Hanwei Naginata – On Special Until August 14th..

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What do you get the Japanese sword enthusiast who has everything?

Why a Naginata of course..

naginata-offer

Made from differentially hardened tool steel with a real hamon and a saya (sheathe) that fits perfectly over the actual blade itself, the Hanwei Forge Naginata has not been available for many, many years – and while we can’t say for certain how long it will be available, we can say that it is available at the BEST PRICE EVER SEEN until August the 14th or until sold out..

Normally $860, this rare blade is available here at the SBG Sword Store for just $409.99

HISTORY OF THE NAGINATA IN A NUTSHELL

sohei1Originally believed to have been a Japanese variant of the Chinese Guan Dao, there were two variants – the O-Naginata (like the Hanwei version) and the Ko-Naginata.

The O-Naginata was used both on the battlefield by Samurai and were frequently attributed as the primary weapon of the Sohei warrior monks and the terrifying Yamabushi (mountain warriors).

The Naginata was typically used on the battlefield as an anti cavalry weapon, but the lighter, smaller ko-naginata was later adopted by female Samurai and used with deadly efficiency to protect their holdings and family when under attack.

Techniques for wielding this weapon include wide, spinning movements designed to clear the battlefield, and the extra leverage allowed for more forceful cuts than even the best katana could achieve.

Wakizashi Sale – Hanwei Forge

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This month, while stocks last, we are offering HUGE discounts of 25% and over on six of Paul Chens’ Hanwei Forge premium quality Wakizashi..

Each of these swords is also available with a matching full size Katana to create your own Daisho – so if you have ever thought about owning your own premium quality

Some of these blades have to be seen to be believed – from T10 tool steel to Swedish Powder Steel, HWS-2S Steel – the savings are significant – so grab them while you can..!

Wakizashi-Special

Project X – Last Orders for 2016..

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Around 24 hours previously, we emailed everyone who had been waiting for a chance to get their hands on a Project X Katana and – as expected – 24 hours later we are almost completely sold out again..

The Gunto is already out of stock, and at the time of this post there is only 1 Model # 006 Dragon Katana left..

The only sword we currently have a few of is the O-Katana, but only because we ordered quite a few.. But they too are moving fast.

As all of the Project X swords seen to date are completed for 2016, time is definitely running out if you want to secure one for yourself.

Project-X-final2016

 

Miyamoto Musashi – Daisho Tribute Sale with Ronin Katana

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musashiThis is a special offer that has been many years in the making..

Several years ago, Ronin Katana added a traditionally hand carved bo-hi option to their Dotanuki blade line up with a tsuba that was famously designed by the legendary masterless Samurai, Miyamoto Musashi.

By itself, this was an impressive piece.

But only now, with the addition of the matching model 3 Wakizashi – has it become complete..

To celebrate this new design and ultimate tribute to the legendary Ronin warrior – from today until the 8th of August, you can buy both the model 12 Katana and the matching Wakizashi with a whopping $100 discount – AND get two free top quality silk bags (one for each sword) worth $40..

With super durable no-nonsense monotempered 1060 blades forged in the Dotanuki style, all iron fittings, silk ito and high quality, buffalo horn reinforced saya – this is the best and most affordable, Dojo quality Daisho set on the market and makes a fitting tribute to the practical philosophy of the Kensai Sword Saint himself.

Click here for more information

About Miyamoto Musashi

800px-Musashi_ts_picIf you are a sword collector, you have almost certainly heard of him. In Japan, he is famous even to this day, and is considered by many to be the most skilled and successful Samurai Warrior that ever lived – the so called “Sword Saint” Miyamoto Musashi.

But how much do you REALLY know about him? Most famously, he is renowned for winning over 60 one on one duels and was claimed to have never been defeated, to have fought in battles and come away unscathed and to show a total disregard for the feudal order and society his was born in, taking no Lord, starting no family of his own and wandering from place to place driven by a burning desire to master his sword, and in its mastery, gain the keys to enlightenment and the understanding of all things..

But here are a few more interesting facts attributed to him:

  • He rarely bathed, feeling that – as a wandering master-less Samurai with many enemies – it was too dangerous to let down his guard. As a result, he was said to have a particularly rough and wild appearance in a country where being spotlessly clean was the norm.
  • Being of the philosophy that the sword was just a tool and one should not ever get too attached to any particular sword for its weight, cutting style, length, etc – he often found himself using a simple wooden bokken against swordmasters armed with the most expensive and exquisitely designed blades. And won every time..
  • Musashi was often late to arrive for his duels, meeting them on his own schedule and greatly upsetting, and offputting, his opponents.
  • After defeating all the famous Yoshioka Samurai after winning duel after duel, he famously faced off against the last of their line, surviving an ambush of musketeers, archers and warriors by retreating through the terrain, running backwards with both swords drawn and cutting down anyone who dared to come close. This was the first time he drew both swords and was said to have taken but a single cut to his forearm – leaving dozens of men dead and dying in his wake. Here he coined the phrase: “when you sacrifice your life, you must make fullest use of your weaponry. It is false not to do so, and to die with a weapon yet undrawn.”
  • While official records suggest he was undefeated in over 60 duels, there is some evidence to suggest he may have lost just once.. His opponent, Muso Gonnosuke, who he had defeated and spared previously – trained for years with a twin stick fighting style he poineered to get his revenge, and is believed to have beaten Musashi and returned the favor of sparing his life. The weapons he developed were said to be the first “Jo” sticks..musashi-art2
  • While first and foremost a warrior, Musashi espoused that the “way” was to be found in all things and once mastered, the mastery could be applied to any endeavor. As such, he was also an accomplished calligrapher, writer and painter – and without a teacher – was able to create works that are recognized as true masterpieces (pictured right).
  • His famous work, Go Rin No Sho – a Book of Five Rings – was compiled in seclusion in a cave in the mountains and completed only a few months before his death at age 61 from what is believed to have been lung cancer. In it, he recorded his innermost thoughts on the nature of strategy, and his work is still read and its principles used both on the modern battlefield and the corporate boardroom.

All this just scratches the surface of a truly extraordinary man whose spirit was irrepressible!

His Fareal-musashitsubamous Tsuba..

Left is an image of the ACTUAL tsuba designed and hand made by the man himself..

While many who utilize this design in their swords market it as a “Double C Ring” – closer examination reveals instead it contains exactly 5 rings – and is a visual representation of his Go Rin philosophy.

See if you can trace the circles and find the hidden design.

Hollow Ground Blades – Rare, sharp and hard to do right..

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One of the least common types of medieval swords, both historically and also with modern functional reproductions, was the Hollow Ground blade – which is essentially a blade with a concave grind either side of the central ridge that swoops up slightly and terminates with a secondary bevel..

Below are some examples of typical medieval sword cross sections from Wikipedia – the Hollow Ground blade is not exactly right, but gives you some general idea..

2000px-Sword_cross_section.svgA hollow ground blade was primarily used against lightly armored (leather) or unarmored opponents and the main advantage was, sharpness and viscous cutting ability. These were the kind of swords that would quite easily lop off and arm or a leg with a casual swipe, while the other types of edge geometry were designed to withstand chain and heavier armors, so lose some raw slicing ability in the process..

To make it all work properly, a hollow ground sword needs to avoid tapering off to a thin edge but instead MUST end in a secondary bevel, something some collectors think is ahistorical, but the reality is that EVERY historical hollow ground sword had a secondary bevel to ensure the edge was strong enough to asborb the power of the cut.

In many ways, I am surprised hollow ground swords are not more commonly available – as they are, by their very design, the kind of swords best designed for cutting common backyard targets such as water filled bottles, pool noodles, tatami mats, etc (after all, most backyard cutters do not need a sword able to withstand chain armor).

But these days, there are essentially only 2 swords on the market with this geometry, the $1570 Albion Regent and – very recently – the $499 Kingston Arms Crecy Sword

crecy-closeAbove is a picture of the Kingston Arms version – and even from this pic, the hollow ground design – swooping in on both sides from the central ridge, then scooping upwards and ending in a viscous secondary bevel – is very clear to see.

I think that the main reason these swords are not more commonly seen on the market is simply due to the extra difficulty involved in doing it well (the hollow ground geometry is NOT easy to do correctly, and takes nearly twice as long as a standard edge) and the fact that, well, not that many collectors understand the benefits of this kind of geometry and the fact that it needs to be done differently than a hollow ground knife.

As these are so rare, and yet so suitable to the desires and needs of many a backyard cutter, if you do have a chance to try one out – you will not be disappointed. That much I am certain of..