SBG Sword Store Blog

While stocks are running low for many popular swords and sword lines, and Chinese New Year has seen the closure of all the various forges, workshops and resellers in the ‘sword capital of the world’ (Longquan, China) – Ryujin have restocked some of their extremely affordable and popular ‘off the shelf’ sword models with a shipment that has just come in.

The first restock is Ryujin’s version of a Shinobigatana (Ninja Sword) based on the living Bujinkan tradition – with a Ko-Katana (technically also known as an ‘O-Wakizashi’) mounted in fittings that suggest it is a full length Katana..

Exceptional value at just $129.99, it features a differentially hardened blade hand forged from 1060 carbon steel and is at once attractive, authentic and weighing on average 2.2lbs with a point of balance less than 4″ from the tsuba, makes this 23 3/8″ sword extremely fast in the hand..

Then there are the swords from the so called ‘art swords’ line – in other words Ryujin take the most basic entry level 1045 carbon steel blade, temper it, and then go to town with attractive and ornate decorations to create a line of Katana for beginners that aren’t the same old tired design..

First sword from this line restocked is the ‘Green Battle Dragon’ featuring green colored ito in a katatemaki (battle wrap) style with matching green sageo, green sakura engravings on the saya and a gold colored dragon themed tsuba.

And then there is the ‘Blue Geisha’

Which, if you cannot tell, is so named because of the blue ito and sageo with a stylized Geisha ukiyo-e style imprint on the black glossy saya.

The restock also included one of their wildly popular entry level Chinese swords – with basic fittings and strong, 65mn spring steel blades – the 65MN Spring Steel Tang Dynasty Two Handed Silver Jian

Incredibly lightweight, it’s easy to use with one hand, but use it with two as it was intended and it literally feels like nothing. And to compliment the Jian, there is also the restock of one of my personal favorite sword types, the Chinese Dao – in this case, a no nonsense practical looking classical Willow Leaf Dao

That is some serious value right there!

Last but not least, some serious fun comes back with the Chanbara BOGO sale. Buy one of these tough ‘boffer’ style training swords from Ryujin’s S-Tec Brand and get another of the same color free!

Chanbara Buy One Get One Free Offer

Great to de-stress with, and at $29.99 for two is a fantastic deal – plus exclusive to SBG, we not only give you a free one but we guarantee them for breakage in normal sparring conditions for 1 year to make sure you get your moneys worth (and then some).

This is embarrassing to admit, but I totally screwed up a listing for one of our current hottest selling products – the Ryujin Limited Edition KuroKensai..

Indeed, looking at it – it’s actually pretty obvious.

The sword has a bo-hi – it’s there as clear as day, so how it ended up being listed as a solid bodied blade mystifies me..

Of course, at $174.99 when it normally would cost $229.99 to build I hope that everyone who received one either saw it in the pics, or is happy with it anyway – but as I had to change and update the listing, it’s only right that I at least let everyone know about the silly error..

It has been one of those months..

They had been discontinued without good reason for years – but finally they are back, the Tactical Swords that started it all – the ORIGINAL Tactical Katana and the Tactical Wakizashi by United Cutleries fully functional sword line – Honshu Swords.

The ORIGINAL Tactical Katana

The ORIGINAL Tactical Wakizashi

(Technically the Tactical Wakizashi should really be classified as an ‘O-Wakizashi’, or what is commonly called a ‘Ko Katana’ in the West, in that the sword has a long enough grip to accommodate two hands).

And then we have the newest of the NEW swords in the Honshu Boshin series. And man, are these things mean looking..

First of three we have added to the new line up is my personal favorite – the D2 tool steel ‘Spartan’ Sword..

Tactical Spartan Sword

You can clearly recognize the blade is inspired by the sword from the movie 300 rather than historical Spartan sword, but just one look at this sword lets you know it means business.

And closely related in size, but with a blade kind of facing the opposite way, is the War Sword, which was clearly inspired by historical Chinese Dadao.

Both are mean looking, no-nonsense designs, though of the two I prefer the Spartan due to the use of D2 tool steel, which is rarely seen on knives but generally reserved for mid-range knives. Yet here, you get sword size blades at knife prices..!

The Tactical War Sword

And last but not least, in general shape and style it actually does resemble many a historical Grosse Messer (German for ‘BIG Knife’) and they don’t get much more Grosse than the Tactical Grosse Messer by Honshu.

Tactical Grosse Messer

This thing is an absolute BEAST – finesse is not even in it’s dictionary, all this monster knows is destruction and is capable of generating tremendous force with its very forward weighted, highly aggressive blade.

Check all of these and more out in the Honshu Swords section of the store, the prices will truly surprise you..

If you love your swords BIG – the sub $300 Ryujin Custom O-Katana is a must have for collectors on a budget..

With a 33″ long blade and 14″ long handles and all up counting the space between munemachi and tsuba, you get around 4′ of sword – for just $259.99 – only $30 more than the standard line!

Each component is specifically designed FOR the O-Katana, but in almost every case it is possible to make a COMPLETE MATCHING SET of swords, with an O-Katana, standard Katana and Wakizashi all sharing the same style of fittings across the board.

Check them out here: