Here are the top choices in Shinken and Iaido swords. (Iaido swords are for practice, Shinken are considered "live blades" and most Martial arts instructors worth their salt will tell ya that only swords made in Japan constitute the real-deal.)
1. [url]http://www.nosyuiaido.com/[/url] Talk w/ Rick as iaido swords generally take 8 weeks+ and shinken possibly longer.
2. [url]http://www.liveblade.com/tozando/index.html[/url]
3. [url]http://www.bugei.com/index2.html[/url] These swords are very strong shinken made from various sources such as Paul Chen (china) and in the US like Howard Clark (http://www.mvforge.com).
4. and for the budget minded there are several Paul Chen swords available from here [url]http://www.swordarmory.com/main_pics_pgs/es_armoury.htm[/url], make sure to check out the Pratical Plus Katana in the "Samuri Armory" in box next to Armory#2 and Shogun Armoury. One note, most of the warnings about Paul Chen swords being sharp are BS as over the past 6 months they supposedly have been coming less and less sharp, so expect to have to have it sharpened.
Here's a nice, polite place to check out Iaido, Kendo and other Japanese sword related subjects, [url]http://www2.g-com.ne.jp/~japan/cgi-bin301/ikonboard.cgi[/url]
Mike
PS - Oh yeah, most of the home shopping stuff I suspect is typical gunshow crap.