Over the years we have changed the look and feel of the SBG Sword Store quite a few times, both to adjust it as it has grown in size and scope, but also just because – as with any website – it is never quite “finished” and always something of a work in progress..

We have done the same with the main site, what you see today is nothing like when it first started – though as always, the essence remains the same..

In the last few weeks we have tried several different approaches and have finally settled on a new look that matches that of the main website. With this new look, the images of the swords we offer are bigger, clearer and the whole layout I think is easier on the eye. But there are still quite a few cosmetic tweaks we need to do – with hundreds upon hundreds of different sword pictures of different sizes it is going to take some time before we update each image to the largest, clearest pictures possible to match the new look. And right now, there are some cosmetic issues with the way some products are displaying – i.e. items on sale just cross out the original price without showing the on sale price unless you click through to the “more info” page, and not everything is lining up the way it should..

We will be getting these issues fixed in short order and then working hard to update the various sword pictures and add some additional functionality, so for the time being, please bear with us if things don’t display exactly how you might expect.

As always, the site itself remains 100% secure and the only changes are cosmetic, so it is business as usual. In the meantime, let’s take a quite trip down memory lane with some pics of the store as it appeared over the years..

SBG Sword Store Over the Years..

November 2006 – Started as a retail store stocking Cheness Cutlery (only).

November 2007 – attempting to match the look of the main site.. Hanwei and Darksword join the line up.

November 2007 – continuing to evolve, Valiant Armoury and the first generation of the SBG Custom Katana!

November 2009 – stabilizing and searching for a new look..

2010-2013 – We hire a pro to design a new site that matches the main site. Just like what we are doing now.. This look and feel persisted until late 2013..

November 2013 – different browsers meant that we needed to strip it back to basics..

November 2014 – we go with a basic “red stripe” and logo style on all SBG sites.

November 2015 – a temporary style as we search for a new unified theme..

Current theme as of today – professionally designed and matching the main site, we will be using this format as our new base for at least the next 3 years..!

It is still early days for this new format – we will continue to tweak it, expanding the right hand column, working on the navigation, graphics, etc. But this is the new base that, if the previous professionally done version from 2010-2013 is any indication, is going to be our look for the foreseeable future..!

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE STORE AND SEE FOR YOURSELF

Tameshigiri Anyone?

As of today it is increasingly unlikely any orders placed now intended as Christmas presents will arrive on time..

We will do our best to process and ship orders as fast as humanly possible, but the sheer number of parcels flying around in the week before Christmas really do clog up the various courier company and the postal system.

For the reason, we do not offer nor recommend 3rd day, 2nd day or overnight shipping simply because the faster you try to ship something this time of year, the greater the chance of it getting lost or damaged in transit, giving you a true Christmas headache intead of a good present..

Instead, for last minute gift ideas we recommend GIFT CERTIFICATES – not only are they immediately available and sent directly to your recipent via email, but they allow the receipent of your good will to buy the sword of their choice at their leisure and even a small low cost gift voucher will allow them to purchase something..

If you still want to place an order intended as a Christmas present, please CONTACT US and we will do our best to help out and advise of your options. Thanks for your understanding, hope you have a great Christmas – as you can see we have some great new product offerings available, but if ordered as presents please understand they may arrive just a little later than Christmas..

All the Best.

• Paul Southren, Store Owner

Affordable, durable and quite revolutionary – which is why it sold out so quickly.. But the good news is, a new shipment just arrived and we are pleased to be able to continue to offer this cool modernerized zombie slaying blade for just $50.

Plus, order 3 or more and get free shipping in the USA and your choice of a FREE FGX Knife!

Click here for details

After a few months with pretty low stock levels I am pleased to tell you all that the entire line of Cold Steel Swords we carry has been fully restocked and is ready to ship worldwide..!

They really do make some awesome heavy duty blades – and at our special SBG pricing, every item is an absolute STEAL.

Check out our full Cold Steel Line up here!

In the meantime, while it is somewhat graphic (cutting pig carcasses, zombie mock up things, etc) the following video “Apocalypse Proof” is certainly entertaining slice and dice action galore – and shows that these swords are clearly well made and able to stand up to some punishment.. (though, as always, do not try the more extreme tests at home!).

Phew!!

We have been working on the new responsive design since May – but now it is finally complete. And you may also notice, the blog has also been transformed (though the blog still has a bit of tidying up to be done, but we will get to that).

Now that all the heavy lifting has been done, we will continue to refine everything – and take a new and very exciting direction with the store blog now that it (almost) looks the part.

So be sure to check back frequently!

Naturally, the security of the store was and remains secure and paramount throughout the upgrade.

So hope you like the new responsive facelift..!

Update you all again soon.

– Paul