Sword Friend Carlo's Motohara

Sword friend is iconic, but sword fiend has quite the connotation

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.

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.

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.

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.

don't worry, the staining will stop, the sheath just has to dry out more.

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.

Good to see you again

Looks awesome

It's a very nice looking sword. I'm thinking there is something in the saya that is causing that discoloration.

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!

Absolutely stunning.

:face-purple-crying::face-purple-crying::face-purple-crying::face-red-droopy-eyes::face-red-droopy-eyes::face-red-heart-shape::face-purple-crying:

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! :)

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

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.

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.

Thats a nice one.

You should do a video on the Tokensho project.