Category Archives: Extra Product Info

Special or timely information best left for a blog post

New to SBG – Blades of Japan: Anique Japanese Nihonto!

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I posted the first ‘teaser’ about this upcoming Project in the December issue of the Sword Buyers Digest – followed shortly by another mysterious post called ‘Store Officially Opened’ made on the 14th of January – but the time has come to lift the lid and show what a goodly portion of the trip to Japan that I document in this months edition of the Sword Buyers Digest (click here to read it online) was all about..

INTRODUCING: Blades of Japan at SBG

The full backstory of how this project came about is explained in detail in our new article on the main site “Antique Samurai Swords: a personal journey” – but the long and short of it is that the Japanese economy, which has been on a steady downwards incline since the late 1980s – has reached a point where the market for Antique Nihonto has pretty much dried up..

This has led to a series of price drops and devaluations, but despite lower pricing, the swords are STILL not selling in Japan like they used to. So, with dramatically discounted Nihonto under their belt, SBG was contacted by Chris Loeber and the Japanese Blacksmith Shinsuke-san, to help try and move some of these amazing historical blades and offer them to the SBG Sword Buying community.

So what do we have to offer in round one?

  • 5 Antique Edo Period Katana
  • 2 recently made Gendaito
  • 1 Amazing fully furnished Daisho Set
  • 1 Shin-Gunto with antique Edo period blade
  • 1 Wakizashi
  • 1 700 year old Tanto
  • 1 Full set of demon themed Koshirae
  • A set of antique menuki in an antique lacquer-wear box
  • A large selection of hand made tsuba

Some of these swords have quite an interesting backstory to them. For example, the Gunto was an older blade mounted in military fittings for the war and both the soldier and the blade returned to Japan safely, only to be found decades later when the old soldier passed away and it was found hidden away in a barn.

And then there is a restored Echizen Kanetane (the name of the Sword Smith) blade that has already received a free upgraded machine polish (valued at $750) and has a couple of unique ‘dings’ in the saya that suggest a very curious encounter at some point in the sword long history..

Or for anyone with a quality bare blade or an iaidoka looking to have the best looking ‘dripping with history’ iaito in the dojo – a full set of extremely cool looking Edo period fittings for a Sword that belonged to a Samurai who most definitely was not the shy and retiring type..

Plus, for those who cannot necessarily afford a complete new antique, why not upgrade the best Katana in your collection with some antique tsuba – from simple and affordable iron tsuba to hand made (not cast) brass tsuba that would have taken weeks to make, such is the level of detail..

More swords and components will be added over the following weeks and months, but for the time being, check out the heavily discounted Nihonto sales we currently have available while they are still up for grabs (naturally as there is only one of each sword or component available, they are sold on a first come, first served basis).

Blades of Japan

Two New Cool Designs from Scorpion Swords

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As the month draws to a close we are delighted to announce not one but TWO new designs from our friends at Scorpion Swords.

The first was designed by a customer who was looking for an Orcish themed weapon different than the existing Orc War Cleaver – and so came up with the second ‘Orc’ weapon by Scorpion, the ‘Orc Chopper’

It is, as you might expect from anything with “Orc” in the title, a brutish weapon – capable of generating tremendous force and with a long two handed grip, extremely versatile in the ways it can be wielded and quite a bargain for a blade hand made in the USA, just $274.99.

The Orc Chopper

And the second blade is the first Axe we have released and the 3rd design by Jason Woodard as a part of his Doomsday Series – the Boarding Axe.

Inspired by the Boarding Axes used by 19th century sailors, this utilitarian Apocalypse Ready multi-tool is the ultimate end of the world insurance policy.

Made from one solid slab of hardened and tempered 1095 carbon steel it is virtually indestructible and tough enough to demolish a car and then cleave through a horde of rampaging zombies like they were not even there..

Here is a quick behind the scenes look at how it is made – first up – referencing Jasons’ design notes along with the first 1:1 scale paper blank cut to shape.

Then, the shape is cut out from a sheet of premium 1095 carbon steel – ground to shape, heat treated, colored and the two slabs of the Black Linen Mircarta handle prepared to be pinned and gorilla glued into place so that it is essentially of a one piece construction with no loose or moving parts.

And then it is done – and one of the most affordable designs to boot at just $229.99

Check it out below:

Doomsday Boarding Axe

Or click here for the full Scorpion Swords line up, including many SBG exclusive designs.

Back by Popular Demand – the Ryujin Custom Wakizashi

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First time around, they didn’t get them quite right..

For the goal to create an affordable custom Daisho set (the classic Samurai sword set of the Katana and the shorter companion sword, the Wakizashi) was messed up when it was discovered that instead of the entry level blades the Wakizashi made turned out to match the $430 Ryujin Elites..

It took a while to liquidate the stock below cost price and lick the associated financial wounds this mistake had caused. But since so many people kept asking for it, Ryujin listened – and we are delighted to announce that the companion Wakizashi for both the solid bodied and bo-hi versions of the custom Katana is now available for immediate purchase!

First off, some pics of the standard solid bodied blade with a surprisingly active and very prominent hamon temper line.

And next, some pics of the bo-hi version. Note the termination of the bo-hi above the habaki rather than under it.

No matter which way you cut it, at $199.99 each these are a fantastic deal. And what is more, until the end of the month, they also come with a Wakizashi display and storage box that we usually sell separately for an additional $22.99.

But from now until the end of the month they are completely and genuinely free (most other places that offer them build them into the price and call it free. We prefer to set a low price and let you decide what extras, if any you need. But this time around, it is GENUINELY FREE and was NOT built into the final price)..

RYUJIN CUSTOM KATANA SERIES

Two New “Art Swords” from Ryujin

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The blades are strong – 1045 monotempered carbon steel – always the best choice for an entry level blade (keeping it simple).

The fittings, visually stunning – original, and not your standard run of the mill stuff for swords at this price point – but not over the top and overpowering.

In short, when it comes to attractive display swords that don’t cut corners where it counts and have a sturdy blade that is strong enough for frequent cutting (the fancier you get with a low priced blade, the higher chance it is rendered useless and non functional or has numerous unseen fatal flaws) – Ryujin Swords are the brand you need to take a close and serious look at.

Here is the first of the two new Art Sword designs that have just now become available to purchase – the first, the stunning Blue Sakura

A nice subtle choice of colors on this one, with blue sageo and itomaki in a ‘Battle wrap’ style (also rarely seen on swords below $100) and a highly detailed saya with Red Sakura cherry blossoms.

Another close up picture of the hilt:

And the second one, slightly cheaper (by $5) – it’s brighter cousin, the Green Battle Dragon Art Sword which has the same kind of style and theme but with different colors that make it more lively than the Sakura.

Once again, it has the distinctive battle wrap common to these two new designs. Here is a close up:

Both these two new designs, and the existing 7 swords in the series bringing the total to 9 different unique styles.

Check them all out here

New from Hanwei

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The Scott Rodell Cutting Dao

Every sword collector has their personal preferences in swords – and for me personally, the Chinese Dao has to be one of my top 5 sword types of all time (my top five tends to vary over time, but tends to always come back to Japanese Katana, Longswords, Functional Fantasy Swords, Viking Swords and – of course – the Chinese Dao).

Why?

Well, quite simply, they are incredibly good fun – profiled and optimized for a shearing one handed cut, and I had an absolute ball with their original entry level Dao, the Practical Kung Fu Sword (reviewed here) – but this one takes it all to a whole new level..

Here’s a video from forged in fire showing exactly what a well made Dao is capable of:

And there is no doubt in my mind that this is a very well made Dao indeed – designed by none other than Scott Rodell from the great river Taoist Center, who also designed the first sword in this series, the Scott Rodell cutting JIAN..

At $490 at Cas Iberia, it is a little on the expensive side, but made available at the special price of just $362.98 at SBG ($347.68 if you use the 5% off SALE2020 coupon code running until the 17th of January!).

AVAILABLE HERE AT THE SBG SWORD STORE

This brings the total number of available quality Dao at the SBG Store up to 3 models available right now, the new cutting Dao (above) – the Hanwei Oxtail Dao (pictured left and available for $219.98)..

And of course, one of the new additions from our friends at Ryujin, the 65mn Spring Steel Ming Dynasty Willow Leaf Dao – an absolute steal at $149.99 (pictured below).

And of course, for those for whom only the best will do, we have the Duan Dao by Forge Direct – that beautiful laminated blade here for $779.99

But a word to the wise, hold off on that one as the FORGE DIRECT CHINESE NEW YEAR SALE is coming by the end of the month, and will see a large discount on ALL the Forge Direct Chinese Swords, plus two new stunning Qin Dynasty Dao..

Here’s a sneak preview:

COMING SOON TO FORGE DIRECT

Stay tuned on these. In the meantime..

The Latest HOT SPECIAL

Themed for each of the four seasons, the heavy duty 5160 Spring Steel Tameshigiri ready Summer Lotus Katana by Dragon King is now on special – down from our already heavily discounted everyday price of $329.99 to just $249.99 until the end of the month and while stocks last..

SPECS: 5160 high-carbon steel sharpened blade, marquenched and monotempered to an edge hardness of 57HRC. Cotton black colored ito over authentic rayskin. Steel fittings, silver habaki and menuki. Green textured ishime style saya with buffalo horn rimmed koiguchi (scabbard mouth), wood kurikata and hard wearing black sageo. Traditional Construction with Exceptional Attention to Detail. Now Just $249.99 (normally $329.99) until the end of the month and while stocks last. Makes for a great long lasting beater sword for the Dojo or the backyard.