CAS Iberia

What CAS Iberia does

CAS Iberia is a Tennessee-incorporated wholesale distributor operating since 1985 from its headquarters at 650 Industrial Blvd in Sale Creek, Tennessee. The company serves exclusively as a B2B channel, selling swords, knives, and medieval reenactment gear to registered wholesale dealers through an authenticated Dealer Corner portal; the company does not sell directly to end consumers. Its product portfolio aggregates nine sub-brands spanning hand-forged Japanese katana, HEMA sparring weapons, reenactment armor and clothing, and specialty knives. The flagship brand is Paul Chen/Hanwei, now manufactured at Dragon King Forge in Dalian, China under Frenchie Jin following the December 2024 closure of the original Hanwei factory. Additional brands include GDFB (reenactment gear, India), Kingston Arms and Red Dragon Armory (HEMA, England), Dragon King (Asian swords, China), Legacy Arms Generation 2 (medieval/Viking/Roman), Citadel (handmade knives, Cambodia), APOC Survival Tools (China), Kizlyar Supreme (Russia), and SAY (LARP clothing, India).

The technical differentiation of the portfolio rests on proprietary metallurgy and traditional craft: high-alloy steels HWS-1S, HWS-2S, and HWS-1K developed through long-standing forge relationships; L6/Bainite construction for high-end katana; Japanese-style differential hardening producing characteristic hamon; hand forging on coal-fired forges; and in-house lost-wax casting for fittings. Signature product lines include the Performance Series Katana (PSK) with discipline-specific blade geometries (Iaito, Elite, XL, XL Light), the Raptor Series cutting katana designed by James Williams, and the Tinker Pearce Western Martial Arts sword line in 5160 spring steel. Manufacturing relationships span six countries, making CAS Iberia a single-source US wholesale aggregator for brands that would otherwise require dealers to manage fragmented international procurement.

Revenue is generated through wholesale margins on physical goods sold to qualified dealers, with MSRPs ranging from approximately $35 entry-level items to $1,459+ premium collector swords. The go-to-market motion is purely channel-partner-driven: prospective dealers apply through a registration portal, qualify, and then access wholesale pricing in the Dealer Corner. Geographic reach is limited primarily to the United States with incidental Canadian service, and dealer agreements include liability and indemnity provisions restricting jurisdiction-based sales. The company is privately held with no parent company, no public listing, no disclosed funding rounds, and no ownership structure information in the public record. Barry Ross is identified as president of CAS Hanwei as of the data period. The customer base is a network of registered wholesale dealers serving the martial arts, HEMA, LARP, reenactment, and collector end-markets.

Name

CAS Iberia

Legal name

C.A.S. Iberia, Inc.

Website

https://casiberia.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CAS Iberia is a Tennessee-based B2B wholesale distributor, since 1985, of swords, knives, and medieval reenactment gear, serving registered wholesale dealers across nine sub-brands including Hanwei, GDFB, Kingston Arms, and Citadel.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Sale Creek

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Sword Distribution: CAS Iberia operates as a wholesale distributor purchasing finished products from manufacturing partners (Hanwei/Dragon King Forge, GDFB, Citadel, Red Dragon, APOC, etc.) and reselling to registered wholesale dealers. Revenue is generated through product margins on swords, knives, and reenactment gear sold exclusively B2B to qualified dealers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

CAS Iberia is a wholesale B2B distributor that sells swords, knives, medieval reenactment gear, and HEMA sparring equipment exclusively to registered wholesale dealers through its Dealer Corner portal. The company curates a multi-brand portfolio sourced from international manufacturers, enabling dealers to obtain Paul Chen/Hanwei Japanese swords, GDFB reenactment clothing and armor, Kingston Arms and Red Dragon Armoury HEMA swords, Dragon King swords, Legacy Arms medieval weapons, Citadel knives, APOC survival tools, Kizlyar Supreme knives, and SAY medieval clothing through a single wholesale relationship.

Product overview

CAS Iberia is a Tennessee-based wholesale distributor of high-quality swords, knives, and medieval reenactment gear, operating since 1985 (40th anniversary in 2025). The company offers a multi-brand portfolio centered around Paul Chen/Hanwei samurai swords and accessories, complemented by reenactment gear (GDFB), HEMA equipment (Kingston Arms, Red Dragon), specialty knives (Citadel, APOC, Kizlyar Supreme), and LARP clothing (SAY). Core product lines include hand-forged Performance Series Katana (PSK), Raptor Series cutting katana, Tinker Pearce Western Martial Arts swords, and Rock Creek knives—all utilizing proprietary high-alloy steels (HWS-1S, HWS-2S, HWS-1K) and traditional manufacturing processes including differential hardening and hand forging. Following the 2024 closure of the original Hanwei factory, production transitioned to Frenchie Jin's Dragon King Forge in Dalian, China. The company serves both wholesale dealers and retail customers through its e-commerce platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CAS Hanwei: Wholesale swords and katana originally produced at Paul Chen Hanwei Forge, now manufactured at Dragon King forge in Dalian, China
• GDFB
• Kingston Arms
• Dragon King
• Red Dragon Armoury
• Legacy Arms
• Citadel
• APOC Survival Tools
• Kizlyar Supreme
• SAY

Products and services

• Performance Series Katana (PSK) A line of hand-forged Japanese katana with four discipline-specific blade geometries (Iaito un-edged training, Elite traditional Shinogi Zukuri, XL wide competitive cutting, and XL Light with bo-hi groove), manufactured from 1566 forge steel with differential hardening providing an HRC60 edge and HRC40 spine. Designed for Iaido, general cutting, competitive heavy cutting, and lightweight competitive cutting practitioners.
• Raptor Series Katana A cutting-focused katana line designed by James Williams, offering blades purpose-built for Tameshigiri cutting practice with high resilience and tolerance for misdirected cuts. Available in Unokubi Zukuri, Shobu Zukuri, and Shinogi Zukuri configurations using 5160 high-carbon steel with marquenched 57 HRC edges, rayskin handles, and blackened iron fittings.
• Tinker Pearce Sword Line A Western Martial Arts sword line designed by Michael 'Tinker' Pearce to satisfy both sparring and cutting needs. Constructed from 5160 Spring Steel marquenched to 50-53 HRC at the edge, with dismountable hilt assemblies secured by allen nut. The line includes longswords, bastard swords, early medieval swords, and 9th-century Viking swords.
• Rock Creek Knives by Hanwei Handmade fixed-blade hunting and utility knives made with proprietary HWS-1K high-alloy steel at 58-60 HRC edge hardness, paired with bark-tanned leather sheaths and stainless steel guards and pommels. The product line comprises 19 fixed-blade models and 12 lockback folder models.
• GDFB Reenactment Gear An extensive line of functional medieval reenactment garments and armor sourced from GDFB (Get Dressed for Battle) in Delhi, India. Product categories include chainmail in three construction grades (butted, dome-head riveted, wedge-riveted), plate armor, helmets, gambesons, and historical clothing designed for reenactment and combat-supervised use.
• Kingston Arms European Swords HEMA and medieval reenactment swords manufactured under the Kingston Arms brand, designed for safe sparring practice and cutting. Targets Historical European Martial Arts practitioners and historical reenactors.
• Dragon King Swords Japanese and Chinese-inspired swords produced at Dragon King Forge in Dalian, China by Frenchie Jin, featuring high-alloy HWS steel and traditional hand-forged craftsmanship. This is the manufacturing successor line to the Paul Chen/Hanwei brand following the December 2024 closure of the original Hanwei factory.
• Red Dragon Armoury HEMA Equipment HEMA sparring swords, synthetic training weapons, and reenactment gear manufactured in England by Red Dragon Armory. Targets Historical European Martial Arts practitioners seeking safe sparring equipment and reenactors requiring regulation-compatible arms.
• Legacy Arms Generation 2 Medieval Swords Medieval, Viking, and Roman swords manufactured by Legacy Arms with hand-forged blades and hilt fittings sourced from multiple production locations including China and the Philippines. Targeted at historical reenactment and period collectors.
• Citadel Hand Crafted Knives and Swords High-end handmade knives and swords produced in Cambodia using Bohler N690Co stainless steel and differentially hardened DNH7 carbon steel blades, with premium handle materials including rayskin, buffalo horn, rosewood, and bone. Citadel was reintroduced to North America through CAS Iberia's distribution.
• APOC Survival Tools Survival knives, axes, and tactical tools including Kukri-style weapons manufactured in Dalian, China by Frenchie Jin. Targets outdoor enthusiasts, tactical users, and survivalists.
• Kizlyar Supreme Knives Russian-made knives from the Kizlyar Supreme manufacturer in St. Petersburg, utilizing high-tech processes and materials for superior performance. Includes folding tactical and EDC (everyday carry) knives.
• SAY Medieval Clothing Medieval reenactment and LARP (Live Action Role Play) clothing including shirts, tunics, cloaks, footwear, and accessories manufactured in Delhi, India under the SAY brand.

Quantifiable outcome

• Products distributed across multiple continents through established dealer network

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Frenchie Jin / Dragon King ForgecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2024Following the closure of the original CAS Hanwei factory in December 2024, CAS Iberia transitioned production to Frenchie Jin at Dragon King Forge in Dalian, China. Jin was the original engineer behind the design and manufacturing of most CAS Hanwei products, working alongside Paul Chen from the factory's inception. Many skilled artisans from the original Hanwei factory joined Dragon King, ensuring continuity of quality and craftsmanship.
• GDFB (Get Dressed for Battle)coreTechnology or IntegrationGDFB, based in Delhi, India, is the manufacturer of reenactment products including chainmail, armor, and clothing sold by CAS Iberia. Products include historically authentic mail construction in various grades (butted, dome-head riveted, wedge-riveted) for reenactment use.
• Red Dragon ArmorycoreTechnology or IntegrationRed Dragon Armory in England manufactures synthetic sparring swords and HEMA gear for CAS Iberia. Products include safe sparring weapons for Historical European Martial Arts practice.
• Citadel Knives and SwordscoreTechnology or IntegrationCitadel is a high-end knife and sword manufacturer based in Cambodia. They produce hand-forged knives using Bohler's N690Co and DNH7 steels, with premium handle materials including rayskin, horn, bone, and rosewood. Citadel was reintroduced to North America through CAS Iberia.
• Michael 'Tinker' PearcecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRenowned sword designer commissioned by CAS to design a line of swords satisfying both sparring and cutting needs of Western Martial Arts practitioners. The Tinker Pearce series includes longswords, bastard swords, early medieval swords, and Viking swords in 5160 spring steel.
• James Williams (Bugei)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCutting master who designed the Raptor Series katana under the auspices of CAS Hanwei. The Raptor series was created for cutting practitioners who want to practice cutting technique with blades offering high resilience and tolerance for misdirected cuts.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Tozando: Tozando is a Kyoto-based Japanese sword and iaido equipment maker, with growing international e-commerce distribution. While primarily a manufacturer, its high-end katana, iaito, and bogu overlap with CAS Iberia's Paul Chen/Hanwei and Dragon King lines in the Japanese martial arts market.

Broad incumbents

• Cold Steel: Cold Steel is a major US knife and edged-weapon brand with broad retail and wholesale distribution. While its product range is much wider than CAS Iberia's and includes tactical folders, machetes, and training tools, it competes in the same martial arts and self-defense niches through overlapping dealer and martial arts shop channels.

Direct peers

• Museum Replicas Limited: Museum Replicas is a US distributor of historical weapon replicas, medieval clothing, and reenactment gear, selling to both retail and wholesale customers. Its product mix, target customers, and medieval-to-Viking era focus closely mirror CAS Iberia's reenactment and European sword categories.
• Medieval Collectibles: Medieval Collectibles is a US retailer and wholesaler of medieval clothing, armor, LARP gear, and replica weapons, with significant overlap in the reenactment and LARP customer base that CAS Iberia serves through GDFB and SAY products.
• United Cutlery Corporation: United Cutlery is one of the largest US-based manufacturers and wholesale distributors of fantasy, collectible, and functional swords. It directly competes with CAS Iberia across the same dealer channels serving martial artists, collectors, and reenactors with a similar product mix of katana, medieval swords, and fantasy blades.
• Windlass Steelcrafts: Windlass Steelcrafts is a long-established manufacturer of functional swords, historical replicas, and reenactment weapons, distributing through wholesale channels to dealers and museums worldwide. It is a direct competitor to CAS Iberia's medieval and historical reenactment lines, with comparable price points and product categories.
• Atlanta Cutlery Corporation: Atlanta Cutlery is a US distributor of historical replica swords, bayonets, military edged weapons, and reenactment gear, selling to collectors, reenactors, and dealers. Its product range and customer base (reenactors, collectors, martial artists) overlap materially with CAS Iberia's medieval and reenactment categories.

Emerging players

• Dark Sword Armoury: Dark Sword Armoury is a US-based manufacturer of high-end medieval replica swords, primarily serving collectors and reenactors through direct-to-consumer and selective dealer channels. It competes in the same medieval and fantasy sword category as CAS Iberia's Paul Chen/Hanwei and Legacy Arms lines, focusing on premium price points.
• Deepeeka: Deepeeka is an India-based manufacturer and wholesaler of historical replica swords, armor, and reenactment gear, with growing distribution in the US and European markets. It overlaps with CAS Iberia's GDFB and Legacy Arms lines in medieval, Viking, and Renaissance reenactment categories at comparable price points.

Others

• Hanwei (historical): Hanwei was the original Chinese forge that produced Paul Chen/CAS Hanwei-branded swords for CAS Iberia for decades, closing in December 2024. As the historical manufacturing counterpart, it provides direct context on the supply chain transition now consolidated under Dragon King Forge.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CASIberia
• Facebookfacebook.com/CASIberia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cas-iberia-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CAS Iberia