Occasional outbursts or information leaks that the community may or may not find amusing. Mostly just for the editors stress relief or to get something off my chest that is bothering me..!
The Ryujin Horimono Series was never meant to be ordinary. From the etched motifs that whisper of dragons, guardians, and forgotten rituals—to the precision-forged blades built for battle and beauty—the soul of each sword pulses with purpose.
But even legends bow to reality. With razor-thin margins and post-tariff pressures, the $79.95 price is being held together by sheer force of will—and it’s slipping away.
This is your final window: now through July 21st (midnight EST), you can secure one of the last Ryujin Horimono blades at the original “special” price—the one forged during better days. After that, the trade winds take over…
Myth, meet market forces. Choose your blade, support the legacy, and strike before the price ascends (because even when they go back to $100 a pop, they are still crazy good value – but at the current price, just an absolute steal)..
No, it’s not “Sword Air” – but it’s the next best thing!
After months of navigating stormy seas—literally and figuratively—we’re thrilled to announce that air shipping from Swordier in China to the USA is back on the menu.
Since the trade war flared up in April, we were forced to shift all Swordier shipments to seafreight. That meant:
Lead times ballooned to over a month
We had to pay hefty tariffs upon arriving in the USA (Up to 145% at one point!)
Orders were consolidated at a US warehouse and then shipped domestically and
And let’s be honest, with all of these additional charges on such high value, low cost swords to begin with, our profit margins were hanging by the barest thread..
But now? We’re flying again. And the best part? The new air shipping option only adds $10 to the price, while slashing delivery times back to a swift 7–14 days. That’s faster than a longsword draw in a tavern brawl!
Swordier: Still the Best Bang for Your Buck?
Don’t just take our word for it—check out Shadiversity’s recent review of the Swordier Type XVIIIc where he calls it:
“One of the BEST swords we’ve ever reviewed!”
That’s high praise from a man who’s tested everything from zweihanders to zombie cleavers. Shad dives into the pros and cons of the Swordier line, including:
Excellent balance and handling
Impressive edge geometry
Unbeatable value at under $300
Whether you’re a collector, reenactor, or just someone who appreciates a well-made blade, Swordier continues to deliver serious steel without breaking the bank—or your patience.
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.
The final piece of the Witcher’s legendary collection has arrived—the Sword of the White Wolf is now available from our friends at Swordier.
Forged from perfectly tempered 65Mn spring steel, this sword reflects the craftsmanship worthy of a true monster slayer. The twisted steel hand guard and scent stopper pommel make it an unmistakable tribute to Geralt’s iconic weapon. Wrapped in genuine leather, it offers a battle-ready grip, whether displayed or wielded.
Yet, as another great sword enters the collection, the sword industry itself faces immense uncertainty. The trade war continues to wreak havoc, causing production stalls, delays, and project setbacks. While we remain committed to adapting, the full consequences have yet to unfold, making each new launch harder to predict.
While we may slow down on blog updates for now, our commitment to the craft remains unwavering. We thank our dedicated customers, who understand that great things take time—and just like a Witcher, we fight through the unknown with skill, determination, and a blade that never falters…
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 expensiveand/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…
