The current tariffs have the potential to impact sword makers and customers around the world. The market for swords is significantly international with makers based in the United States, India, China, and Europe all competing and exporting around the world. Additionally, the commodities that we all depend on, high quality carbon steel in particular, are sold on international markets and produced around the world, but especially in the past couple of decades most of the global supply is coming from China.
Today, Dr. Nathan Clough lays out some of the effects of these tariffs on sword makers and consumers, and tries to parse out what we all should expect in terms of prices. The good news for American consumers is that Arms and Armor has always made all of our products by hand at our shop in Minneapolis, MN. USA. Steel prices are likely to go up for all of us around the world (except maybe in China), which may drive some price increases. However, steel makes up a relatively small proportion of our costs. We buy steel in bulk once every year or two, so this won't have immediate effects. Labor is our biggest cost and that is primarily set locally through the Minneapolis minimum wage of about sixteen dollars an hour (we pay more than that, but it is a floor).
For our international customers, please get in touch with us and we can help to think through some strategies for minimizing your costs. All in all, we think the best strategy for sword buyers at this point is just to wait and see what happens. We have had some cancellations of orders by international customers, which we totally understand. That being said, our advice given long wait times for products in our field is to hold tight and see how long all of this actually lasts. The best way to get in touch with us is via email at aa@arms-n-armor.com
Check out all of our products here: https://www.arms-n-armor.com
As always, all of our products are entirely made by us, by hand, at our shop in Minneapolis, MN. Sword blades are hand ground of 6150 carbon steel, hardened and tempered to 50-52 Rockwell. All of our products are made to look, feel, and function just like the historical originals on which they are based. Arms & Armor is dedicated to quality and authenticity. For over four decades we have worked with museums, collectors, and scholars around the world to develop a deep understanding of European weapons; knowledge we use to make products that exemplify the finest qualities of the very best historic pieces. When we select historic items to reproduce, being pretty isn't enough, they have to move with grace and beauty, and beg to be used when in the hand. These are pieces that feel as good as they look, and that work as well as they feel. Our mission is to craft items that recreate the look, feel, and function of the best historic originals.
Nathan Clough, Ph.D. is President and CEO of Arms and Armor and a member of the governing board of The Oakeshott Institute. He is a historical martial artist and a former university professor of cultural geography. He has given presentations on historical arms at events including Longpoint and Combatcon, and presented scholarly papers at, among others, The International Congress on Medieval Studies.
Craig Johnson is the Production Manager of Arms and Armor and Secretary of The Oakeshott Institute. He has taught and published on the history of arms, armor and western martial arts for over 30 years. He has lectured at several schools and Universities, WMAW, HEMAC, 4W, and ICMS at Kalamazoo. His experiences include iron smelting, jousting, theatrical combat instruction and choreography, historical research, European martial arts and crafting weapons and armor since 1985