Call it instinct, but red flags pop up as soon as I hear about a knifemaker who makes "Samurai swords", "fine" or not. I know that there are some craftsmen out there who do make quality katanas, but the -vast- majority are junk made for kiddies and wannabes. All of the knifemakers that I have personally experienced as making quality product tend to stick with knives.
Mr. Harsey?
ETA: Disregard. Experience with the craftsman trumps natural suspicion.
