So I know the hanwei swords are made in china but are they made by subcontractors from different sources (cheaper then hanwei marked up)? Also are there any legitimate japanese swordsmiths (affordable hanwei range)?
It's not a case of "Loyalty to Japan", to-shi (swordsmiths) have to be licensed and their work certified and registered just like guns, forging blades outside the country would disqualify them from forging shinsakuto (new art swords) in Japan again and any blades they did forge would be worth no more than those from China without the official Japanese documentation.
I've only ever read of two licensed smiths who weren't Japanese, one is a Canadian who still lives and works in Japan, the other was an American who is no longer with us and a tanto of his (made while in Japan) sold a few years back for the price of three or more top end Hanwei katana.
In the world of swords you often get less than what you paid for, hopefully you get exactly what you paid for, seldom do you get more.
...nothing's changed over the years IMO.
Hence - "seldom do you get more" - I suppose.
C'mon Mick, we know you've this one stashed.
I forget which ones you have now?