$130 & $2000 Katana Comparison

This is a video about some of the differences between a $130 Ronin Katana and an approximately $2000 Evolution Blades Motohara L6 Tensho Katana.
I don’t cover all the differences but I do babble for 20 minutes about a few of them. There are more nuances to cover in the nakago, wood used, cross section of the blade, sharpness and edge profile, and a bunch of other stuff. The video went on long enough for a basic outline.
The Ronin Katana RK #15 can be found here - roninkatana.co...
My reviews on the RK series blades here -
(2020) - • Ronin Katana Entry Lev...
(2013) - • Ronin Katana: RK Serie...
The Evolution Blades Motohara L6 Tensho Katana can be found here -
motoharablades...
(I think they are made to order so there is no exact copy of this sword for sale)
Reviews on or that feature the Tensho here -
(2021) - • Evolution Blades: Moto...
(2020) - • Evolution Blades: Moto...
My favorite swords video featuring the Tensho-
(2022) - • My Favorite Katana
Music provided by - Kevin MacLeod incompetech.com
Link to the Facebook spot - / matthewjensenswordreview
Link to the Twitch spot - / sword_friend_matt
Link to the Patreon spot - / krunan
Link to the TicTock spot - / matthewjensenswordguy
Link to the Instagram spot - / matthewjensenswordguy
Link to the KZbin Membership spot - / @matthew_jensen
Link to my eBay sales page - www.ebay.com/us...

[@IPostSwords]

Always a good topic to point people to when they want a direct comparison at budget and high end swords. Very useful video.

[@thatguynameddan2136]

That was very cool, as a total novice in the world of swords its interesting to see the differences in those pricepoints as far as quality and handling are concerned. All that said, your glowing reviews of Ronin's work has a dojo pro on the way and a musha in my hands to get some of the dumb out of my system early.

[@utubepunk]

I wouldn't mind seeing your older, more popular videos re-shot with your accumulated, current thoughts. Kind of like how Motor Trend would rate a new vehicle & then revisit it a year later with a follow-up review.

[@Han-rw9ev]

That was one of the best explanations of the differences between 'budget' and more expensive katana I've ever watched.

[@erichusayn]

Good stuff. I'd upload this one for sure. I've gotten to hold and cut with a motohara, but there are lots that have not, and I think this video would help to point out the differences.

[@JoeSteel1]

This will always be a great topic, There needs to be appreciation, and awareness to excellence in quality and budget quality, it's also great for people to experience motohara pieces from your channel as a great reference point. we'll done....again...Matthew

[@arhalp5461]

Your knowledge deffiently gives us good insight on such products . thank you.

[@Psycho-Ssnake]

I really like my RK katana, It is very Nice for a $130 sword. The only strange thing about mine is that the hamon is totally different on each side. One side is more uniform while on the other side the pattern is much sharper and erratic.

[@EmvyBeats]

This guy is really precise on informing information.

[@grifscustomlightsabers3925]

I really appreciate your videos. Shopping for a new blade now and the things you discuss are a big help in making a good decision.

[@techclearspeed1560]

Thank you - nice job. Very informative.

[@weaponman3872]

I like how curved the expensive sword is , would love to see you do an in depth comparison of the cutting between different levels of curvature !!

[@88997799]

You may want to tip the scabbard upside down and tap them out. Looks like some stuff fell out. Some compressed air probably wouldn’t hurt blowing them out clean.

[@spian]

Awesome video! Been watching a lot of your vids lately because I am about to purchase my first real high end katana. What are your thoughts on Bugei? I came across them back in 2004 and always wanted one of their katanas. I am really pushing to get one soon.

[@Yoda2422]

And if you want to go all out you can buy a newly forged or antique nihonto and have yourself made a Koshirei completly by your design… depending on what Blade and how complex the fittings are we could talk like between 7 and 15 k easily for one.

[@rogerwilliams2629]

Thanks, very informative.

[@dichonelawson5218]

What you mentioned close to the 10 minute mark about the scrape sound when placing the katana back into the sheath, you need to admire that sound, it only makes the sword cooler when you get that sound 🤣🤣😁😁👍🏾👍🏾

[@VashTheAverage]

The Ronin right now is 99$ with 18 shipping to the states. Seems to be even a better deal now

[@PenArrowNation]

4:09 could you please identify the katanas in the beginning of the videos so we understand which one you’re referring to as you speak. Thanks

[@rmcswords]

I’ve used around 10 different brands and motohara is miles above the rest, the one here in the video is just a Motohara L6, tensho are the fittings with a yujo habaki. I don’t think they offer L6 anymore, most practitioners use SGT steel for tatami/Ujto now

[@PowerGlove7]

If you used a citadel Whats your thoughts on citadel vs motohara?

[@rmcswords]

@@PowerGlove7 I have not, from what I’ve been told/seen is Motohara cutting performance stands alone compared to other $2k katanas, after my Motohara my next expensive sword would be a $700 huawei that cuts the same as my $200 Dynasty forge musha class

[@JoeSteel1]

comparison Albion and darksword Armoury request, would be interesting

[@EastWestWingChunKungFuRichmond]

Thanks for sharing!

[@SoloKyoto]

I got a $120 1060 mono blade off Amazon on sale for $65 that is actually amazing quality for the price. It's from a Chinese company called LQDSDJ and the one I got came with very plne flat black fittings that are not overly designed and just work and fit well and the blade appears to be well made and very sharp. My only complaints would be the ITO is a tiny bit lose as to be suspended for the price but not a problem and one of the sepa washers rattles a little after some use but also has no actual effect on its usability. The one i bought most recently (with brown wrappings is sold out right now but they still have others Available and some higher quality blades as well that I am not familiar with yet.

[@SoloKyoto]

ALSO I have found that the blades tang is glued into the tsuke making it very difficult to remove but honestly........ For $65 I was expecting a piece of balled up Chinese aluminum in the shape of a sword and I was very presently surprised.

[@SoloKyoto]

To me it seems the company LQDSDJ puts the money into what actually matters not a bunch of extra cosmetic crap that cost more and takes away from quality in other mors important areas.

[@ABEAZYdaRonin94]

I'm sure that the design and blade geometry on both swords is historcal. Both I believe that style originated from sword geometry's of the Edo period, but the Ronin/Lonquan/mall katana shape is more based off of WWII mass produced swords that the Imperial Japanese military gave to lower ranking officers. I forget the type numbers but maybe a type 95 I'm not 100% sure.

[@tengu190]

My favorite blade still is my Ryansword 1366 o-katana. For the price an amazing training tool.

[@ericthomas7752]

Dude after 4 minutes. Still can't figure which is which.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

sometimes I wish I couldn't either.

[@warrennass24]

Hi Matthew, Warren Nass here, would you consider redoing a hanwei bushido katana video and more bugei videos?

[@Matthew_Jensen]

I don't have one anymore but I would be happy to revisit it. I am somewhat limited by the items I have in my collection and unfrotunatly nothing from Bugei and only a couple from Hanwei.

[@warrennass24]

@@Matthew_Jensen I understand keep up the great content.

[@guloguloguy]

...WOW!!!!! THANK YOU, MATTHEW, FOR THIS DETAILED, AND INFORMATIONAL COMPARISON VIDEO!! MUCH APPRECIATED!!..I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE AMERICANS, AND OTHER NATIONS (JAPAN, KOREA, PHILLIPINES, INDIA, BURMA, GERMANY, DENMARK, SWEDEN, FRANCE, ITALY, AUSTRIA, POLAND, RUSSIA, ETC.),AS WELL, START TO WELCOME CITIZENS CARRYING SWORDS, AND OTHER BLADED WEAPONS, FOR SELF DEFENSE!!

[@totheendful]

Thanks for the vid

[@cadencero5313]

Can you chop tree limbs with those Swords?

[@varun009]

Swords are expensive because of japan's cost of living. I'm sure if you assembled the right group with the right tools, you could easily do the fittings better and apply them to factory made blades.

[@revelation20232]

if budget wasn't a concern, what would the best katana or wakizashi on the market in terms of blade quality?

[@The_D0C70R]

From what I've heard, Howard Clark blades are the best in terms of quality and strength. They're extremely expensive though, they start at $5000 for an unpolished bare blade (no tsuka or fittings)

[@Tacklebox3000]

Do you have any experience cutting wara straw mats? I’m seeing them being sold for tameshigiri and with good tatami being so hard to find they are tempting.

[@drentrumenbzh7719]

Hey Matthew, following you since a while, enjoying your videos a lot, especially the destructive ones! I'm a dense forest/bushes walker , so i like to have a very pratical sword which have great resistance but which can issue some very dense vegetation situations , I wondered about which one should I pick from Asian culture, a katana seems too heavy for this kind of use; Thailand dhab or ninjato maybe? Anyways, ty for your sharing philosophy, I wish you the best!

[@jchart]

Get a machete or a kukri. They're actually meant for that.

[@drentrumenbzh7719]

@@jchart already have both, would like a more stylee one... Myb i should look for TFW

[@YourFavoriteLibertarian]

Thank you for doing this. I'm brand new to Katanas. I'd love to see a comparison of the different types of steels out there and hardening processes. From what I've gathered, 1060, 1095, and T10 steels are good? I don't know. Every website selling a katana says the steel they use is the best, but I want to see how each steel performs vs. the other steels. Or just have an expert tell me the rankings of steels for katanas and why.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

There are charts out there that compare different steels on a line at different harnesses. @KnifeSteelNerds either has a video or would be good to ask, especially if you have a specific question. The problem with the question in relation to mass production katana is that there is a lot of variability in the heat treatment. How one company treats 1060 may be different than another. How one company treats its 1060 blades might have enough variation to make a comparison lack substance.

[@YourFavoriteLibertarian]

@Matthew Jensen thank you, Sir. What do you think of a Ronin dojo pro model #13 for my first Katana? I want to do some cutting with it. Mats, water bottles, meat with bone, fruit. I've seen your videos on it and am leaning towards that one, but was wondering if you recommend it for a beginner like me. Also, I would love to get your thoughts on some of the katanas from Swords of Northshire. I'm looking at their WW2 reproduction of the type 98 Officer's Shin Gunto as a cutter that I can actually use, and compare it to a historical type 98 we have in the family (I'm obviously not cutting with a peice of history).

[@KF1]

Good vid

[@cantremember6794]

Is there a place I can buy good quality tubas and handles?

[@thede-motivationalspeaker]

Yes. Tozando.

[@Yoda2422]

Japan

[@alunrogers3525]

Good review.

[@getmurked6859]

I’ve heard that kantanas have the ability to stop sons from crying. Is this true ?

[@christopherwilson5054]

Matt, what are the general prices range with Evolution Blades? I'm sure it varies depending on what fittings and materials the buyer chooses. I'm just trying to get a general idea. Is this a good buy for the practitioner, or go for a usable antique nihonto?

[@Matthew_Jensen]

I don't know what they start at anymore but they were $1500-$5000ish depending. I think they may be more now.

[@michaelingraham8032]

How does the Motohara sword compare in your opinion with the citadel sword you have?

[@TONEDEAFSOUND]

oddly enough swords and audio equipment end up being very similar

[@alexanderbencumanus7878]

i need some advise, and you are best person to ask about which type of katana is good or not

[@ryanhancock128]

Where would I buy a high quality battle ready master sword from legend of zelda?

[@justinashley7616]

i just got the michonne replication by siwode for 151.00 after tax. its a beast for the price. after watching this video and knowing a few more things to look for, im even more impressed. i really wish you wouldve talked about blade metals more... unless thats a different video 😁

[@Matthew_Jensen]

Metals can make a difference but at either end of the pricing scale people get too caught up in them. A lot of forges don't fully realize the potential of exotic steels and often get better results from 1060. Not that there are not differences but I have not found many performance differences between them when they are done well enough, and I have found fancy steels heat treated poorly that underperform dramatically.

[@TONEDEAFSOUND]

man siwode is one of the best i got my friend a sword from them around $120 and it’s great

[@consumer1073]

why is the tip burnished?

[@soykanmuri7277]

My best sword right now or WAS the one I had was an O katana, from Ryan Swords. Ok so my last two swords I had after I gave away about4-5 of them to the neighbor, I will mention here. Ok so first I had a nodachi left of the two. That was I bet the best katana. And I say katana, it's because I sent my measurement changes, to be katana size. And that was just through the message center on Amazon. But apparently my $460 katana had a better, harder RC or the edge when I had a friend sharpen them both. Blabbering here... Ok well I hope it wasn't because I tried myself to sharpen the nodachi katana on a Block Sharpener. And that's what I think changed the hardness on this nodachi katana because I moved the blade very fast aggressive and with some pressure overheating the edge. So I'm stuck with a different katana with an ugly Hamon and a bent iron patina tsuba, since I gave away the nodachi katana as well. Sucks

[@ventura1893]

scrap the decoration and plane sword without ego and vanity / put the work into Rockwell hardness and temper poor practitioner blames his tools pice of 2×1 wood works ok

[@fettmaneiii4439]

the blade bent on the neck of a waterbottle? huh.

[@karyldavidkidd7111]

OMG clickbaity!!!😅😂 Thanks buddy

[@andrewsock1608]

I hate the cheep handles on katanas where the pommel cap comes loose. The wrap is not traditional if it falls apart so if not producing traditional handles , why don’t they put a screw in the pommel cap? I would be much happier with a unauthentic screw than a sword that falls apart in one swing 👍👍 does anyone feel the same way? Dos anyone put a screw in their poorly wrapped Chinese katana handles ? The art is always garbage so I don’t mind putting a drill through it.

[@utubepunk]

Click-bait Jensen at it again! 😄

[@mountopia77]

Not worth the price difference.

[@andrewsock1608]

It’s a poor samurai who blames his tools 😉

[@eli734]

I this it's selling snake oil when they sell a katana for more than 1000 bulshitdo

[@alexanderbencumanus7878]

can i contact you on whatsapp or on other app (like Instagram, Telegram)? ... i want ask you some details about katana, and eventualy to show you some pictures about model of katana who i want buy

[@Matthew_Jensen]

I think my instagram is in the description

[@alexanderbencumanus7878]

@@Matthew_Jensen .. thank you,.. I saw now, and. i will ask you something on instagram,