Category Archives: Store Product Info and Musings

The tough Monotempered 5160 Spring Steel blades from Dragon King’s “4 Seasons Line” (so called because they have a blade themed in fittings reflecting each of the seasons) have often been lauded as very attractive fitting sets, but over the years since they first came out, many customers who purchased one started asking Dragon King if there would ever be a version with a more refined, differentially hardened blade..

..Well, they need ask no further – two of the 4 blades have just been released as an alternative version – the Spring Sakura and the Autumn Leaf..

DH SPRING SAKURA KATANA

DH AUTUMN LEAF

The fittings are the same, but both blades have been replaced with differentially hardened 5160 blades with bo-hi/fuller and a real hamon temper line.

Available at the MSRP of $599.00, you can pick up either of these models for just $429.99 at the SBG Sword store. Combine one with a tough ‘beater’ blade from the original monotempered series and you can now have one workhorse ‘forgiving of mistakes’ version and the new version suitable for more dedicated cutting, self defense, display or to see how much your technique has improved training with the tough versions.

Check out the full range of Dragon King Katana below:

The Renaissance of Renaissance Swords in 2024 continues to gain some momentum with two new affordable 17th century Renaissance blades, one a powerful sidesword originally from Italy that is balanced between thrust and cut, and a new version of the Kingston Arms Swept hilt rapier, this version with blackened antiqued finish fittings.

And the best part, they are BOTH very affordable with our SBG Special Prices and under $300!

ITALIAN SPADA DA LATO SIDE SWORD

STATS: Overall: 41″ Blade Length: 32 3/4″ Handle Length: 4 1/4″ Weight: 2lb 9oz Point of Balance: 2″ Thickness at Guard: 5.5mm Thickness at Tip: 2.8mm

BLACK SWEPT HILT RAPIER

STATS: Overall: 42 7/8″ Blade Length: 37″ Handle Length: 3 1/2″ Weight: 2 lbs Point of Balance: 2 5/8″ Width at Guard: 0.75″ Thickness at Guard: 5.5mm Thickness at Tip: 2.5mm

Plus, as mentioned in the title – these two swords also have available a cool off hand defensive and opportunistic shorter blade, the Main Gauche, which suits either one for the full ‘Renaissance sword’ experience.

MAIN GAUCHE

STATS: Overall: 16 1/2″ Blade Length: 11″ Handle Length: 5 1/2″ Weight: 13 oz Width at Guard: 0.85″ Thickness at Guard: 5.3mm Thickness at Tip: 2.2mm

Check out all of these blades plus 7 other stocked Renaissance blades in the Kingston Arms Renaissance Collection below:

It is the second Ragnarok inspired Viking blade in Jason Woodards Doomdsay Sword series and the second with a curious fusion of ancient Norse design with modern materials and blade making techniques – starting as it always does with a 1:1 scale sketched design.

After careful consideration of the overall design and individual design elements, Chris Palmer then creates and has cut out a Master Template in 1095 carbon steel.

The blank has some basic edge geometry ground in and the handle is drilled in 11 places where pins and epoxy will later bind the handle to the steel.

Edges are further refined and a narrow fuller is ground along the center of the blade on both sides, providing it it’s general shape and styling.

The entire blade is then heat treated to around 1500 degrees and then quenched in brine, hardening it, before the steel is heated a second time to approx 500 degrees and allowed to temper.

The tempered blade is cleaned up and polished, and has two blocks of Black Linen Mircarta pinned and epoxied on both sides in a classic hard wearing sandwich tang construction.

From there, the handle is ground to shape and has 5 additional brass pins inserted, for one of the strongest blade to handle and overall strength swords currently on the market,

Finally it is all cleaned up, the blade is given it’s final edge, the handle gets wrapped in deer leather (and if ordered, the optional scabbard is fitted and made).

And the end result, Doomsday Sword #10 – Viking Type 8, now available at the SBG Sword Store for just $279.99

Not bad for an entirely made by hand in the USA blade!