To make this clear, SGT steel has own texture on surface and when we do heat treatment on edge, which is hardest part of whole sword... it just shows like that. I am pretty sure that not many of you guys have seen SGT steel by other company or blade but nothing we can do with that. If you think it is rust and you believe what you see then no reason to purchase it. I personally think i can live with it over performance but that is me as practicener. Thanks for bringing this up to make it clear.
Jason at Motohara/Evolution is awesome. Not only do they make great swords, but customer service is also outstanding. Like you said, poop happens sometimes but knowing who will and will not fix issues is also really important.
I have read that certain polishing processes can leave tiny amounts of etchant or moisture or a mixture in the grain of certain blades, which takes time to fully displace with oil. Leaving the blade lightly oiled but open to the air, then wiping the oil off then re-oiling it every few days for several weeks will almost always permanently resolve this issue. My guess would be Motohara has added a polishing step which can cause this, but because it only happens occasionally even with the same techniques and steels, and it can take a week plus for the staining to begin show are unaware of the possibility. This would be why it only appeared during shipping, since storing the blade in the saya creates ideal closed-air conditions for the staining to present. The stains wouldn't have been there at all when the sword left Motohara either time, but not wanting to wait several weeks before sending the blade out after completion, or after cleaning, they recurred during shipping both times. The solution is to lightly polish off the stains, oil the blade very lightly, then two or three times a week rub off the oil and replace it. After I think, six weeks or so, you can be pretty confident it's safe to go to normal maintenance intervals. If I'm recalling correctly, and I might not be, it's been a while, the issue is described in Japanese literally as water having absorbed into the steel and it needing to dry out fully, but it's a known phenomena. I might have recalled some details of that wrong but I'm confident the broad strokes are correct and that it is what is occurring here.
Correct, however for the purpose of these video I believe the blade has micro imperfections which is where the rust is coming from. This is caused by the heat treatment process and is an anomaly. It could potentially be heat treatment inhibited rust which means it will be not just surface level but also a bit under the surface and would require a repolish to remove. On a side note even with Japanese Togi, there is a dust called nugui that is used to bring out the hamon after mixing it with water or different oils. The nugui is made from he dust of the swords a togi has polished, typically collected from a rough water stone (I think arato). You can ONLY use orishigane steel for nugui, and you can also have multiple nugui for certain purposes. One rougher one finer. One higher in carbon, one lesser. One is for the hamon, others is for the hada if I recall correctly. The nugui can sometimes cause rust spots if for some reason some is trapped in microscopic. It's no joke why Togi can take 10+ years to be allowed to polish without supervision on their own. There is a tremendous amount of studying required to touch every school of sword smithing, and to learn every intricacy/nuance of many smiths from the past. While sword maker can be done in 5 years because they focus on only 1 school of bladesmithing.
Great story. Glad everyone is happy. Great review - photography, lighting, sound editing, levels very tight and very well done. As always, I like the methodical way you look at not only the swords but the issues with the swords. Nice looking sword. Thank you.
I had Jason make one for me in d2 TH steel hard target cutter I’ve been using the hell out of it for a year and it still is brand new condition I’ve used it on bamboo and the blade hasn’t even scuffed.
Hard to say exactly what happened. Especially with folded & pattern welded blades. Each one is unique so even though it may be the same steel or even same model, the behaviour of each blade is likely to be different.
This is why you have gained a lot of respect from the Japanese sword community! Your integrity!!! Although I don’t believe it’s a real blemish on Motohara, s***t happens. And he dealt with it “properly “! You could have hid it under the rug , and I am sure you were not ecstatic about filming it and putting it out there. But ya did! And that is why you are good at doing this!
What are your thought on the Hanwei Celestrial L6 katana? I've been eyeing it for a while and will probably pull the trigger but was wondering if you think their L6 is up to snuff? I know it's a very difficult steel to work, so was hoping you had some experience with their L6 line.
He has a video about Hanwei L6 in a different sword. If memory serves, it was not a good review. The Celestrial is a very expensive model, and I don't think Hanwei does "perfection" like that price demands. It does look nice in the video and picture I've seen though.
I have a Motohara blade being commissioned right now. When it's finished up in a few months I'd be happy to have it shipped to you for review before it gets to me in NYC. If you would like.
@Matthew Jensen an SGT steel Katana with multi purpose cutting edge, and Bohi. So I can train with it in class and for cutting, as well as being able to cut bamboo or mats with a harder inner core material when desired, without worrying about the edge getting damaged. I'll let you know when I get notice of it being done and can send over to you for review opening and some test cutting with it. Also is a 32 inch Nagasa. Would be fun to see as I like watching your videos and you know a lot about Japanese style swords and such as well.
A sword should be the sum of its parts. 99% of what I saw was exceptional. I would be happy to buy it at the ask price.. cause I know that if it was a real issue evolution would sort it out.
that is one nice blade. The rust was obviously there when oil applied or caused by the oil.. lol, Noh mask. dude... "The Hannya mask. The Hannya (般若, Hannya) mask is a mask used in Noh theater, representing a jealous female demon. It possesses two sharp bull-like horns, metallic eyes, and a leering mouth."
I plan on getting one of these but I have a $5,000 sword to pay for first. Maybe I'll send that to you when I get it so you can check it out and maybe have some fun. It's not going to be a display sword so cutting with it will be fine! :)
That is a head scratcher. Ive had a few motohara pass through my hands and never seen that staining or rust issue. The oil used to grease carbon blades can still rust them. Even though it's grease it's still a liquid and contains traces of agents that will rust metal. Best thing for metal is dryness so I use renny wax. Best stuff ever. Lasts a hella long time too, less maintenance.
Pretty sure it's the particular steel used, I think the owner claims it isn't rust from what I've read online. I personally would probably just go with a different steel composition personally.
Sword friend is iconic, but sword fiend has quite the connotation
@Feo Savoyan the title said "Sword Fiend" instead of "Sword Friend" and I know it was a typo but I really like it lol
I had a chuckle at that as well :)
To make this clear, SGT steel has own texture on surface and when we do heat treatment on edge, which is hardest part of whole sword... it just shows like that.
I am pretty sure that not many of you guys have seen SGT steel by other company or blade but nothing we can do with that.
If you think it is rust and you believe what you see then no reason to purchase it.
I personally think i can live with it over performance but that is me as practicener.
Thanks for bringing this up to make it clear.
Jason at Motohara/Evolution is awesome. Not only do they make great swords, but customer service is also outstanding. Like you said, poop happens sometimes but knowing who will and will not fix issues is also really important.
I asked buyer if he want us to make it again or provide a full refund but he kept it.
After he received, he mentioned that he like it.
I have read that certain polishing processes can leave tiny amounts of etchant or moisture or a mixture in the grain of certain blades, which takes time to fully displace with oil. Leaving the blade lightly oiled but open to the air, then wiping the oil off then re-oiling it every few days for several weeks will almost always permanently resolve this issue. My guess would be Motohara has added a polishing step which can cause this, but because it only happens occasionally even with the same techniques and steels, and it can take a week plus for the staining to begin show are unaware of the possibility.
This would be why it only appeared during shipping, since storing the blade in the saya creates ideal closed-air conditions for the staining to present. The stains wouldn't have been there at all when the sword left Motohara either time, but not wanting to wait several weeks before sending the blade out after completion, or after cleaning, they recurred during shipping both times.
The solution is to lightly polish off the stains, oil the blade very lightly, then two or three times a week rub off the oil and replace it. After I think, six weeks or so, you can be pretty confident it's safe to go to normal maintenance intervals.
If I'm recalling correctly, and I might not be, it's been a while, the issue is described in Japanese literally as water having absorbed into the steel and it needing to dry out fully, but it's a known phenomena.
I might have recalled some details of that wrong but I'm confident the broad strokes are correct and that it is what is occurring here.
Correct, however for the purpose of these video I believe the blade has micro imperfections which is where the rust is coming from. This is caused by the heat treatment process and is an anomaly. It could potentially be heat treatment inhibited rust which means it will be not just surface level but also a bit under the surface and would require a repolish to remove. On a side note even with Japanese Togi, there is a dust called nugui that is used to bring out the hamon after mixing it with water or different oils. The nugui is made from he dust of the swords a togi has polished, typically collected from a rough water stone (I think arato). You can ONLY use orishigane steel for nugui, and you can also have multiple nugui for certain purposes. One rougher one finer. One higher in carbon, one lesser. One is for the hamon, others is for the hada if I recall correctly. The nugui can sometimes cause rust spots if for some reason some is trapped in microscopic. It's no joke why Togi can take 10+ years to be allowed to polish without supervision on their own. There is a tremendous amount of studying required to touch every school of sword smithing, and to learn every intricacy/nuance of many smiths from the past. While sword maker can be done in 5 years because they focus on only 1 school of bladesmithing.
Great story. Glad everyone is happy. Great review - photography, lighting, sound editing, levels very tight and very well done. As always, I like the methodical way you look at not only the swords but the issues with the swords. Nice looking sword. Thank you.
thank you for the kind words. Glad the video work side is on the good side. I have been trying some new things.
@@Matthew_Jensen Video was great - could actually see the stain. I think some of your "new things" are working. Cheers!
I like that blade shape, I really like a tall blade with high shinogi.
I had Jason make one for me in d2 TH steel hard target cutter I’ve been using the hell out of it for a year and it still is brand new condition I’ve used it on bamboo and the blade hasn’t even scuffed.
don't worry, the staining will stop, the sheath just has to dry out more.
Good to see you again
Looks awesome
Hard to say exactly what happened. Especially with folded & pattern welded blades. Each one is unique so even though it may be the same steel or even same model, the behaviour of each blade is likely to be different.
This is why you have gained a lot of respect from the Japanese sword community! Your integrity!!! Although I don’t believe it’s a real blemish on Motohara, s***t happens. And he dealt with it “properly “! You could have hid it under the rug , and I am sure you were not ecstatic about filming it and putting it out there. But ya did! And that is why you are good at doing this!
It's a very nice looking sword. I'm thinking there is something in the saya that is causing that discoloration.
Absolutely stunning.
Would you say skyjiro or motohara is better?
motohara
Are you planning to do a response video to that awful sword test shadiversity did recently?
What are you talking about? I'm curious.
How do I get upgraded to a sword fiend? Is it years of service?
First you have to become the friend of a sword friend, then you become the sword friend of a friend, and finally you become sword friend.
sword friend = ereyone
All sword friends are sword fiends :)
What are your thought on the Hanwei Celestrial L6 katana? I've been eyeing it for a while and will probably pull the trigger but was wondering if you think their L6 is up to snuff? I know it's a very difficult steel to work, so was hoping you had some experience with their L6 line.
He has a video about Hanwei L6 in a different sword. If memory serves, it was not a good review. The Celestrial is a very expensive model, and I don't think Hanwei does "perfection" like that price demands. It does look nice in the video and picture I've seen though.
How would you recommend polishing a sword like this at home
If it were mine, I would have taken mothers mag to it and been willing to sacrifice the detail in the polish I bet it would have looks good.
I have a Motohara blade being commissioned right now. When it's finished up in a few months I'd be happy to have it shipped to you for review before it gets to me in NYC. If you would like.
That would be fun. What did you commission from them?
@Matthew Jensen an SGT steel Katana with multi purpose cutting edge, and Bohi. So I can train with it in class and for cutting, as well as being able to cut bamboo or mats with a harder inner core material when desired, without worrying about the edge getting damaged. I'll let you know when I get notice of it being done and can send over to you for review opening and some test cutting with it. Also is a 32 inch Nagasa. Would be fun to see as I like watching your videos and you know a lot about Japanese style swords and such as well.
A sword should be the sum of its parts. 99% of what I saw was exceptional. I would be happy to buy it at the ask price.. cause I know that if it was a real issue evolution would sort it out.
It is.
Thats a nice one.
A nices stropping should get rid of that rust
Thays the first one I've ever heard of from them coming rusted like that
Hi Matthew i love your content really help me to find katana that i like.
Btw can you make a review about balaur arms kagutsuchi katana
Maybe they will send one. I don't have any current plans to review one.
that is one nice blade. The rust was obviously there when oil applied or caused by the oil.. lol, Noh mask. dude... "The Hannya mask. The Hannya (般若, Hannya) mask is a mask used in Noh theater, representing a jealous female demon. It possesses two sharp bull-like horns, metallic eyes, and a leering mouth."
You should do a video on the Tokensho project.
I plan on getting one of these but I have a $5,000 sword to pay for first. Maybe I'll send that to you when I get it so you can check it out and maybe have some fun. It's not going to be a display sword so cutting with it will be fine! :)
That is a head scratcher. Ive had a few motohara pass through my hands and never seen that staining or rust issue. The oil used to grease carbon blades can still rust them. Even though it's grease it's still a liquid and contains traces of agents that will rust metal. Best thing for metal is dryness so I use renny wax. Best stuff ever. Lasts a hella long time too, less maintenance.
Pretty sure it's the particular steel used, I think the owner claims it isn't rust from what I've read online. I personally would probably just go with a different steel composition personally.
That $.99 got me again...
Uchiko ball maybe?
What is $.99? Memberships? I don't think uchiko would pull it off but some light rubbing with months mag likely would.
@@Matthew_Jensen thinking it's a new video I have yet to see.
I'm not quitting sword fighting because I'm hopeless at it.
I have to quit due to medical reasons.
I keep getting this sharp, stabbing pain.
That sword is killer. I can't afford one, but I wish...
that is a handsome sabre...its great..yes , i could bla bla,,,but..this sabre is a little gem