Quite a lot to get through this issue - including some stuff that is a bit more "political" than usual (and lots of more lighthearted stuff to balance it out) - so hope you find it both enjoyable and thought provoking..

CONTENTS

1. From the Desk of Paul Southren

2. Bad Sword of the Month

3. Video of the Month

4. Best Forum Posts

5. Cool Swords and Hot Deals

From The Desk of Paul Southren

The good news was that the Project X blades were, as expected, quite stunning and I am pleased to say that they are now on their way to the USA - though it will be another couple of weeks before they arrive, clear customs, ship pre-orders, etc.

The bad news, the forges in Longquan are otherwise quiet. Eerily quiet..

Orders are waay down this year across the board, and it feels to me that the industry is - for want of a better word, sputtering..

But the bad news gets worse because the slowdown is not just limited to China..

Why?

Because sword sellers are suffering because, for nearly a year now, they simply cannot advertise their wares like they did before..

The world in general is becoming increasingly hoplophobic (weapon phobic) and the noble sword, rarely if ever these days raised in anger, is being increasingly marginalized.

Since around this time last year Google on whim decided to ban all ads for swords, ads that had previously kept several large sword sellers in business. And as is often the case, the other paid PPC options followed googles lead. As such, now it is literally impossible for a sword seller to promote their business - they are lumped in with sites that promote bomb making and narcotics sites...

And frankly, I think it is downright insulting..

Many sword sellers since have tried their hand at social media to try and make up for the shortfall. But my own recent experiences suggest, this is a short term solution at best…

Facebook does not like swords. Like google, if you are a sword maker or seller, you cannot advertise with them (even though they email you asking you to).

However, they allow groups or organizations that discuss swords - as long as they do not, in ANY way, link to or promote the sale of the evil death sticks.

Just recently, I thought I would take them up on their offer of boosting a post I made about how a re-enacting group was fighting bullying..

The result? It got rejected because it "promoted the sale of weapons..!"

Needless to say, I was confused. I challenged the reasoning, especially as they have a clause that seemed to suggest such a post would be fine. They replied with a stock "sorry, no links to weapon sales" email and "then decision is final".

THEN they had the nerve to send me an email asking "why not boost your post to attract more visitors??!", which irked me so much I decided to, as futile as it may be, try to do something about it..

This is the second time I have been frustrated by facebook like this. Last time I wanted to run some competitions - but this too was refused.

As such, sword related groups and sites on facebook are only just barely tolerated at best - and EVERYONE who has a sword related page is building on a house of sand that could be taken away on a whim..

Fair and reasonable? I hardly think so..

What facebook fails to realize is that swords (and what they represent) make them very different than any other weapon. For a start, in the age of the gun, as weapons they are impractical in the extreme. Secondly, most collectors are highly intelligent people who are interested in history and hold old fashioned values that the sword represents and champions in an age when such values are rare and much needed.

Treating swords as weapons is to imagine we are in the midst of a feudal society or a zombie apocalypse.. Collectors buy swords mostly to decorate their walls in a man cave, take them out to cut up a pool noodle or a water filled bottle or practice self-perfection through martial arts - never as weapons..

The time has come to take a stand. Over the coming weeks I will be releasing a series of posts on facebook designed to raise awareness of what swords are really about and why lumping them in with other weapons is a knee jerk kind of reaction that punishes responsible, mature people who just love swords and what they represent.

Posts like this one..

Will we change facebooks mind?

I doubt it..

But if you love swords, share our posts with your friends, get the word out and support our campaign however you can so we can at least raise the level of awareness.

Ok, rant over. ;)

But please keep this in the back of your mind - support your local, hardworking sellers and grab what you can - while you can...

A change is in the air - but with your support, let's make it a positive one and keep this cottage industry vitalized. Visit our facebook page and support us here I now return you to your regular programming, with something a little more lighthearted…

Bad Sword of the Month

And this monstrosity is a prime example.. The "Space Ninja Warrior 3000 Fighter Thing"

Video of the Month

Check out this cool video of modern day legendary swordsman Isao Machii vs the Motoman MH24 Industrial robot in a 1000 mat cutting test..!

Best Forum Posts

Cool Swords and Hot Specials!

We DO have a reasonable quantity of the Shobu style blades (pictured below.

But for the next 3 days, we will offer them exclusively to SBG Digest subscribers for an ADDITIONAL 10% off the massively discounted price so you can get yours for just $175.49!!

But whatever you do, you had best be quick!

Check them all out here on our Specials Page!

Talk to you all again next month. Until then, stay safe and happy swordening!