Additional thoughts, information and hints for our sword lines and products, including detailed introductions of new swords as they come in, special discounts and more.
In addition to the recent restock of the APOC Longsword we mentioned just a few days ago, a new Tactical 9260 Spring Steel blade snuck itself into stock – the next logical sword in the series being a matching Wakizashi for the Survival Katana, creating an Apocalyptic Daisho set unlike any other ever seen!
Suitable paired with the Katana or as a short, fast and deadly standalone sword in its own right, the Survival Wakizashi is perfect for survival in cramped conditions yet versatile enough to stand against any other hand held weapon – and an absolute bargain to boot. Normally $199.99 – available at SBG for just $149.99
Starting the month with a restock of popular swords – probably the most notable is the restock of the A.P.O.C. Survival Longsword – which was notably absent from the recent A.P.O.C. sale, and probably would have dominated the fairly lackluster sale we just finished a few days ago as this newest sword in the series has easily become the most popular in the A.P.O.C. line up:
But most notably, we start the month with a new entry from Kingston Arms that may well be the most authentic and best made affordable production Claymore ever seen – the aptly named, Kingston Arms Scottish Claymore:
Seeing the writing on the wall for the sword industry this year, Kingston Arms have opted to use a more inexpensive to work with steel – rather than 9260 spring steel (which is used on all the other Kingston Arms swords to date) they have opted for 65mn Spring Steel. But this means that this sword is the first in their medieval line up to be able to be offered for sub $300 (MSRP is $389, but by squeezing our margins we can bring it to you for just $274.99).
Awesome value, and as functional as they come and then some.
Scorpion swords Missouri based workshop has done it again with a fully functional Fantasy barbarian style sword called simply ‘the Barbarian’.
It starts life as does all the swords made by Scorpion Swords as a cut sword blank of 1095 carbon steel.
After drilling 14 holes in the hilt, the blade is then ground to shape – adding a fuller and shaping the edges.
Then follows the heat treatment process, firstly by heating the blade to 1500 degrees until it becomes non magnetic and then quenching it 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.
The walnut wood handle is then pinned and glued in place overnight, forming such a tight bond both with the glue and the 14 pins that it effectively is solidly fused in place and makes for a strong, one piece construction.
The handle is then refined, adding an additional 6 brass pins (to bring the total of handle contact points to 20), the blade sharpened and some engravings added before the handle is colored and the whole thing is finally ready to ship.
And there you have it, a very tough, very cool and super strong hand made in the USA Barbarian sword for under $300!
Chris Palmer at Scorpion Swords has once again brought two new swords to his now quite extensive list of affordable beater swords based on history and the works of fiction.
The first is a fully functional replica of an ancient Thracian sword, the fearsome Rhomphaia – a sword/pole arm hybrid that was used with great effect against the ancient Greeks and Romans (indeed, it was the awesome cutting power of this blade that forced the ONLY documented change/upgrade to Roman armor – requiring some extra reinforcing bars in their helmets!).
Just one look at this beast of a blade and you can see why such an adjustment might well have been needed!
And for fans of fiction and unique fantasy blades, the ‘Mummy Sword’ of Ardeth Bay from the Mummy Returns movie is a blade that has been crying out for a decent and fully functional replica to be made: and Chris’s tribute to this movie sword is a very faithful and good one that Ardeth would have been proud to carry into battle.
Even though it is a fantasy piece, it is engineered based on solid principles and can deliver a great deal of downward cutting power with its optimized, gracefully curving edge.
Both are available here in Scorpion Swords section of our site for a VERY reasonable $289.99 – which is truly great value for hand made in the USA, almost indestructible sword like these.
Always great to see some new and unique affordable swords hit the market – especially in these times when new swords are few and far between..
Hope you had the best start possible to 2023. While it will most certainly be another trying and rather difficult year in a series of difficult years (mostly because many of the actions taken around the world from 2020 will have and continue to have many long, largely unforeseen or unmanageable flow on effects) we will do our best to continue to deliver as much value as humanly possible.
And at least the year starts off on a positive note, with not one but THREE new high end Katana from the artisans at Frenchie Jin’s Dragon King Forge.
All these new Katana are made using two of my favorite modern steels, a blend of 9260 Spring Steel and T10 tool steel – one steel shock resistant and durable, the other strong and hard wearing – mitigating many of the inherent weaknesses of folding a blade, and the by product – a stunning and very traditional looking hada (skin) of the blade with subtle but prominent Damascus patterning.
Add to this a hand clayed natural hamon and we have a very traditional looking, and performing, blade with all the essential characteristics of a historical Shinken.
Each of the three models made in this fashion is subtly different – some are heavier and longer, others shorter and faster – and each has their own specific premium quality fitting sets, with Dragon King’s distinctive use of silvered fittings.
Check each model out below
The Kinryu
The Flagship model, the Kinryu is a Dragon themed no-hi bladed sword optimized as a power cutter. Very attractive with a Dragon Horimono engraving on the blade and partially rattan wrapped, golden saya. Normal price on this one is $1,499.00 but available for $500 less right here at the SBG sword store:
A longer blade with a longer handle, the Kawanakajima Katana as a deep bo-hi to lessen the weight and is complimented by premium quality, traditional black and white fitting aesthetics. Beautiful and deadly – normally also $1,499.00 but just $999.99 at the SBG Sword Store:
The fastest blade, despite having no bo-hi to lighten it, the Taikyu weighs in at a mere 2lbs 4oz and has many of the characteristics of lighter styled antique Katana. Complimented with subtle teal and Koi themed fittings, it is also $100 less than the other models – $1,399.00 but down to a mere $899.99 at the SBG Sword Store:
And if that wasn’t enough, we also start the new year with a special discounted price on the previous pinnacle for Dragon King, a truly butt kicking fully functional replica of the Ogami Itto Katana made famous by the 1970s Japanese serial and movie, Lone Wolf and Cub.
The normal price on this stunning battle ready replica is usually $1,259.00 – and is marked down at our site for the bargain price of $827.95. But from today until the end of the month and while stocks last you can snap up this classic design for just $699.99!!
