The market for American made Japanese style swords is growing every day. Japanese master smiths now take on Western students and Western smiths train each other, and are creating our own unique styles. It’s a good thing, Lucas, and I encourage you to look at the work of American smiths when next you’re looking to buy a sword.

My main objection to Bugei is that they make every effort to create the false impression that their swords are in the same league as traditional Japanese swords (i.e. shinken), especially by using misleading verbage like “traditional.” Swordstore.com also sells “production” swords (the aforementioned “steel iaito”) for less than $2,000, but they are very up-front about what they are selling, going out of their way to differentiate them from the genuine articles. From the perspective of a practitioner, they’re also clearly superior in quality to anything sold by Bugei.

I was completely unaware that people were collecting non-shinken. When I think about it in terms of the things that give shinken their value, the idea of non-shinken appreciating in value is almost completely inconceivable. Then again, collecting is all about perceived value, so I shouldn’t be all that surprised that people are collecting non-traditional swords, especially if they are made in novel ways (e.g. bainite). Thanks for showing me the blind spot I had here!

@Lucas Jung – We’ll have to agree to disagree about Bugei. Note that I did say high end “production” sword. I’m not a huge fan of production swords in general, but Bugei can put a solid tradionally built sword in your hands for under $2,000, and CAS Hanwei can do it for under $200 (non tradional construction and materials, though). As production swords they won’t be as good as a custom, whether it’s by an American smith or it’s a genuine Nihonto. Bottom line is the vast majority of people can’t afford to spend thousands, and these companies provide functional swords for much less.

I also have to disagree about a sword having to be Japanese made to appreciate in value. Swords by Don Fogg, Howard Clark, Rick Barrett, Walter Sorrells, and Jesus Hernandez, to name a few, all sell for a small fortune. Heck, Howard Clark makes katana from L6 bainite that regulary go for $12,000 and have done nothing but appreciate – and L6 bainite isn’t exactly tradional steel.

Thanks for the comments, Lucas!

I hate to break it to you, but Bugei do not sell quality swords. A sword isn’t necessarily inferior just because it wasn’t forged in Japan, and there are smiths outside of Japan who make swords that are arguably of comparable quality to Japanese swords–Bugei are not among them. They are not even in the same neighborhood as the “high end.” They have a very snazzy website full of convincing-sounding “facts,” but in reality they’re selling second-rate overpriced knockoffs.

If you want a sword which will appreciate in value as a collectible, your only option is a Japanese-forged shinken (true sword). They’re not cheap. By “not cheap,” I mean, “The lest expensive ones cost half as much as a new car.” If you want a forged/folded sword of good quality but don’t care about its value as a collectible, there are far better options than Bugei (you can get a sword that is higher-quality than anything Bugei sells, sometimes even for a lower price).

Whether you’re looking for a collectible or just a practice sword, the best source in North America (and Europe, for that matter), is:
http://www.swordstore.com
They sell Japanese shinken for collectors. Also, if you’re not a collector but just want a well-made forged/folded sword, check out their “Steel Iaito.” They’re of higher quality than anything Bugei sells, but unlike Bugei they don’t pretend that they’re the real deal.

For those wondering why I would send you to someone else for a sword, I’m not currently taking orders for long swords of any kind. I am taking orders for short swords, wakizashi, and of course knives, including tanto. I plan on taking long sword orders starting next summer.

Thanks for the input!

@nermal2097 – Although you and I are very interested in mounting I’m not sure others would be. Because of that, and the sheer number of skills and steps involved, the best I can offer you is a weak maybe. Time (mine) allowing maybe this is something we can talk about on the forums…