Category Archives: Behind the Scenes

Important industry wide events effecting shipping, sword brands, laws or other really important announcements. Sometimes doubles with ‘Paul’s rants’

Navigating Challenges, Honoring Commitments

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The path forward has been clouded with uncertainty, but as the dust settles, we are emerging with a clear strategy—one that keeps our guiding principle intact: “Tariffs are included in the price you pay. You’ll never have to pay extra at delivery.”

For Swordier, this means maintaining current pricing while shifting to sea freight, ensuring affordability remains a priority. Meanwhile, for our exciting Black Dragon Forge revival, direct shipments from the forge will continue, preserving speed and convenience. However, with the introductory sale now concluded, these blades will now be available at their standard base price and have just been adjusted accordingly.

One path (Black Dragon Forge) is faster but slightly more expensive. The other (Swordier) is slower but still an absolute bargain. In all cases, we ask for patience, as we navigate these changes together.

While some projects are temporarily on hold, innovation is still at the heart of what we do—new developments are brewing, and exciting releases are on the horizon. Despite the chaos, our mission remains steadfast: providing quality swords at fair and reasonable prices.

This landscape may continue to shift, and prices may evolve in response to trade war conditions, but our dedication to affordability remains unwavering. Your support makes it possible, and we are grateful for every blade enthusiast who stands with us.

Stay tuned—there’s more to come…

P.S. If you have an order that hasn’t been delivered yet, we ask for your patience. Shipments from late April were scuttled but are now being rescheduled, and everything should be cleared up by the end of the month. Thank you kindly for your understanding and continued support.

P.P.S. For the time being, all restocks of swords shipped from within the USA are on indefinite hold, meaning some of our best blades are vanishing fast. Check the front page of the store for our current ‘endangered’ and increasingly rare swords—still available at 2024 prices.

Update from Swordier: New Swords and a New Shipping Method..

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For sword enthusiasts who crave both historical accuracy and incredible craftsmanship, we’re thrilled to introduce two new models to the Swordier lineup: the XVa Longsword and the mighty Zweihander.

SWORDIER XVa Longsword

Spring steel blade, stainless steel fittings, peened pommel, genuine leather hilt wrap and scabbard wrap (premium quality). Amazing value for money at $349.99.

SWORDIER ZWEIHANDER

Spring steel blade, leather and hard wearing silicone hilt. A whole lot of blade for just $369.99..

These pieces offer remarkable performance at an unbeatable price, ensuring that quality remains accessible without compromise.

However, due to the ongoing trade war and evolving tariff situation, US customers should be aware that orders will take approximately 20 days longer to arrive. To keep pricing stable, we’re utilizing seafreight for shipments to the USA, followed by customs clearance and domestic distribution. While this ensures you won’t see a sudden price spike, it does require some patience.

We deeply appreciate your understanding and continued support as we navigate these challenges. Rest assured, the XVa Longsword and Zweihander will be well worth the wait—offering superior balance, durability, and historical authenticity at a price you won’t find anywhere else.

Explore the details, place your order, and get ready to wield a blade steeped in legacy.

Swordier @ SBG

Savage Swords of Conan!

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What better time to escape the hard light of day and the trade war blues with some new Barbaric swords inspired by the works of Robert E Howard and Conan the Cimmerians “Hyborian age”?

The first has been in development for several months – and while it is launching at a less than ideal time (as this sword is coming hot from the Black Dragon Forge in Longquan and thus, will probably have some teething issues with the Tariffs as they hit individual parcels from May 2nd and are already somewhat disrupted) – it is available with FREE international shipping, so worldwide shipping is possible.

The sword in question, the curved and viciously pointed swords of the Hyrkanians as carried by Conan’s friend and companion, Subotai and comes with a free synthetic fur barbarian scabbard for good measure!

HYRKANIAN SWORD OF SUBOTAI

As with all Black Dragon Fantasy swords, it not only looks the part but is 100% functional in every aspect and is a fierce cutting sword in its own right!

Hyrkanian Sword

ATLANTIS SWORD – DOOMSDAY #11

The second Conan sword is of course 100% tariff free, being hand made by Chris Palmer in Missouri and also made from 1095 carbon steel, starting with a blank and drilling the holes for the pins that will secure it all together..

The blade is then roughly shaped and heat treated to approximately 1500 degrees, until it becomes non magnetic and then quenched in brine (salt water). The 2nd step is Heat Tempering, which consists of heating the steel to 500 degrees for 2 hours, and letting it air cool. This makes for a Rockwell Hardness of approximately 57 and gives these Scorpion Swords the amazing strength and durability they are noted for.

The blade is then given a final polish and sharpened up before the wooden handle is pinned and epoxied in place and the sword finally ready after 3-5 to be shipped to the customer.

And here it is completed!

Not bad considering its $330 price point – and easily one of the toughest and most brutal Conan tribute swords made to date!

Doomsday 11 – Atlantis Sword

A Difficult Reality—What Tariffs Mean for Sword Collectors..

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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…

SBG Sword Store

THE USA WAREHOUSED LANDED LINES

Aka the Endangered List..

APOC
Dragon King
Kingston Arms
Legacy Arms
Ryujin

Go Big or Go Home: The Last Chance to Secure Swords at 2024 Prices Ahead of Tariffs and Trade War..

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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.

SBG Sword Store