Back to Business!

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Though it ain’t all sunshine and lollypops..

And boy do we have a lot of catching up to do..

First there is a backlog at Ryujin that we are working through, then there are a ton of emails that need urgent attention, and we need to make a few changes and update the site and stock levels (which are, for most of our suppliers, very limited!).

Personally I spent at least 3 hours a day over the holidays working on the site so that there was no mountain of work to come back to – and also unable to see my family being locked away overseas since the pandemic started, had plenty of time up my sleeve..

But it has NOT been a positive start to the year at all. The industry in Longquan is more or less decimated – we warned about this for years, but the eBay guys have stripped it like locusts and we have seen many talented smiths retire or forges change to producing Celedon ceramics. But personally, I am saddest to see Master Michael Ye move on from sword making – and taking all his products from the Forge Direct Line up with him..

The Wuxia line he made for Legendary Swords have been discontinued for a long time. But here are the swords that have since joined the permanently retired archive..

Classic Peony Jian
Han Dynasty
Yong Lo Mk II
Feathersteel Golden Dragon
Dragon Fire
Golden Peony
Tiger Jian
Imperial Dragon
Emperor Qianlong
Shengxiao Jian
Double Dragon
Black Ebony
Dragon Sword
Boar Killing Spear

Honestly, it does not leave us with anywhere near as many Forge Direct Chinese Swords to Choose from – and as the industry continues to shrink, chances are so will the number and possibility of obtaining new models..

Anyway, it’s real shame to see him go – and sadly, the writing is on the wall. Many others are soon to follow his lead. He did some amazing work, and was part of the collaborative project to create the fantasy blade the Seraph Aegis with US artisan Jeffrey Robinson

Add to this extremely low stock levels at Hanwei – with restock expected first in November, then December and now, unknown…

But it’s not ALL bad news..

BCI USA advised me that we have a single new and unshipped Zelda inspired Master Sword still in stock! And one that was returned because the customer did not like the construction techniques and was upset that the hilt is 2mm different on one side than the other..

Have a look and tell me if you think it looks terrible or not,

Anyway, you can find them both for sale on the main page of the site. So grab them while you can!!

The New One
The Returned one (save $50)

Okay, now I have an absolute TON of work to get to, so will post again when I get a chance or if something new and noteworthy happens. But I must say, 2021 feels like 2020 but worse..

Forge Direct Custom Katana Update

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It has been a NIGHTMARE year for Forge Direct.. By June 23rd we realized the supply chains had been DECIMATED by Covid-19 and for months and months, while halted all new orders, we did our best to work through the backlog.

We got a lot of really nice emails from people thanking us for the sword once received and saying it was worth the wait. And we also had some customers get rather nasty with us – and so as we wind up the last orders, at the end of it, we should see quite a few bargains for sale from abandoned orders (our official policy is that custom orders cannot be cancelled, but this got so bad that we had to abandon the policy for now and just keep on taking hit after hit).

Here’s a sneak preview at one of some of the unloved and abandoned swords (many actually finishing up just a week or two after the customer lost patience and lost the farm)..

In the meantime, I am tweaking the actual listing to get us to Forge Direct Custom Katana 4.0. Saya choices are a MAJOR issue now, and the folded steel option will also have to go. Additionally, we have had to raise the base price because of higher (almost double) shipping costs and much higher costs at the forges as they need to pay their workers more as they leave the industry in droves.

Aaaargh!!!

We will keep you updated as we go.. If these swords were not so well made and not so well received, and I did not get those emails from appreciate rather than impatient or angry customers – there is no way it is worth doing. But we will try one last time, and if it fails – we did our best..

Covid at Ryujin and some sad news at BCI..

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First off, I posted earlier on Facebook the very sad news that the father of Blade Culture International Mr. Fernando De Guzman Snr passed away Sunday morning at 4am local time.

Fernando with his son

I had the honor of meeting the man personally, and he was a quiet, humble and hard working type. While he was not well known, his work is – think Kris Cutleries best work, because it HIS forge that made all their acclaimed early blades still in demand to this day and who now make under their own name, Kingdom of Arms and Legendary Swords.

The whole family were so kind and so welcoming. So it is with great regret that I advise of his passing and vow to ensure his legacy and BCI live on.

Ryujin Custom Line temporarily on hold

In other news, first one and now two workers at the Ryujin warehouse have contracted Covid-19 and so the warehouse no longer has enough staff to make the custom Katana series until several weeks later.

Neither of the workers are showing severe symptoms, but 2021 isn’t starting off so nicely and feels a lot like 2020 may go on for years..

We will keep you updated of the situation and wish the workers effected a speedy recovery. Take care out there everyone.

Happy New Year!

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And a 5% discount coupon code..

You can almost feel the whole world breath a sigh of collective relief that 2020 is finally over (or at least, in almost every part of the world it’s behind us)..

Unfortunately, just because the year changed does not mean all the issues that plagued 2020 have magically disappeared. Santa put on a heroic battle, but even he could not prevail..

But at least we hope to see some victories against the pandemic and the havoc it has wreaked upon our modern way of life. Vaccines are coming and new and intelligent strategies are being developed, many of which may be of benefit to us all.

But in the meantime, while we are officially closed – a deal to make up for all the expected shipping delays and the fact that we are basically taking some much needed time off.. (mostly, though I find it hard as there are a LOT of new projects being prepared for launch this year)..

To use the coupon, simply enter the items you want to purchase from our store to your cart.

SBG Sword Store

Once you are happy, simply checkout and in the following field enter the coupon code exactly as written.

(or just click the button below to automatically add the discount).

Auto Add 5% Discount

CONDITIONS: Please note that this coupon code is ONLY valid if used at the time of purchase. If you forget to add it, please do not ask for refunds as refusal may often offend.. During this time shipping and email support WILL be slow, hence the discount. Offer may be withdrawn at any time ahead of the stores re-opening.

P.S. The swords above are ‘decorative wallhangers’ through and through, but the photography was stunning and the designs in themselves have some nice points. The fish tail pommel, wire wrapped sword in particular would not be bad if it had a strong, matching guard and real blade.

THE OFFICIAL SBG SWORD STORE

Officially closed, but working harder than ever!

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While we may have officially closed off on the 20th of December, there are still too many emails that need answered, deliveries that need to be double checked and fixed and a ton of things needed before I can begin to partially unplug for Christmas day..

Santa’s Elves are proving no use as usual..

And so it’s up to me to give the year one last push to try and get across the Christmas finish line. And to do so, while at this stage we normally bow, out – this time we are offering two last minute ‘Christmas Savers’*

Both are from RYUJIN SWORDS and feature the classic differentially tool steel blades they are famous for. But the savings are out of this world..

First up – the KUROKENSAI (Black Sword Saint) which has a solid bodied blade, solid Iron Muashi tsuba and all black fittings.

KuroKensai $174.99

And the next one is the last few of a final closeout sale from the Ryuin pre-assembled series. While the KuroKensai is all black, the Yukizuna is it’s polar opposite – with all WHITE fittings.

$164.99 Yukizuna

Now because Christmas is only days away, international orders are out of the question. And unless you live very close to California, then it’s a risk to ship using standard ground shipping. So we have added an option for 2 night express for an additional $35. (No longer optional)

We cannot guarantee that it will make it in time, but this is your best shot – and the prices, too good to ignore..

P.S. Did you see the 10% discount on the entire Kingdom of Arms Series? There is less than 24 hours to go..

Check out their line up here

My favorite from their series so far – probably their Sword of Strider

Or the Gladius, Falcata and range of Knightly Swords from the Crusading orders of the Teutonic Knights and the Templars..

Well, time to continue my ‘holiday’ – about 100 odd emails to get through so will work through the night and see how we look tomorrow!

P.S. In an edit I noticed that in the coupon the sale expired on the 23rd of September 2020..! I meant December of course, shows how much I need a REAL break..