Issue # 166, March 2022

In the midst of a world seemingly getting crazier by the day, last month SBG quietly celebrated its 17th anniversary. While nothing was done visibly to mark the occasion - from this issue and for the next few months we will be documenting some of the changes and updates planned for SBG in it's 17th year of operation.

Over the next few months, we plan to go over the entire site and update the reviews, add more relevant content and do what is necessary to ensure the website remains relevant and vital in what are proving to be very uncertain times..

So stay tuned for a lot more activity on both the main site and the forum as 2022 continues to unfold (anything is a good distraction from watching the world implode on the news right!?)..

"Interesting Times" Indeed...

With a war in Europe unfolding by the hour and with an industry still facing at least 2 more years of supply chain issues and out of control inflation even if all COVID related measures ended TODAY - the sword industry as a whole is, like almost every micro-niche business, having a very hard time with it all..

Overall, prices are UP big time and stock levels are stable - maybe a little too stable due to very poor sales overall. And so the flow on effect suggests that this is going to be a very hard grind of a year again..

Despite all this, even though inflation is continuing to force prices up like never seen before, we are still seeing new additions to the sword market that hit all the sweet spots rolling out that are worth a serious look.

Though some, no fault of their own, are really quite ironic..

Its timing not the best time to release considering the state of world affairs right now.. And that is the Dragoon Saber - their third release of a Russian Shashka Sword..

Also quite ironic (and terrifyingly appropriate if the current war spirals out of control and ends in a nuclear apocalypse) is a new release in the A.P.O.C. series, the Gus Trime designed A.P.O.C. Survival Longsword

With a 32.5" blade made from monotempered 9260 Spring Steel and weighing in at 3lbs 3oz, this is a SERIOUS blade at just a fraction of the price it could potentially be sold for (MSRP on this one is a very reasonable $219.00, but down to $175.95 at our store) and would certainly come in handy for any HEMA trained swordsfolk needing a low maintenance blade to defend themselves against what may come to pass in the rubble of our once great civilizations..

And from our own troubled almost apocalyptic world to another world with its own share of trials and tribulations, we are pleased to release Chris Palmers' interpretation of one of the swords from the 2021 movie 'Dune' based on a House Atreides training sword.

Unlike the unsharpened training sword it is based upon, this is a 100% fully functional cutting and thrusting sword with some serious bite, and a real bargain at just $249.99.

In the meantime, despite all the craziness, we are moving forward with a new and improved version of our complex laminate custom katana series, Project X Japanese:

If all goes to plan, this new version will be made at the forge that currently makes Forge Direct Japanese - and so will have the same custom options as that series, but with the VERY BEST Soshu Kiate blades made outside of Japan..

To get more information as it is released (and some extra bonuses EXCLUSIVE to subscribers) sign up to the Project X newsletter below:

Ulfberht Sword Mystery Finally SOLVED

The mysterious 8th to 11th century Swords with the infamous 'Ulfberht' makers mark with blades were made so well they compare to modern crucible steel sword blades.. But metallographic researchers have discovered that these swords were actually a complex laminate design and is no longer quite as mysterious as they once appeared.. Fascinating study..

Rare Byzantine Ring Pommel Sword Discovery

Recently unearthed swords have been documented late last year by archeologists working in the ruins of ancient Byzantium. Rare and unique with a ring pommel, they have proven hard to identify which culture or group of people were responsible for them.

A new low for U.K. Sword Lovers

While I sympathize with the victims of knife crime, a complaint against the sale of blunt, purely ornamental swords on the Royal Palace Charity website has led to the removal of any type of replica historical sword - and everything sword related - on their website. Where or when does this spiral end? (spoiler alert: when justice and commonsense solutions are applied to real world violence with kitchen knives in the streets is when, not by banning a mug with 'offensive weapons' on it.. And the irony is, the sword of justice would be banned too!)

Strongest Anime Swords

While the swords in Anime are often far removed from reality and would often be actually impossible to use, this list takes a look at the 10 most powerful and most devastating swords seen in all Anime - from Guts' Dragon Slayer from Berserk to Emma from One Piece and everything in between..

Jim Kelly's Black Samurai due for a remake at Netflix

Netflix has picked up the rights to Mark Oldens Black Samurai novels and is planning their own version of the 1977 adaptation starring Jim Kelly. One to keep an eye out for..

Japanese photographer makes the past come alive

Internationally recognized photographer Ryotaro Horiuchi recently turned his lens to focus on the rich history of his home country Japan, and capture the spirit of the past perfectly in a series of amazingly detailed portraits of ordinary people taken in a most dramatic and extraordinary way..

Recent study reveals 90% of medieval manuscripts have been lost

A new paper by the Journal science postulates that according to 'unseen species' models that 90% of medieval European chivalric and heroic manuscripts have been lost to the mists of time.

Using a sword for self defense is generally not encouraged by the community or by self defense experts. But hypothetically, this video by Youtuber Shadiversity takes a deep dive into the history of swords for self defense and comes up with what he believes are the ultimate sword type (and variations of) for modern self defense situations (spoiler alert, it is NOT a machete, not a Katana and NOT a Longsword)..

Some great discussion in the comments too - while the video is quite long, it is well worth the journey..

What's in a name: Nihonto

You have almost certainly heard the term, and the literal translation is indeed 'Japanese Sword' - but do you know what it really means? Interesting discussion..

Fake Japanese Antiques..

Buying an antique sword on Craigslist was probably never going to end very well. But in this thread we see the fake antique sword market is sadly still alive and well..

$5 Yard Sale Antique!

Despite all the fake Nihonto doing the rounds, every now and again you there is bound to be the flip side when someone lucks out.. This is one of those stories..

Why no leaf blades?

In some ways it is a mystery, why was the leaf bladed sword design limited almost exclusively to the ancient world? An interesting, but incomplete thread with links to lead you down the rabbit hole..

Hope you enjoyed the March edtion of the Sword Buyers Digest.

While the future is most uncertain and generally very disconcerting, we will do our best to try and provide you with a swordy refuge from it all.. So until next issue, stay safe, stay sane (or as sane as possible in this insane times) and happy swordening!

• Paul Southren