Just by looks, I am drawn to Bugei. Can anyone who owns a Bugei katana share their thoughts? Any other brand better? I've seen Paul Chen ones, wasn't that impressed. I don't know why, looks too ordinary I guess. Seems like the Bugei ones have character and most other brands are cookie cutter types. I'm not gonna be using it for tameshigiri or anything, just to swing around in the air..lol
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Best Brand of Katanas?
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Triton
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At this point I believe that most if not all the Bugei swords are made by the same people that make the "Paul Chen" swords that is Cas Hanwei in China. The difference being that Bugei has some exclusive swords made for them, and it's my understanding that they have folks inspect every sword that they ship. It used to be that Bugei was also the nearly exclusive outlet for Howard Clark katana but I think I heard somewhere that is no longer the case.
I think in the production katana market the Bugei exclusive swords are probably about as good as it gets. If you want better you pretty much need to go custom.
I think in the production katana market the Bugei exclusive swords are probably about as good as it gets. If you want better you pretty much need to go custom.
horseclover
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As opposed to Paul Chen of Cheness
Cheers
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Cheers
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Triton
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As opposed to Paul Chen of Cheness
Cheers
GC
Sorry, too many Paul Chens, all apparently pounding swords out of old railroad tracks.
Anyway, the bits about Hanwei and Bugei stand even if our OP was talking about the other Paul Chen.
I was referring to Hanwei. I've only recently heard of Cheness..
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Bugei are made by Hanwei. However, they are not quite the same. Each Bugei is inspected stateside by a Professional Polisher and he is really really really good at what he does and his knowledge on Katana.
Bugei has also spent the money on their own exclusive designs (For example, Mr Tenold and Mr Larman have each put in designs for either koshirae or entire models --and if you know Nihonto or Polishing, you know their names) and I believe Bugei have spent a great deal of time making sure they are done how they want them done.
So this adds up to better Quality Control, as well, I believe, a much much nicer sword than one of the standard Hanwei Production models.
If you want something a bit more custom, I believe Aaron of Justice Armories does some very nice work as well, and he works on some of the DF models.
Of course if you are looking at spending a few grand, and you said its not going to be used, I would put it towards the real deal.
Just my 2c.
Bugei has also spent the money on their own exclusive designs (For example, Mr Tenold and Mr Larman have each put in designs for either koshirae or entire models --and if you know Nihonto or Polishing, you know their names) and I believe Bugei have spent a great deal of time making sure they are done how they want them done.
So this adds up to better Quality Control, as well, I believe, a much much nicer sword than one of the standard Hanwei Production models.
If you want something a bit more custom, I believe Aaron of Justice Armories does some very nice work as well, and he works on some of the DF models.
Of course if you are looking at spending a few grand, and you said its not going to be used, I would put it towards the real deal.
Just my 2c.