With prices poised to shoot dramatically northwards due to the usuriously high base rate of 145% on Chinese imports, deals like these should be snapped up whenever you can!

Positive sword stories to counter some of the Negative Nancy hoplophic (weapon-phobic) nonsense out there these days that passes for 'news'..

Deep Dive into 6 Ancient Chinese Swords

Most news articles about unearthed swords don't really drill down into the details. But this one by nature.com goes deep.

Australian Naval Sword on Display in Whyalla

While Australia may not have a rich or deep history with swords, those few noted exceptions should be celebrated. And they are, with a new display set up for the sword of commander Neven Robinson Read, who commanded the HMS Whyalla from 1944-45.

National Treasure level swords on display in Mistui

If you want to see some truly priceless Nihonto, your golden opportunity awaits you in Mistui.

How did medieval folk get their money to buy swords?

Swords were very expensive in medieval times, so what jobs did people work to be able to afford one? Find out 10 of the most common medieval occupations.

Defending Latvia's 900,000 euro military sword bill

The tradition of providing military graduates a sword in Latvia comes with a 900,000 euro price tag. And while swords may not present much of pressing need for a modern military, their importance cannot be underestimated.

1:1 official replica of 'Virtuous Contact' now on sale

It may be a plastic toy, but it's a cool looking plastic toy - and even cooler for fans of the Nier: Automata franchise..

Is that a scabbard in your pocket?

The debate rages on, is it a scabbard or a phallus depicted in the Bayeux tapestry.. Me thinks these historians have too much spare time on their hands..

Trouble sleeping? Try the medieval sleep method..

In our high stress, 24 hour world of neon and chrome, getting a good nights sleep seems to be harder than ever. Here's some tips from our medieval ancestors on how to get a good nights kip.

Akira Kurosawa's Ran 40th anniversary re-release

Watch the trailer to this Samurai era masterpiece re-released in 2025 for it's 40th year anniversary. Needless to say, it has aged timelessly..

For the past month, we’ve been watching a slow-motion disaster unfold—like a truck skidding out of control toward us. And now, on May 2nd, the moment of impact arrives.

Until now, the 145% tariff on Chinese imports has been largely theoretical. Few have dared to ship anything into such a tariff wall, leaving the industry suspended in uncertainty across the board. Manufacturers, collectors, and sellers alike have put projects on hold, unsure of how to move forward, but otherwise - nothing has changed on the surface.

Starting May 2nd, that uncertainty transforms into something more tangible. Direct-from-the-forge shipments will be hit immediately, mirroring the impact seen on platforms like Temu (click here for an article on how the tariffs are effecting that huge platform). And in many cases, prices will double overnight.

Some sellers are working around this blockade as best they can—shipping swords via seafreight to a U.S. warehouse before distributing them locally. While this workaround exists, it’s far from ideal: lead times stretch by nearly a month, and long-term viability remains questionable.

The longer this trade war drags on, the more the sword industry—a craft that has thrived for centuries—will wither away. The proliferation of accessible swords we’ve seen over the past twenty years may grind to a halt, as rising costs and logistical headaches force forges to close down. And once the forge fires go out, reigniting them may be impossible.

At this moment, we don’t have any silver-bullet solutions. The best advice we can offer is simple: if there’s a sword you’ve been eyeing, now is the time to grab it. Many sellers still have stock at pre-tariff prices—but that window is closing fast.

This industry stands on a tightrope, balanced between survival and collapse. How long we can stay upright is anyone’s guess..

Grim and difficult times ahead, but we will do our best to keep you all informed as by this time next month, to continue our slow motion car crash analogy, we will have some idea of how bad the impact is actually going to be..

Stay tuned and grab some popcorn.

On the cusp of the tariffs hitting sword prices, Matthew Jensen takes a deep dive into the topic of how the tariffs will impact the sword community, including interviews with movers and shakers from the industry including David from Kult of Athena, Patrick from CAS Iberia (Hanwei, APOC, Dragon King, etc), Alex from Swordier and more..

It's a long video, but a must watch for anyone who is wondering what is going on and how it will effect your favorite brands..

Sizing a Katana

There are simple charts, and much more complex methods, to determine what is your ideal blade length. Find out your perfect method and length here!

ndave's new video series

Respected SBG forumite and reviewer ndave has just made a new video series on his channel. Be sure to check it out!

Grey hilting medieval sword fittings

You may have seen the effect on Valiant Armory swords, but how can you DIY this on your own collection? Find out here!

Illerup Ådal inspired Spatha project

A stunning one off Spatha created by SBG member bjorngylfason, check it out - no better workaround to tariffs than making your own swords!