Bugei Peace Sword
Mar 26, 2012 3:27:28 GMT
Post by junon on Mar 26, 2012 3:27:28 GMT
Introduction
I happen to own this sword by some luck.
My cousin asked me to sell his collections here when he got back from US after graduation (all brand new: this bugei peace sword, hanwei bamboo mat, and hanwei raptor). The items sold to friends but the bugei never really leave my place because he was busy and never had the chance to pick up the sword.
As luck has it, he decide to resell the sword cause he need the cash. I have grown fond with the sword and decide I should buy it back from him and here I am, a proud owner of bugei peace sword.
Even though technically it's a 2nd hand sword, the sword never really leave my premises so it's brand new to me.
Historical overview
Based on bugei website, Keith Larman designed this sword for Bugei.
Snippet from Bugei description of the sword:
Full story can be found at bugei website : bugei.com/peace-sword-1511-prd1.htm
Full Disclosure
I have no connection to Bugei/Hanwei. I paid less than the price listed on Bugei because it's a “2nd hand” sword. As for experiences, I'm a new comer so my knowledge about sword is very limited.
My only experience with katana is this bugei, the Hanwei Bamboo Mat & Raptor.
Initial Impressions
Unpacking: The bugei came in a plain cardbox box; I'm not sure if this is the way it supposed to be from Bugei or my cousin did a repack. However compared to Bamboo Mat wooden box (or even Raptor styrofoam box), it's very plain & not interesting at all.
The first impression I have on this sword is looks very plain (especially compared to prominent o-choji hamon of Bamboo Mat). I can't see the hada clearly due to the oil on the blade and very subtle hada (even now it's hard to see the hada without proper light).
However dry handling the sword gave a different experience altogether. It's lightweight and lively at hand.
Statistics
The Peace Sword model I have is 28” blade/12” tsuka model.
Blade/Nagasa Length: 28”
Handle/Tsuka Length: 12”
I didn't have the chance to take proper measurement/weight of this sword. Sorry! :oops:
The Blade/Nagasa
I will let the pictures describe the blade better than I can.
The hada is very subtle & hard to see without proper lighting.
The hada is very subtle
Close-up with flash would reveal the hada
Suguha Hamon
Kissaki is sharp and well defined...
The Handle/Tsuka
The tsuka is tight; no movement detected and shaped better than axe type handle of Bamboo Mat. The same is black with brown ito.
Menuki is gold horse
The Guard/Tsuba
The Pommel/Fuchi-Kashira
The Scabbard/Saya
Handling Characteristics
The handling is very nice. It feels quick and lightweight. The tsuka shaped better than axe handle on Hanwei so it helps as well. I have limited experience with sword, however... Only have handle 3 swords so I can only compare it to Bamboo Mat & Raptor, so keep that in mind.
In term of handling, I would rate Peace Katana, raptor, and Bamboo Mat (somehow I didn't like the handling of bamboo mat too much).
Test Cutting (if applicable)
No test cutting performed. The blade is too beatiful to be used by inexperience hand like me!
Conclusions
Overal, the only complain I can found is about the shipping box - plain brown cardboard box. For $1500-blade, I would like to get a wood box like the bamboo mat please!
However this might not be Bugei's fault because the sword might had been repacked before it got into me (by my cousin), so I might be wrong about the box.
As far as the sword goes, this is a perfect sword for me. I don't think I would buy another katana again ever!
This would be the one and the only one katana in my collection!
Pros
I happen to own this sword by some luck.
My cousin asked me to sell his collections here when he got back from US after graduation (all brand new: this bugei peace sword, hanwei bamboo mat, and hanwei raptor). The items sold to friends but the bugei never really leave my place because he was busy and never had the chance to pick up the sword.
As luck has it, he decide to resell the sword cause he need the cash. I have grown fond with the sword and decide I should buy it back from him and here I am, a proud owner of bugei peace sword.
Even though technically it's a 2nd hand sword, the sword never really leave my premises so it's brand new to me.
Historical overview
Based on bugei website, Keith Larman designed this sword for Bugei.
Snippet from Bugei description of the sword:
“He decided to use a katana originally made by the famous Hizen Tadayoshi school smiths as the basis for this sword. Hizen blades were (and still are) renouned for their beauty and quality of construction. The Peace sword is a robust shinogi zukuri katana with an extended chu kissaki. The blade is moderate in thickness and somewhat wide compared to many designs. However, like the original Tadayoshi school sword the Peace sword is based on, the Peace sword has a shallow bo-hi (full sized groove) and a soe-bi (fine groove) running below the shinogi (ridge line). This allows the sword to remain robust and durable with a good cross-sectional thickness all while helping keep the overall weight of the sword down.”
Full story can be found at bugei website : bugei.com/peace-sword-1511-prd1.htm
Full Disclosure
I have no connection to Bugei/Hanwei. I paid less than the price listed on Bugei because it's a “2nd hand” sword. As for experiences, I'm a new comer so my knowledge about sword is very limited.
My only experience with katana is this bugei, the Hanwei Bamboo Mat & Raptor.
Initial Impressions
Unpacking: The bugei came in a plain cardbox box; I'm not sure if this is the way it supposed to be from Bugei or my cousin did a repack. However compared to Bamboo Mat wooden box (or even Raptor styrofoam box), it's very plain & not interesting at all.
The first impression I have on this sword is looks very plain (especially compared to prominent o-choji hamon of Bamboo Mat). I can't see the hada clearly due to the oil on the blade and very subtle hada (even now it's hard to see the hada without proper light).
However dry handling the sword gave a different experience altogether. It's lightweight and lively at hand.
Statistics
The Peace Sword model I have is 28” blade/12” tsuka model.
Blade/Nagasa Length: 28”
Handle/Tsuka Length: 12”
I didn't have the chance to take proper measurement/weight of this sword. Sorry! :oops:
The Blade/Nagasa
I will let the pictures describe the blade better than I can.
The hada is very subtle & hard to see without proper lighting.
The hada is very subtle
Close-up with flash would reveal the hada
Suguha Hamon
Kissaki is sharp and well defined...
The Handle/Tsuka
The tsuka is tight; no movement detected and shaped better than axe type handle of Bamboo Mat. The same is black with brown ito.
Menuki is gold horse
The Guard/Tsuba
The Pommel/Fuchi-Kashira
The Scabbard/Saya
Handling Characteristics
The handling is very nice. It feels quick and lightweight. The tsuka shaped better than axe handle on Hanwei so it helps as well. I have limited experience with sword, however... Only have handle 3 swords so I can only compare it to Bamboo Mat & Raptor, so keep that in mind.
In term of handling, I would rate Peace Katana, raptor, and Bamboo Mat (somehow I didn't like the handling of bamboo mat too much).
Test Cutting (if applicable)
No test cutting performed. The blade is too beatiful to be used by inexperience hand like me!
Conclusions
Overal, the only complain I can found is about the shipping box - plain brown cardboard box. For $1500-blade, I would like to get a wood box like the bamboo mat please!
However this might not be Bugei's fault because the sword might had been repacked before it got into me (by my cousin), so I might be wrong about the box.
As far as the sword goes, this is a perfect sword for me. I don't think I would buy another katana again ever!
This would be the one and the only one katana in my collection!
Pros
- Nice silk ito
Beautiful blade
Come with Bo-hi & soe-hi – pretty rare!
Feel lightweight in hand
Everything is superbly done (fitting, tsuka wrap) [/list:u]
Cons
- Hada is subtle (not really a cons)
Expensive $$$!
[/list:u]
The Bottom Line
I would recommend this sword if you have enough cash to spare; The value for money on this sword is high and will be well spent.
