Sword Buyers Digest:

Issue #193, September 2024

Hope you are having a reasonably good year so far! Not much longer to go until the end and not long before the sword industry starts ramping up for its busiest and most important time of the year. But with still a little 'sanity' left in year we hope, so let's delve into what's going on/been going on in the world of swords..

It's an ancient military tradition, and while they may no longer be anything more than of ornamental value, their historical value is off the charts. Check out the latest design of the official New Zealand Navy officers sword.

Check your basement, even in the most unlikely places you never know what you might find. And while no one has any idea how it got there, a 17th Wakizashi turned up in a German basement!

Real Freedom in Hawaii - open carry of swords now okay!

UK take note, second amendment activists celebrate a win where they can openly and responsibly carry battleaxes, spears, Samurai swords, whatever bladed they want. It's what you DO with these things that counts, right kitchen knives??

And at the other end of the spectrum

Police in the UK nearly put an area on lockdown after a plastic toy was spotted in public and misidentified as a potential 'real sword'. Not sorry to keep picking on you UK, you deserve it and your total lack of respect for the sword community is reciprocated.

Ever heard of Jugger? If you like swords and sport, it might be worth looking at..

Jugger is a relatively new sport played with one person with a ball and teams armed with foam swords and shields acting together to block the guy/gal with the ball using any means necessary - a kind of cross between swordplay and rugby. Exercise made fun, yes - it certainly sounds like it!

5 D&D swords that are far from basic (and realistic)

I am a D&D nerd since the 1980s, but when I see some of the sword art - I cant help but cringe. Only one of these 5 swords would actually be fast enough to use in combat without magic. Tough if you had a Vorpal sword, you would hardly care..

Sword ban in UK gets even worse

Just when you thought it could not get any more extreme, news-sites in the U.K. are kicking up a fuss about how 'easy' it is to still buy 'swords and zombie blades' in the UK ahead of what appears to be a total ban on the 24th of September. As most blade attacks are with kitchen knives, why not sell steel chains to keep the knife only as far as the the chopping board. Or use some common sense, but I fear that died a looong time ago..

Interview with Paul Martin, Japanese Sword expert Pt2

In this second part of this fascinating history of the modern sword industry, Paul takes a look at how many swords a smith can make in a year, why do they cost as much as why they do (and why they are actually a bargain) and what can be done to try and preserve this ancient art into a very uncertain future. You can read Pt1 and Pt2 of these fascinating articles by following the links.

Mystery of the Giant Sword and mirror in Nara research intensifies

You might recall a few months back about how they discovered an absolutely Giant ceremonial sword in Nara along with a sacred mirror. Well, the research is getting deeper, and what is revealed is absolutely fascinating...

Need medieval music with a medieval interface?

Sampling thousands of medieval sounds, from Dragons roars to traditional folk tunes and everything in between, but it goes a lot deeper than that. Welcome to the Black Letter Summer of "Future Medieval"..

Bruce Lee's Nunchucks and Butterfly swords up for auction

They are hardly going to be a bargain (valued between $6 to $8K) but Bruce Lees original prop nunchucks and a whole heap of other personal items are going up for auction. I can't recall him using any Butterfly swords in any of his films, so they must be a personal antique. Either way, would be one heck of a cool thing to own!

So much more than just a traditional Japanese sword dancer

Living in Lebanon, Eiko Minami is one of those people who should have been born in an earlier age. With a dedication to her sword art that goes beyond a mere career and is a total way of life, like the Samurai Eiko wonders everyday how her life might end - which sounds grim, but makes for a life well and fully lived..

Related Matt Easton Video

If you remember reading 'Black Belt' magazine or other 'martialist' types of magazines and good reading materials back in the day, you will no doubt remember those amazing ads for 'genuine swords' and limited edition collectibles from the likes of Wilkinson Sword, and in this case, the Franklin Mint who compare their $500 Toledo swords to real Japanese Katana.

Or perhaps it really is marketing and profiteering at it's worst, these days you would be lucky to sell these for $50 a piece, never mind $500..

And while the sword industry is definitely showing signs of returning to the 'Dark Ages' when stainless steel rubbish and high end custom is all that you could get, we really should count our blessings we are where we are these days. There never have been so many choices for quality, actually functional swords these days that we really are spoiled for choice.

Got any more cool magazine sword ads from the past you could scan and send in to us for another issue?

Best posts from the official SBG Sword Forum

How DID they make the sword of Goujian

It is more or less an out of place artifact and is made using metal smithing techniques that mystify us even to this day. Forumites weigh in on some of the possibilities.

Tameshigiri Tips

The old answer 'ask your sensei' is there of course, and remains the most valid answer. But forumites with experience add some tricks and techniques they have learned over the years - and some of it is pure gold..

Cottontail customs - start to finish tsukamaki tutorial

Well, it is not a tutorial per-se, but it shows almost all of the process and makes getting into doing your own wraps less intimidating than ever before.

Every sword collector has one, so what do you think of the CS Machete Series?

When they first came out, the low price and cool designs of the Cold Steel Machete series were irresistible. Nearly every collector probably owns at least one, and in this long thread forumites discuss some of their favorite and least liked blades from the series.

We often frequent news articles about new exhibitions at sword museums in Japan. But while the yen might be at historically low levels, it's still pretty expensive to go by yourself. So if you want the experience of what it is like to see inside one of these prestigious museums, check out this short but sweet video by Japanese YouTuber on the largest museum in Nagoya Japan that just opened may this year.

Definitely worth watching the video, but oh so much better if you can make it in person: google link

While I have a lot of respect for many of the artisans and talented folk on Etsy and often find myself absently browsing it, I came across an item that is just too cool for school and an absolute MUST for your next BBQ..

You have probably seen them before, but while I have seen the twirling firesticks, I have never seen a fire sword quite like this one. Do a search on Lycopodium sword on Etsy, eBay or just google it - they look like faaar too much fun and a must have addition to any backyard cutting party after it gets dark and not bad for an average price of around $150 to $200 or so..

Well, that's it for the September edition - get ready for some spooky action in next months Halloween Special edition. And until then, as always stay well and Happy Swordening!

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