Welcome to this month’s edition of the Sword Buyer’s Digest, where steel meets story and every click could lead to a new obsession. Inside you’ll find fresh articles, videos, and collector-worthy content sharp enough to slice through the summer heat—and perhaps the gloom of rising prices.

But before we dive in, a brief reality check: the sword industry is facing its own trial by fire. Tariffs have settled in like unwelcome guests, nudging prices ever upward. Sellers are exploring new frontiers beyond China, but it’s not a quick quest—it’s more “pilgrimage” than “weekend excursion.” In the meantime, expanded bans and logistical strain have made this ancient art form harder to sustain.

Still, if you’re reading this, you’re part of the community that keeps the forge lit. And if we stick together—sharpening our resilience along with our blades—there’s hope yet that the rest of 2025 won’t throw any more curveballs at our beloved steel.

Now on to the good stuff: sword drops, behind-the-scenes scoop, and maybe a bad pun or two.

You’ve been warned..!! ;-)

Despite all the upwards price pressures buffeting the industry, our friends at Trueswords keep the deals coming!

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

Literally, a new Kurosawa...

Usually making films within the horror genre, Kiyoshi Kurosawa may coincidentally bear the surname of the most famous Samurai movie maker of all time and has just branched out into the Samurai genre himself!

17 of the best medieval movies ever made

From black and white classics to gritty modern genre defining classics, check out this curated list to see if there are any you may have missed!

HEMA Explored

A first person view of getting involved in Historical European Marital Arts - sparked by that famous sword fight scene in James Bonds 'Die Another Day".

10 Best Samurai Games that aren't Ghost of Tsushima

There is no doubt that the popular video game Ghost of Tsushima is the go to game for anyone looking for some Samurai action. Here are 10 other serious contenders..

Tomb of a Medieval Knight found under Ice-cream parlor

He may or may not have been turning in his grave, but last month a complete tomb of a medieval knight was discovered buried beneath a Polish ice cream shop!

Building a Medieval Castle in the 21st Century..

Very cool in behind the scenes and in progress photos from the Château de Guédelon castle project in France.

Welcome to the part of the newsletter where we check on the sword industry’s vital signs—and yes, it’s still alive, but someone might want to get it a health potion and maybe a cheese sandwich.

Tariffs? Still here, still annoying. Price increases? Like clockwork. And sellers? They’re embarking on the Great Supplier Quest™—trying to diversify beyond China, map new territories, and unlock mythical contacts who can produce swords without summoning a fiscal demon in the process.

Slow? You bet. Heroic? Absolutely.

Now, speaking of suppliers: behold the image embedded below —a truly legendary capture of a Chinese vendor contemplating what can only be described as a “Sword-Like Object” in all it's fabulous glory (is it just me, or is she really wrinkling her nose in disgust at this gaudy monstrosity? Lol)..

Full disclosure - it's a wooden blade with LED lights, found during one of my deep dives into what is currently available at Alibaba and other Chinese manufacturers (spoiler alert - as I expected, there is nothing really there of interest)...

No offense to Kris blades or the occasional flamboyant Flamberge, but this particular specimen looks like it crawled out of a fever dream starring Salvador Dalí and a blacksmith with a twisted sense of humor. It’s got curves where curves shouldn’t be and geometry that makes Pythagoras weep (not to mention that handle wrap - truly cringeworthy)...

In all seriousness, it’s funny… but it’s also symbolic. Right now, the industry is a bit cross-eyed—looking in many directions, trying to balance tradition, quality, affordability, and survival. And while the bans keep expanding and the market feels like it’s walking a tightrope over a pit of red tape and shipping delays, the love of the blade still binds this community together.

Some real old school DIY vibes with these interesting and curiously relaxing video walkthrough of turning a car spring into a spring steel Viking sword..

Just what the doctor ordered in these turbulent, tricky times...

Great Article on Viking Sword Hilts

A great link to a great article and interesting discussion with a deep dive into the materials and constriction methods of Viking sword hilts.

Unboxing - the custom staffordshire hoard bearded man sword

Ever wonder what it feels like to finally receive that stunning custom sword order you have been waiting for? Read this thread and live vicariously!

Valiant Armory Durability

With high end expensive swords, there is often a dearth of information on exactly how tough such swords really are. While the thread starts discussing Valiant Armory, it applies to all high end swords and makes for a very interesting discussion..

Ken Onion Sharpener and Katana

For Knives, the Ken Onion Sharpening system is higjly regarded. But how about Katana? And if not, what are the other 'easy' sharpening methods. Interesting discussion.