Because the same questions are continually asked, I offer the following comparative review of the Bugei Exclusive line-up, as well as the Hanwei Japanese-styled swords offered by a variety of sources. Let me say up front that what follows consists entirely of my own opinions and observations. Other opinions may (and will) vary. What is offered here is offered as a sort of “buyer’s Guide” to the Bugei line. I do hope it helps, but I am equally sure it will lead to more questions. Pleas ask them, and I will endeavor to follow up on them quickly.

I think it goes without saying that any of the Bugei custom swords (Howard Clark L6, Howard Clark Forge Folded, and Howard Clark 1086) will out perform the Bugei/Chen collaborative offerings and are well worth it, even if they do incur a substantial financial investment. For this reason, I won’t bother with them.

Non-Bugei, Hanwei Japanese-styled Production Swords 

Because they always come up in a comparative analysis, I will start by discussing the Non-Bugei Hanwei offerings, of which there are four divisions: 

The Non-Bugei, Hanwei High End (Kami, Tiger, Bushido, Orchid) are good, but lack most of the quality control that goes into the Bugei line. Granted, as Bugei and Hanwei continue their collaboration, the constant advances and quality enhancements that go into the Bugei swords find their way into the production blades as well, but while the improvements are intentional and well-applauded, they occur as a slow, trickling effect. Also, the standard line experience a more rushed manufacture process, and as such can not possibly implement the extremely tight and rigid quality control Bugei swords experience. While they are decent cutters for beginning practitioners on a budget, realistically, the low-priced Bugei swords are not all that more expensive, and are much more where performance and quality are concerned. Of these, the Tiger would seem the most logical cutter of the lot, while the Bushido would come in a close second, and the Orchid makes for a very nice iai katana. The Kami ... well, it’s nice, but I don’t know that I would want to bring it to the Dojo for any serious sword work. It seems to me that there is more flash than substance. It is supposed to be a fine sword as it is, but for me, there just seems to be too much excessive visual activity to be taken seriously. However, I must reiterate that for not much more money, a far superior sword is had in even the least of the Bugei line. 

The Non-Bugei, Hanwei Mid Range (Golden Oriole, Musashi, Shinto, Tokugawa) are absolutely no match whatever for the Bugei line. They are – however – an acceptable, economic alternative for beginners on a tight budget, and can be readily replaced if necessary. 

The Non-Bugei, Hanwei Low End (Wind & Thunder, Practical Plus, Practical), in my opinion, are never worth using in the serious practice of any JSA. Now, I’d like to clarify that when I mean “Low-End”, that realistically, I might be more correct in saying “Entry Level”, but doing so would give the impression that ... well ... one enters the sword purchasing foray with one of these, and I'd rather avoid that impression. Realistically, however, you could do a whole lot worse for the $150 or so. If you have a very small amount of cash (say, in the range of $150 to $250) then the PPK is the only way to go. However, they are an approximation of a katana, made for the masses, and I really do not even allow them in my student’s hands. To make them even moderately functional, they require a complete re-building from the blade out, and after spending that money, you can get one of the Non-Bugei, Hanwei Mid Range sword, or even a Non-Bugei, Hanwei High End sword. 

The Non-Bugei, Hanwei Novelty Swords (Zatoichi, Bamboo “Stick” Katana, etc), are not functional weapons, and should never be considered for any sword work ... ever. They area meant to fill a niche in the buyer’s market for hose looking for a novelty piece.  

Also, I need to clarify a few specifics here. The now unavailable “Spirit of the Shogun” series, the Wind and Thunder, and similar “Limited Time” offerings from Hanwei are generally built around existing blade designs, or are designed to be made by those similar processes. The “Spirit of the Shogun” katana, for instance, where essentially Practical Katana with customized koshirae, and are – therefore – simply Practical Katana in performance and handling. The new Tokugawa Katana that is out now is – I believe – built around the Practical Plus blade, but I have yet to get one in hand to confirm that. The Wind and Thunder is a new blade, but is built – I believe – to the same standards as the Practical Katana. Like the Tokugawa, however, I have not been able to personally confirm this 

My point here is that, despite the price point of these special offer or limited run katana, they must be judged on their performance, and on the blade they are built around [b]not[/b] their relative price point: Just because the Wind and Thunder goes for $600-$800 does not necessarily mean that it sits nicely in the “Mid Range” category. Limited Edition customization has been a tried and true way of getting more money without actually adding performance or quality to a product for decades. I bought the Uesugi Kenshin “Spirit of the Shogun” katana specifically for the theme, knowing that for $400 I was getting a katana that was – performance wise – worth about $150. That in mind, be careful of buying one of these based on price point alone. 

Hanwei also now produces a set of iatio (the Nami and Wave, specifically) but these are not cutters. They are made with alloy blades, so while they are supposed to be very good iaito, they fall outside the scope of this examination.

Bugei-Hanwei Collaborative Swords – The Bugei Exclusive Line-Up

The Samurai is the “de-facto” favorite for most cutting – certainly for heavy cutting. It has a robust blade, substantial weight, and excellent balance for the weight. In short, it is the tireless workhorse of the line-up. The main reason – I believe – that people tend to shy away from it is precisely (ironically enough) that it is the de-facto choice: no one wants to be a sheep amongst the flock. It is – however – probably the best cutter for the money. Aesthetically, it is very utilitarian, but two things should be taken into account here. First, the utilitarian look appeals to many, as it is also a very elegant and understatedly handsome sword. No pomp or fan-fair here – just a damned fine cutter pretending to be nothing more or less than that. Second, if more variety in appearance is desired, this can easily be done after acquisition. One thing to keep in mind is that while the Samurai is easily the most aggressive cutter, it is also one of the heaviest swords (the other being the Shobu Zukuri) of the Bugei line-up. Also, its balance is more aggressive (i.e., placed more tip-ward), and this combined with the weight may be a bit much for beginners to handle, especially during sustained iai or kata. Some have said that toughing through initial fatigue and getting used to the weight is a simple matter of patience and time, and I tend to agree, but this is still a factor that should be very seriously considered. Strains, sprains, and fatigue injuries have been experienced with less.

The Bamboo is a great sword, and arguably every bit the cutter the Samurai is, however, it is a bit lighter. As such, it has less mass, and will tend to deal with bad and fouled cuts with ever so slightly less rigor. It may bend or twist more readily, but I seriously doubt that the measurable difference in ruggedness (if it can be reliably measured) would be very noticeable. Realistically, I don’t think the difference (if there is one) would ever come into play: I can not think of a single situation wherein one might say “Gee, if only I had the Samurai, this never would have happened.” Aesthetically, I like the Bamboo better than the Samurai (although, I have been favoring the Samurai more and more in recent weeks – don’t know why).

The Wave has its own, unique allure. It is the most customizable sword of the lot. The Bamboo is very attractive (one of my favorites from all sources) and while utilitarian, the Samurai has a certain handsome, understated appeal. The Wave, however ... well, between the choice of colors for tsuka ito and saya, and the variety of sizes orderable, the option of Bo-Hi or no, and the choice between three different tsuba (solid, rectangular, solid round, and sukashi round)… it is simply a no-brainer, for aesthetic individuality. It has so many versatile options as to be a “semi-custom” sword. As a cutter, it is outstanding. Ordered without Bo-Hi, it is every bit as good as the Bamboo, and probably just as good as the Samurai. With Bo-Hi, its stability is indeed slightly lessened, but it is still a solid performer, outdoing every other production sword with Bo-Hi offered by any other company (… in my opinion). However, as stated, the Bo-HI will weaken the sword, and make it more prone to damage from bad or fouled cuts.

The Shobu Zukuri is an excellent sword with outstanding girth and weight. It is an excellent cutter, and aesthetically – like the Samurai – is clean, understated, and simply “there”. It is a stout and robust cutter, and its aesthetic appeal is largely in the unique blade shape: not too many swords out there in shobu zukuri, after all, and that statement alone can be very appealing. I believe the sword lets its cutting ability speak for it, and thus needs no flashy or ornate kanagu. The strong, silent type, if you will. The concern here is that for a new practitioner, it is probably not the best choice. Its behavior is unique to its shape, and those who are relying on a steady cutter that will behave like the swords and iaito they are used to, may find it a bit odd in the hand. Likewise, it requires some minor adjustment to one’s technique and in ones interaction with the sword. What Sensei is trying to relate and instill may be impacted by this very subtle difference, and may negatively impact a new practitioner’s technique. [This is an individual and  personal concern, and the opinions of other practitioners and instructors may vary – these are my opinions alone] On the other hand, for experienced cutters, it may be a good diversion – a nice change and a good experience that will have the practitioner get used to variations in sword behaviors. All in all, I love my Shobu, and would recommend it to any seasoned practitioner looking for something new to play with, but I would not recommend it to the beginning student.