For what it's worth, I have always thought that Bugei was overpriced for what you're getting - A sword made in the Hanwei --factory-- and cleaned up stateside...
For $10K, there are very, very few limits on what you can get. If you are looking for a traditionally made blade, tamahagane and all, you have no choice but to go with a Shinsakuto, since tamahagane is strictly a Japanese product. There are a large number of Shinsakuto smiths that will be more than happy to take your $10K and give you everything you want in a sword; you just have to find the right smith. Chris Bowen is a good contact for that, since he still maintains close ties with Japan. My personal recomendation is Keiun Naohiro, a kindred spirit and relative mad man that is *awfully* generous with his pricing (you can get a tachi and wakizashi currently available for your $10K...)
Now, technicalities aside, if you are looking for a blade forged from steel made by refining iron sand and such, you have more options. The absolute top of my list is Louis Mills. Reclusive, exclusive, and underpriced for what you're getting. I can NOT speak highly enough of his work.
For $10K, there are very, very few limits on what you can get. If you are looking for a traditionally made blade, tamahagane and all, you have no choice but to go with a Shinsakuto, since tamahagane is strictly a Japanese product. There are a large number of Shinsakuto smiths that will be more than happy to take your $10K and give you everything you want in a sword; you just have to find the right smith. Chris Bowen is a good contact for that, since he still maintains close ties with Japan. My personal recomendation is Keiun Naohiro, a kindred spirit and relative mad man that is *awfully* generous with his pricing (you can get a tachi and wakizashi currently available for your $10K...)
Now, technicalities aside, if you are looking for a blade forged from steel made by refining iron sand and such, you have more options. The absolute top of my list is Louis Mills. Reclusive, exclusive, and underpriced for what you're getting. I can NOT speak highly enough of his work.
