The original swords from Project X Japanese were and still are what we feel are well balanced and aesthetically pleasing designs – but with the ability to customize them it’s possible to create a truly unique, one of a kind personalized sword using one of this swords as a base.
One of our most popular swords is Model # 006 (the Dragon Blade) as it has a wide range of very attractive and original themed Koshirae (fitting sets: Tsuba, Fuchi, Kashira and Menuki) as well as great looking saya.
Mixing and matching just a few of the components and we get, well – we get this stunning original sword designed by one of our customers from the first trial run of 20 swords..
Click any of these pics for a very high resolution image:
$1000 Price Tag, all inclusiveSword and SayaSide view of the fittings and bladeNow THAT is what a geometric kissaki should look like1 Full Day of PolishingThe stunning interplay between the lamination, the hamon and in this case, folded steelSubstantial and thick tsuka due to the use of a FULL rayskin wrapClose up of the Buffalo horn Koiguchi and Kurikata with premium sageoThe Gold Leaf, Double Lacquered SayaBottom half of saya with gold leaf and buffalo horn kojiriClose up of the blade showing the bo-hi (fuller) optionSide view shows the hamon patternGreat choice of tsuba and fittingsThe classic Samurai warning, a partially drawn blade..Great choice of Menuki (handle ornament) and vibrant fittings.The use of Hishigami (paper triangles) is time consuming and expensive, but when combined with alternating wrap and full rayskin results in the tightest fit possibleA couple of final glamor parting shotsAnd that’s all folks
While the first run of 20 swords is taking just a little longer than we anticipated – as you can see from the pics above they are well worth the wait..
Another trial run will commence as soon as the last sword from the first trial is safely delivered. To be informed of when they are next available – as well as get access to several special deals and offers not available to non-subscribers, sign up to the Exclusive Project X Newsletter Below.
In the meantime, you can see all the current main designs and custom options HERE with 2-3 NEW models in the works behind the scenes..
As the weather heats up, the deals also keep getting hotter at Ryujin.
This time around, we have a second version of the overstocked Rattan wrap with Buffalo Horn Saya – this time just $179.99 with a set Crane themed tsuba, black ito wrap and brass tsunami themed fittings:
The Black Crane Limited Edition Katana
The Iron Crane tsuba and prominent buffalo horn KurikataThe classic T10 Tool Steel Differentially Hardened Blade Ryujin is famous forBrass tsunami themed Fuchigashira makes for a classic and traditional Edo period Katana
So for those of you who want a no-nonsense, hard wearing traditional blade with sturdy fittings and reinforced saya – if you can find a better deal than this, grab it because we are pretty sure that this is the best possible deal around for a sword under $200..
And while you are there, you might as well get in on round 2 of the BUY ONE GET ONE FREE special offer on the Ryujin Polypropylene Bokken.
More durable than a wooden bokken in almost every instance, each practice sword also comes with 2 different styles of removable tsuba and is a real bargain at just $29.99 each.
Another reason to pick one of these up? 3 ‘swords’ qualifies you for FREE SHIPPING in the USA – so you could get the Crane Katana and two Bokken for a total of just $209.99..
When it comes to quality replicas of historical European Swords, Kingston Arms has made quite a splash in the entry to mid level market. With swords designed by none other than the legendary Angus Trim himself, these blades have an emphasis on proper balance, handling and construction and considering almost all their swords are priced just above or just below $300 makes them, offer some remarkable value for money.
As such, we are very pleased to advise that we have restocked two of their most popular models – the Oakeshott Type XIV Arming Sword and the more recent addition, the beautiful yet utilitarian Renaissance Side Sword
PLUS, we also added a new model to the line up – the brutal side arm of the fearsome German mercenary Landsknechts, half mad and fearless warriors for hire whose appearance on the battlefield could and often did turn the tide of the conflict – the Katzbalger.
If you are not familiar with who they were and what they did, this brief video provides at least a rough outline:
Anyway, while the pike was their primary melee weapon the Katzbalger (cat skinner!) was their ultimate backup. Stout, powerful and capable of generating enough force to break the haft of an enemy pikeman it’s a powerful cutter and is for the most part quite historically accurate in appearance and handling (though modern steel being as good as it is, it is actually probably considerably BETTER than the originals)..
Normal price for this new sword is $369.99 but we are offering it for just $289.99 with FREE SHIPPING. Stock is limited so if you are looking to add something very cool and unique to your collection, grab one while they are still available.
The first 10 of 20 orders for the trial run of Project X Japanese – Custom Options have just been completed and are about the leave the forge with the final 10 swords not all that far behind.
In the meantime, I requested a few pictures of the master smiths and master polisher at work on these authentic Soshu Kitae laminated and differentially hardened blades to give you a bit of a behind the scenes look at what goes into making these swords as special as they are.
First up, a couple of nice shots of the initial fusion of the 5 panels of steel – correct placement of each type of steel is critical and it is a complex procedure that ONLY a Master Smith can actually pull off and is why this type of lamination is so rare and (relatively) expensive.
Once the 5 panels are properly forge welded together its hammer time – all done the old fashioned way, with not a power tool in sight – just two master smiths working together in unison to stretch out the steel.
Once the Master Smiths have finished forging and shaping the blade, it is then handed over to another certified Master – the polisher (whose apprenticeship is actually LONGER than that of a smith!).
Here the polisher spends one FULL day on each blade, getting to know it intimately as he smooths and sharpens the blade for optimal cutting performance.
One of the hardest parts of polishing a Katana is the kissaki (the tip), which takes almost as much time to polish as the rest of the blade due to its complex contours. The effort required to polish this small part of the blade is so great it is the reason why so many entry level hand made swords have nothing more than a rough counter-polish.
Naturally, this traditional method of polishing creates the highly desirable ‘geometric yokote’ – that is to say a definite and clearly defined line where the body of the blade transitions to the tip.
From there, these stunning blades are mounted up in the customers choice of premium fittings (full rayskin wrap, hishigami silk ito, you name it – no shortcuts or inferior components are used whatsoever).
Honestly, with all the blood, sweat, tears and skill that goes into each blade its only because we trim down our margins so much that a sword like this can be made available for $1000 – its easily worth DOUBLE the price if not even a bit more, as the first 20 people who were fortunate enough to get in on the first round offering are soon about to find out first hand..
To find out when the next round of offerings is available, and get access to exclusive deals and special upgrades, be sure to sign up to the exclusive Project X newsletter.
In the meantime, you can see the various base designs offered for the first round and perhaps start thinking about how YOU might decide to customize one for yourself if you are fortunate enough to be in a position to be able to afford one of these truly droolworthy swords..
Not one but THREE awesome deals from our friends at Ryujin. First up, the return of the limited edition and extremely popular Mother of Pearl Saya on the classic bo-hi or no-hi Ryujin T10 blades.
Mother of Pearl Saya Option – Just $229.99
The price, the same as it was last time, an absolutely insane price of just $229.99 (normally the saya alone would cost between $75 to $125 extra – in this case, it is basically FREE!)
The second offering is a new one – like the Mother of Pearl, the saya in question was too expensive to offer on our usual line up. But with too many in stock they need to clear: black lacquer, black rattan wrap reinforcement and a genuine buffalo horn kurikata..
Yeah, that’s pretty crazy.. But how about $60 off the O-Katana, now just $209.99 and STILL with the free bonus items..!
The O-Katana, totally insane deal at $209.99
THAT is what I call a stock clearance sale..!
All of this and more can be found here in the HOT SPECIALS section of our site – grab them while you can for the sale ends either when the stock runs out or the end of the month, whichever comes first (and with these deals, I have a feeling that at least one of them will go from overstock to no stock well before the end of the month, so best get in while the getting is good).
