A Comparative Review. Which Sword as My First Sword?
Dimytri Komanatov

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. Please 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. 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, the 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.

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, very good 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, a simple tsuba change can facilitate this reasonably. Of course, to really change a sword aesthetically, all new furniture should be done at once, so it is all in the same theme. Likewise, tsuka ito color can be changed, new wraps done, etc. My point here is that the sword is more than what you get when you buy it, and the blade should be of primary concern, not the appearance. All else can be changed over time. In fact, it will be changed as you use it – wraps wear out and have to be replaced, so the opportunity for variety and uniqueness in expression of the fittings and overall look will most definitely arise. Keep that in mind if appearance is of concern – you are not married to the look or theme that comes with the sword at initial purchase.

The Bamboo is a great sword, and undoubtedly every bit the cutter that 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 it’s 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 two different tsuba … 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. That being the case, I would shy away from the Bo-Hi in your case, leaving us with three options: Samurai, Bamboo, and Wave without Bo-Hi.

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.

The Dragonfly is stunning, visually, and is lighter and more agile than the above. It is available with Bo-Hi as well, and so is even lighter still when ordered this way. It sports a ryuko (waisted, or hourglass shaped) tsuka that is very popular and lends it an even lighter feel in the hand. It has a slimmer blade (a lower shinogi) and very little, if any, niku (that’s the convex curve from ha – edge - to shinogi-ji - ridgeline). This makes it a light weight, sleek, very agile cutter, but also makes for a more finicky cutter where hard or substantial targets are concerned. For those seeking a good, light, fast cutter but who do not require a heavy cutter, the Dragonfly is a terrific choice. However, I would recommend no Bo-Hi for beginners – again, the groove will somewhat weaken the blade. When beginning, strength should take precedence over sleek, weight saving grooves that will leave the blade more prone to damage from fouled cuts, which will most certainly happen.

The Crane – much like the Dragonfly – is a light, sleek cutter, and I tend to think most of the important differences are aesthetic, so I’ll leave it at that. Like its cousin, it comes with or without Bo-Hi at the buyer’s option, and for the same reasons, I recommend against Bo-Hi for beginners.

And there you have it. – a categorical breakdown of each of the swords in the Bugei line-up, as well as a comparative look at the non-Bugei swords offered by Hanwei. I have purposefully stayed away from the money question, simply because of the fact that choosing a sword is not a simple economic decision. However, no analysis of a product line-up can be had without at least touching on the price tag, so here it is …

The Money

The Samurai goes for $1025, and would probably provide the best bang for the buck, so to speak. Considering concerns about bad cuts, twisting, bending, etc., a new practitioner would do well spending the money here and getting an outstanding workhorse of a sword.

I personally like the Bamboo, but at $1280, it is $255 worth of eye candy. If the eye-candy is worth the extra money, then by all means, go for it.

The Wave is an excellent weapon, but realistically, even without Bo-Hi, it goes for $1525 – that’s $500 worth of aesthetic customizability. Granted, getting that work done (new wrap, new tsuba, fuchi, and kashira, etc) after purchase could cost that much and more anyway, so that said, it is definitely worth the money you spend, as long as you have the money to begin with.

The Shobu Zukuri – at $925 – is the most economic choice for the Bugei line-up, and this (coupled with its distinctive appearance) may be the main reason it seems to be one of the first choices for new practitioners, however, I still have to maintain that it is probably not a good choice for new practitioners – I’ve mentioned my reasoning above, so I’ll let that sit as it is.

The Dragonfly and the Crane are the same price, and I feel the choice here is purely aesthetic – pick the kanagu you like. The geometry and performance factors are, as far as I can tell, practically and functionally identical. For most beginning practitioners who do not require a heavy-duty cutter – those who need light, fast blades with good light-weight cutting capability – this is a no-brainer.

Conclusion

So... what is the best sword for a practitioner’s first real sword purchase?

Well, let’s assume two things here. First, that money is a serious consideration, and that you are looking to get the most for your money, while not breaking the bank. Second, that you’ve asked your Sensei/Instructor, and he’s led you to a good conclusion as to the particulars (length, weight, school or style specific restrictions, etc). Given that, if you require a good, heavy cutter, I would suggest the Samurai. However, if heavy cutting is not required (and most beginning students do not do heavy cutting), then I would recommend the Dragonfly or the Crane.

Also, if – given the above - you are leaning towards the Samurai, but like the Bamboo and have the extra cash, go for it – You’ll see no important performance degradation there. Likewise, if you want to go a sep farther, go for the Wave and get the customized aesthetics you like.

What about the Shobu? only (in my opinion) if you are an experienced, practiced cutter looking for something different.

As to the question of Bo-Hi, I recommend it only if you require the sword be a bit lighter to alleviate fatigue and stress from sustained iai, kata, waza, etc. However, do keep in mind that Bo-Hi will slightly weaken the sword, and so will make your sword more prone to warping, twisting, and bending if a cut goes bad. For this reason, it is best to avoid if the buyer intends or expects harder or more substantial targets.

Hope this is of use.