Bamboo Style Katana

At Bugei we reach into history to design blades to be used. This includes features that are not readily visible, like our 10" nakago with two mekugi to insure that the blade is secure in the tsuka. These blades are forged and folded with a softer steel (45-48 RC) surrounding the harder edge steel (59 RC). This provides excellent strength and shock resistance with superior edge holding and cutting ability. Both the tsuka and the saya are custom hand made for each individual sword. This attention to detail means that you, our customer, get the best that we can provide. The initial response to these blades has been outstanding. Because of this fact we are continuing to expand our blade offering. We now have wakizashi available in exactly the same motif as the katana to form a daisho. Included with each sword are a sword bag and cleaning kit. Hand polishing reveals the hamon, the different crystalline structure of the steel, which is attained by the unique hardening process that sets the Japanese blade apart. Our swords clearly show the martinsite edge, the pearlite body, and the troosite and sorbite crystalline structure that make up the hamon.

27.5 inch blade with 13 inchtsuka in black, 28.5 inch blade with 14 inch tsuka in black, 29.5 inch blade with 15 inch tsuka in black

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Crane Katana

In collaboration with Paul Chen, Bugei is offering an elegant new sword at a very reasonable price. Lighter and faster than the Samurai, our Crane style is forged out of Swedish powdered steel with a dramatic hada, grain pattern, resulting from the forging/folding process. The tsuba, guard, is a pierced crane style and quite beautiful. The Crane symbolizes wisdom and longevity. The menuki are a younger and an older scholar/sage. The meaning is this, a man of wisdom and integrity would be long in the service of his lord, usually surviving one lord to serve the next generation, thus the analogy with the Crane, wisdom and longevity. This sword will serve well those who want a lighter blade for iaido and yet still want a blade that has the strength for serious cutting.

The nakago on the Crane Katana is ten inches in length with two mekugi securing the tsuka, handle, to the nakago, tang. The choices of length of blade and tsuka are the same as those offered on the Samurai katana. This allows a great deal of choice to fit each individuals' needs. As with all of Bugei's swords, each Crane katana is inspected and prepped by Ted Tenold to insure the quality of the sword that you receive from us. Tsuka lengths of 11", 13", 14" and 15" are available with the Crane katana. Length of blade runs 27.5, 28.5, and 29.5, this allows our customers choices are unique in blades of this price and quality.

The beautiful hada (grain in the steel) is very apparent in these pictures. This is the result of the extensive forging and folding process that is done by hand for each individual sword. The Crane tsuba is extraordinary in it's beauty and detail. It is a light tsuba and adds to the overall lightness of the blade.

Menuki: Sage/Scholar

Motohaba: 1 3/16 inch

Sakihaba: 7/8"

Torisori: 3/4"

Kissaki: 1 1/4"

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Dragonfly Katana and Wakizashi

A new offering from Bugei is our Dragonfly koshirae katana, distinctive style, a thinner lighter blade individually hand forged and folded from the superior Swedish Powdered Steel, available with bo-hi, and very affordable. Our work with Paul Chen continues to produce swords of the highest quality, the best value for the money. The sword pictured is a prototype, made for James to test, the dimensions reflect his particular requirements. All of our swords are tested extensively before they are put into production. We make sure that our swords perform as good as they look. The Dragonfly held a special significance to the Samurai. Their seemingly tireless movement reflected the Samurai’s desire to give tireless service to his feudal Lord. The dark brown ito is set off by the black same making this a unique offering from Bugei. The lower shinogi and the scant hira-niku make this blade lighter and faster and gives it less resistance in cutting soft targets. The lighter weight, with available bo-hi, and beautiful hamon and hada, a product of the forging and folding of the Swedish Powdered steel, will make this sword a favorite of Iai practitioners as well as anyone interested in a light fast katana. The tsuka has the slight “waisting”, ryugo, that is popular with many who study Japanese sword arts. The fittings are beautifully antiqued duplicating the lood of old iron. Ted Tenold is responsible for the design and authenticity of these fittings and we think that they are the best that we have offered.

Dragonfly Cutting Video

Quicktime 2mb | Quicktime 9mb

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Samurai Katana

Our Samurai style katana is a new offering from Bugei. This is the strongest and best performing Japanese style blade ever offered at this price. The use of Swedish powdered steel, used in the construction of these swords, results in outstanding quality and performance. Strength, edge holding, and beauty have all been significantly enhanced by the use of this steel along with the complex folding process. The blade evidences a gunome style hamon and a dramatic ayasugi-hada with mokume and masame. The tsuba is steel and engraved with a Samurai drawing his sword. The fuchi and kashira also feature Samurai drawing and cutting engraved in them. The forging process for this sword can be seen on our website. Each of these blades is individually hand forged and folded, heat treated, and mounted. Even with these design parameters each sword is unique. Performance testing has shown them to be strong cutting blades with a good resistance to deflection. James cut cleanly through a 12 mat roll at the Bugei Open House with the Samurai style blade. The nakago are 10 inches with two mekugi. This provides for strength and safety while cutting. These swords are also available with 11 inch tsuka for practioners of Iaido. The saya and the tsuka ito are black. A limited number of these swords will be sold, call now to reserve yours. Blade Specifications: Motohaba is 1 1/4 inch, Sakihaba is 1 inch, Torisori is 7/8 inch, Hamon is in Gyaku Choji style, and the kissaki is 1 3/4 inches.

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Here is a warriors blade that hearkens back to the 14th century, a strong beautiful blade in the classic Shobu Zukuri style. This sword is an exceptional cutting blade as the samurai proved against the Mongol invaders where this style of sword proved more effective against the Mongol armor. This style of blade is believed to have evolved from the naginata/nagamaki that were renowned for their cutting power.

In our efforts to keep alive the Samurai past we enjoy reproducing historical blades of the samurai. Many of these swords and styles are no longer available in modern Japan. This is a sword of the samurai, from a time when they were the elite warriors of Japan.

Our Shobu Zukuri is available in two blade lengths 28" and 30" and three tsuka lengths 11", 14", and 15" to accommodate different styles of sword practice. Each blade is individually hand forged from Swedish Powdered Steel that is not folded. Swedish Powdered Steel is exceptional for it's purity and even carbon distribution. Starting then with the best steel the smith then hammer forges each sword individually. Careful heat treating produces a sword with a true martensite hamon (rockwell 60-62). The differential hardening leaves the body of the sword softer and more ductile, making it able to withstand shock in the classic Japanese tradition. As with all of our swords the performance of this sword was personally tested by James and Big Tony. Sobu Zukuri means iris leaf, which refers to the shape of the beautifully curved kissaki.

Blade Specifications
Motohaba - 1 7/16"
Sakihaba - 1 1/8"
Torisori - 7/8"

Shobu Zukuri Wakizashi

New from Bugei, the Shobu Zukuri Wakizashi.
19.5" Nagassa
6.75" Tsuka
Price US $750

Both blades feature silk ito.

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Wave Katana

The Wave style katana is a new offering from Bugei. The use of Swedish powdered steel and sophisticated forging and heat treating results in outstanding quality and performance. Strength, edge holding, and beauty have all been significantly enhanced by the use of this steel The blade evidences a gunome style hamon and a dramatic ayasugi-hada with mokume and masame. Also available on this sword is bo-hi ( a groove in the shinogi ji the length of the blade). The Wave style katana is available with or without bo-hi and the price difference is $200.00. The Wave style is available (with pre-order) in several different color combinations of saya and tsuka-ito. With this sword you also have a choice of nagasa (length of blade) and length of tsuka so that you can custom fit the sword to your requirements.The steel tusba has an engraved nami (wave) pattern as does the fuchi and kashira. The nakago (tang) is 10 inches long and secured with two mekugi (holding pins) to ensure strength, safety and longevity of use. Please see the forging process within our site, complete with pictures on how these fine swords are made. A limited number of these blades will be available, call now to reserve your sword.

Once orders have been placed they cannot be changed.

PLEASE ALLOW 6 TO 9 MONTHS FOR DELIVERY

Sword Selection

Katana Options

Wakizashi Options

New Wave Tsuba

Orignal Wave Tsuba

Square Wave Tsuba

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