SBG Sword Store Blog

Our friends at Ryujin had quite a few other miscellaneous items come in with their most recent restock – though not everything that they have brought in was to SBG standards, and we had to reject quite a few swords that we did not feel met the necessary minimum requirements to qualify as an item for sale in our store (as you may know, we “only stock swords we would buy ourselves” – and some of the new blades were just not ‘SBG material’).

But we did find ONE that most certainly qualified – and while it is not technically a sword, it is most definitely a very effective traditional Chinese battlefield weapon..

Introducing: The 65MN Spring Steel Budget Pudao

Unlike most other budget Pudao with whippy stainless steel ‘Wushu’ blades, this baby sports the real deal – and at just $159.99 is a real bargain and a great addition to our growing selection of affordable Traditional Chinese Weapons.

Check out the full range below:

While the basic blades from the Ryujin Custom Katana line will not be restocked for another couple of months or so, we are pleased to advise that a couple of Ryujin Custom Katana have just been restocked – the Elite Custom Katana and the unique Shobu Zukuri with partial bo-hi (plus, we also received quite a few components – previously most were almost sold out, but now we have the majority of the custom options available).

Check them out below:

Ryujin T10 Custom Katana ELITE – Choji Midare Hamon

The fittings don’t quite do justice to the stunning ELITE Ryujin Custom Katana’s blade – indeed, the first time I laid eyes on it I thought it would sell for double the price it does. Truly awesome value at just $479.99

Ryujin T10 Custom Katana – Shobu Zukuri with partial bo-hi

A unique style of Katana that was developed on the battlefield – the graceful lines and appearance are deceptive – for these swords were designed to defend against the Mongol invasions of the 14th century, and with a clamshell bevel, are exceptional cleaving swords – typically cutting deeper and more savagely than the later period, more typical Shinogi-Zukuri.

And despite recent quite dramatic price pressure, it’s still a bargain at just $229.99

For the last 13 years or so, Archery expert Chris Palmer has been making short bladed swords inspired by history, fantasy and tactical applications – becoming so busy that he had to transition away from bow making to produce blade full time. And so it was very disconcerting when several other sword makers and hobbyists more or less crucified him for a mistake made when a customers heat treatment on one of their ‘longer than usual’ blades that they had been experimenting with as part of the Doomsday line..

I won’t go into all the sordid details – if you have a morbid curiosity you can see the thread yourself here, but long story short is that Scorpion Swords found that their longer bladed swords could not quite meet current customer expectations – so they have decided to re-focus on what they do best.. Short bladed historical and tactical sword designs – and while all of the longer bladed designs were discontinued, new designs are being made to replace them – and at the same time, two NEW designs have just become available.

NEW DESIGN #1: The Tactical Ginunting

This is the hand to hand weapon of choice for the Filipino Marine Corps – and just one look at it reveals why this highly versatile blade would be so popular.

NEW DESIGN # 2: Greek Xiphos

The second is a sword from Classical Antiquity of which variations were found amongst almost all their neighbors, and that is the Xiphos – a leaf blade shortsword made for the 21st century by Scorpion Swords, and complimented with neat deer leather wrapped handle.

Looking forward to sharing with you the design replacements for the swords discontinued from the Doomsday line. But in the meantime, let’ hope that when people post on forums and social media they do not forgot basic courtesy and respect..

As shipping chaos continues to prevent most of our suppliers from being able to restock as they have in previous years, we will take any good news we can muster. And while this limited restock is VERY limited – to just a handful of items and with very low stock levels (about a dozen swords for each model restocked) the color and variety these popular items add to our selection will pretty much guarantee that they will not remain in stock for very long..

So without any further hoo-ha, here is what has come back to the shelves in limited quantities..

65MN Spring Steel Tiberius Maintz Gladius

The fittings are based on a famous historical example – the blade, a very clean length of 65mn spring steel and the price, still just $129.99 despite increasing price pressure..

The Kiangxi Horsebane

Not just horses would fear this meaty chopper – pretty much anything you put in front of it had better get out of the way or risk getting swept aside with just one of its powerful chops or cuts. Check out the video below of the Kiangxi in action while being tested at the forge in Longquan.

And finally, for those of you longing for and missing the discontinued Cheness Oniyuri – we bring you the budget alternative with a differentially hardened 1060 carbon steel blade:

Ryujin 1060 Carbon Steel Differentially Hardened Shinobigatana

Doesn’t get much better than these – and while we have had to shrink our margins to the tightest and lowest profits ever, this time at least we avoided a price rise. But with so much demand, freight prices almost doubling and the inability to restock continuing with no end in sight, it is only a question of time before we have no choice but to pass on the cost increases – so get getting while the getting is good!

It has been a very hard year to keep anything in stock – indeed, last month Ronin Katana had to actually temporarily close its doors as it had literally run out of swords to sell!

So it is great news to announce that they have just restocked almost every product in their line – however, the reprieve may be short lived. Demand for well made, good value functional swords is still unseasonably strong – so for some of the most popular swords, especially in the European sword line, are not likely to remain stocked for very long..

RONIN KATANA AT THE SBG SWORD STORE