is uncertain—and once prices rise, they won’t be coming back down…

THE USA WAREHOUSED LANDED LINES

Aka the Endangered List..

Introduction
The sword market is facing a seismic shift. With new tariffs on Chinese imports set to take effect on May 2, prices are expected to skyrocket by 30-54% on all incoming shipments. If you’ve ever considered expanding your collection or stocking up, this is your last chance to do so before the price surge.

What’s Happening?
The U.S. government has imposed new tariffs on Chinese imports, with rates reaching 54% on swords and all other imported items.

This means that all swords arriving after May 2 will be subject to these increased costs, leading to inevitable price hikes. Additionally, any ‘direct from the forge’ orders—including Project X, Black Dragon Forge, and Swordier—will face delays and additional tariff charges for U.S. customers.

Why Act Now?

1. Prices are locked at 2024 rates until May 2—after that, expect significant increases.
2. Stock is limited—once current inventory is gone, restocking will come at a much higher cost.
3. Tariff-related delays—ordering now ensures faster delivery before the new regulations take effect.

Final Call: Go Big or Go Home

This isn’t just another price adjustment—it’s a fundamental shift in the sword market. Whether you’re a collector, a practitioner, or a reseller, now is the time to secure your swords before the tariffs take effect. Once May 2 arrives, the value of swords will go through the roof.

Don’t wait—shop now and lock in 2024 prices while you still can.