$3000 Katana Unboxing and First Impressions: The Thaitsuki SO5

[@thenathanr4243]

your channel is criminally underrated!

[@dlmiller7873]

Skallagrim was right to recommend your channel. You are very thorough.

[@JoeSteel1]

Kudos to you for your honesty Matt, others getting a 3k review sword might feel they HAVE TO Give it 5 stars..

[@Matthew_Jensen]

Maybe. I get the feeling people are pretty honest in their thoughts. I would guess getting a sword at such a price might just put someone in a positive mood.

[@Phil.Martin]

That is a gorgeous overall blade design! The loose ito and the shape of the tsuka have always been disappointing, especially at this price point. The saya looks really nice. I'm looking forward to seeing how well it cuts and how durable it is with respect to bending.

[@alientude]

For $3000, I don't think the casting quality of the kashira is acceptable. Those pits are very noticeable. I really like the color scheme with the rich red and silver. Blade profile is very unique. Tip looks wicked. The ito wrap looks...odd. Bulky and not graceful.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

There are a few issues here and they might be excusable in a $500 sword but hard to justify in a blade this pricy.

[@way2dumb]

@@Matthew_Jensen you would need to send them to a metal polisher to see if you can get that out.

[@ooQ-pi3es]

It too expensive and not worth it. Also wrong specification.

[@stephaniemusick171]

Thanks for the unboxing impression. It is a gorgeous sword. I really like the colors and the Koshirae choices. The blade profile is an interesting choice. I’ll look forward to your full review.

[@wakelesspluto1792]

I took your advice from an older video and a bought a sword from china and set it up to your specifications. . Its definitely not 3000 bucks but im still very excited to receive it. I ordered it in mid November. I wish it would come already. How do you stay so patient waiting for a sword? It will be my first sword. Thanks for uploading your videos. They made me feel much more comfortable in buying a sword also, they are very entertaining.

[@TopLob]

He has like a 1000 swords XD It's still exciting, but when you have that many swords, you can wait a few months.

[@charlesghannoumlb2959]

I agree here with top lobster, you are exited bcoz its you first sword, i have a small collection of blades and im still impatient waiting fir a new order and am starting a new collection this summer so im gonna soon experience of waiting the delivery of my blades 😁, anw good journey sir in the wonderfull world of martial arts and arms collecting

[@Tygrus]

you buy you a cheaper sword to tide you over in the meantime.😁

[@vladimirkovacevic1656]

beautiful katana and koshirae,i love osoraku zukuri and hamon

[@keirfarnum6811]

I like the no yokote blade tip. Looks nice.

[@oscarbarrett5620]

yessss the centipede menuki makes it for me, there aren't really any videos on this model so thank you

[@MaaZeus]

Thats a nice wide and beefy blade. If the saya was not following the lines with tsuka, I guess that would be the reason why. Personally I actually prefer it this way, a beefy blade that is as wide as the tsuka rather than the more common narrow toothpick blade that looks nice and symmetrical when sheated.

[@ChildofLight777]

Appreciate the 4K content Sir.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

You are the one person who appreciates it. Thank you for speaking up.

[@KF1]

That's definitely interesting and cool they sent you. Dual angle polish on the blade makes it look unfinished though. For $1k I'd think hey good try, but for 3k it would be reasonable to expect a better aesthetic. Looking forward to seeing you put this through the paces

[@ssjronin3972]

They have always been overpriced, not signing the certificate is embarrassing.

[@TopLob]

The certificate isn't really worth anything. Signed or not, it's going in the trash.

[@ssjronin3972]

@@TopLob It's not about the paper having value itself, it's about them not having enough pride to write their name on their work. To triple check every detail about their product and it's packing. If a $3000 product isn't gone over and made sure everything is perfect, it says they don't care about premium customers. Make a passable (not superior) product slap it in a box and ship it feel to it, which is ok for like a below $300 price point to me.

[@The-Travel-Man]

It doesn't look like a $3K katana to me. One look at Ito wrap and a loose Kashira, and that's telling sign. Kurikata knob is a bit farther from Koiguchi. I don't think I'd pay more than $600 for this blade. Orasaku-zukuri blade style is interesting, but it is not enough to justify the high cost. Folded steel is not necessarily better, as modern steel is much purer than the one used in ancient times. I'd take forged L6 over folded steel. Thanks for the video!

[@christopherwilson5054]

Matt, perhaps you mentioned this previously, but it seems all production swords even at $1000 up to 5K plus have some type of issue some where. I'm starting to think this is the case. Even with my aforementioned non-alternating tsuka wrap on a recent HanweiTori Elite. I felt compelled to keep it anyway since everything else was really good on it. Exchanging it may have had a another type of issue - or the same. Nice review on the Thaisuki. The red is nice.

[@joe_meadmaker]

Beautiful sword despite the imperfections. Looking forward to the full review! 👍

[@Matthew_Jensen]

Thanks 👍

[@AkBewm]

I LOVE YOUR REVIEWS BRO thank you I was looking at this sword right now and all the things little nit picky things your talking about I was wondering when I was staring at the sword on Kult of Athena thinking to buy it and than I’m like I wonder if you have some reviews on some of these katanas and right away I see the same exact one thanks bro

[@Matthew_Jensen]

Glad you like them!

[@Tygrus]

Very pretty, tsuka looks thick-I wonder how that feels like in your mitts. Never heard of Osaraku in katana but sure. Really like the shape of the blade.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

It feels good. I have been training with it a bit and no complaints about that.

[@Tanashx]

Not a huge fan although I do like silver koshirae. I would think for 3.000$ it should kinda come in nice wooden box or something as well. I personally feel it's overpriced but then im also a novice so what do I know. Thanks for the interesting review regardless!

[@TopLob]

I don't care about all the stuff around the sword, like boxes and certificates, but for 3000$, I expect that the sugata, the tosogu, and the tsukamaki to be basically flawless. It doesn't have to be elaborate, just high quality. I can get a nihonto for that price, so they are competing with the real deal. In that price class, they really need to hit the pedal to the metal. No lumpy tsuka with loose ito, or lazy polish.

[@tommybrowne8759]

should be atleast a Tamahagane or at the minimum a nice high grade laminated blade

[@TONEDEAFSOUND]

jkoo is selling swords far better than this for like $400

[@JuardianK]

When this sword first popped up, the handle immediately stuck out to me as unshapely. Just don't see how they justify the price. The sword looks much better on video than in the pictures but I'm interested in how it performs.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

Its a little thick but not bad feeling. The ito does not help.

[@michaelkim8452]

Beautiful sword!

[@GGolden219]

I'm not trying to be rude, but it looks like they took a shobu-zukuri blade, dropped a yokote in the middle, gave it a rough counter polish, and called it osoraku-zukuri, which I've never seen outside of tanto or ko-wakizashi. The tsuka looks quite chunky and that's too bad the ito is loose on something in this price range. Anyways, looking forward to the official review, but at this point I'm not seeing a $3000 katana (maybe I'm just cheap and picky).

[@tengu190]

Please review a Skyjiro Kokoro.

[@erichusayn]

Exciting. Haven't seen one from them in ages. Think the last time was when you went there. Lol.

[@erichusayn]

Dude. Nitpick away. That's a $3000 katana.

[@erichusayn]

Whoaaaaaaaaa. That blade. Wow. Never seen a full size katana in ossuraku. Sucks the polish isn't the best. But still cool. But for 3k, you could get a nice custom katana.

[@erichusayn]

I just wanna see noodles cut. Lol.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

You will see this in the future.

[@erichusayn]

@Matthew Jensen the sky is blue after all. Or grey this time of year, but still, I think of the sharpness level is there, she will make a great noodle cutter.

[@eliraven8502]

I’ve bin looking for this exact type of osaraku katana every where

[@yosiadjataiii5702]

The sword was unique, i like the way the Color it has, i can sense boldness came from it...i don't see a proper Tachi that much, and the Blade was one of the Unique part too 😎👍... The Polish and the Fittings (Itto wrappings), was a Little bit disappointing, they could make it out better ~ BUT ~ for $3000 USD sword of this scale, i hope it'll make it's way through the "Test" you mentioned Matt 😎👍 ~ that way, it'll perhaps show it's true shine!

[@TopLob]

*In regards to your plans for the sword: give it your best. You testing swords is great for us to judge the various brands. It's a very pretty blade, but it would be interesting to see the more high-end swords being challenged. I think more expensive swords get away a bit easily, because we're more reluctant to ruin a 3000$ sword than a 500$ one. You're in a unique position. ;)* Just my comments: I've never understood why anyone would put any significance into a "certificate" from a manufacturer. They have absolutely no value. It's like the monopoly money of NBTHK and NTHK papers. It's worth noting that the saya not matching with the tsuka is fairly common in Battodo swords. It's because Nakamura sensei preferred this style, because of wider blades. I do agree with you that it's nicer when it lines up though. We're both Battodo/TSKSR guys, and I must say I agree that it's nicer when everything is streamlined. Still, it's a completely legit shape, I must admit despite my own objections. I like the flat side of the saya tapering like that, but I also can tell that the tsuka is very potato'ey, which is not good. From a practitioner's standpoint, I'd rather have something simple, but accurate and practical, than something pretty. If they had to choose one or the other, I'd go all in on quality. Proper shaping of the tsuka is more important than the saya, but both is preferable. And correct sugata. For this price though, I can get something a lot better. Which is ultimately what truly matters.

[@88997799]

Yep… trash it.. 🎉

[@Baleur]

From binge watching hundreds of sword reviews over the past month, it seems like there is a huge dropoff in appreciable difference past the $700 mark. Ive seen and heard $2k swords that have ito or even the blade itself be objectively worse than a $300 sword. Which really makes you wonder what you are paying for? And it also makes you wonder, why are the good cheap forges not upping their prices?

[@georgewright9223]

I get that some people really like these swords... But damn... Compare this to a Citadel Lotus which is also $1000 LESS mind you. You get the same stuff... Hand made koshira (fuchi kashira, menuki, tsuba) handmade tsuka and saya to fit each individual sword, all silk sageo and ito. What Citadel does better = Much better ito (quality and firmness). Tsuka not as bulky. Full Samegawa wrap. Fittings are actually handmade traditionally and not cast. Saya actually fits the size and shape of the rest of the sword and isn't overly bulky. Fittings are all unique to Citadel and not copied or ripped off other places/workshops. They handmake the Habaki and seppa to fit each blade. What does Thaitsuki do better? They fold and laminate the steel. Citadel is mono steel, differential hardened. Keep in mind Hanbon, Jkoo, Ryan sword etc ALSO fold and laminate their blades, but they cost %10 of what this costs. If you think a worse sword overall, but folded and laminated is worth an extra $1000 then this sword might be for you lol. Thaitsuki have also ripped off a copy of the menuki for this sword directly from Minosaka Workshop in Japan. I wonder if they paid Minosaka for use of their patent? The whole thing just doesn't seem right to me.

[@marcogruber3807]

Wow Matthew

[@jamesduke7965]

Compared to your review of the $2600 citadel katana whats your thoughts? As good or not even close?

[@Matthew_Jensen]

I have a full review coming. In short I prefer citadel but the features are different . If you are looking for a nice blade with complex lamination and real silver fittings, then this might be the only option. That or other Thaitsuki pieces. I think it would need to be redone on arival to bring it upto the same level as citadel in terms of finish.

[@angelosilva342]

I understand that packaging gets treated as an "extra" cost that companies just try to cut down, but to get my 3000USD object in the same crappy cardboard box as every chinatana (and this is not a chinantana), just rubs me the wrong way. And I majored in logistics, so its not like I am underestimating the cost... I'd expect it to be at 1500USD (although inflation is a thing and prices are rising, so maybe more), from the finishing of the koshirae and blade. One thing that gets me, is that even in osoraku zukuri, its not just a surface polish thing. The basic geometry of the blade should shift at the yokote. Sure there are famous osoraku nihonto that don't appear to have that shift, but if possible, the geometry shift, however slight, should be there. DISCLAIMER: I actually do NOT know the background of the osoraku zukuri. I just know in general the idea behind the shaping of the kissaki and the existence of a yokote.

[@nebulaM16]

What do you mean with…If you guys have any questions…. Your not answering anyway. I begged you for a advice months ago and nothing… now I’m stuck with a flimsy katana from ColdSteel for which I payed almost an arm and a leg, and on top of that no one from ColdSteel answered my emails and phone calls,….so, if there are any questions, there certainly will be no answers. Nice job, Well done….Bravo👏👏👏

[@Matthew_Jensen]

I don’t recall your question but I make an effort to answer when a question is asked. You can find proof of that in the comments section. Also if you ended up with a Cold Steel blade then I don’t see how I am to blame. I have reviews of a few pieces from them. My praise and criticism are at your finger tips.

[@jaytpmc]

Thought on entry level ronin katana vs swords of northshire entry level katana? Which should I go with?

[@Matthew_Jensen]

I have not really had an entry level blade from SoN, but I have had a few Ronin RK blades and they have been good for the money.

[@shawnclifford362]

Cheers Matt. Nice sword. But I don't think I would purchase it. No solid reason, just something about it.most I have paid is two grand for a Damascus Viking sword. Always a pleasure. Slan ☘️

[@panoctic]

i want a review for the crocket stick of doom lol. at least how it came to be

[@BalefulRaven]

Damn, he just said "screw safety" and went in raw on that handle. My man.

[@sanjurohanamizuki6181]

for me the tsuka is way too thick . I would need to have that completely rebuilt . I have piano hands , long fingers , but overall small when gripping a knife or sword . But the rebuild would give the opportunity for katatemaki , which I am very partial to , and the right person will understand that the tsuka needs to function and fit your hands as well as being aesthetically pleasing . Form and function . Is that expensive to have done and done right ? Yes , but very much worth it , unless you only put swords up for display .

[@Tygrus]

in the US, if you can find someone legit, expect it would cost $500 and 3 if not 6 months to be done.

[@sanjurohanamizuki6181]

@@Tygrus what is 500$ if you are spending 3000$ ? Nihonzashi was awesome for building and wrapping tsuka , but they haven't offered any such services since covid 19 hit , last I checked anyway .

[@Tygrus]

@@sanjurohanamizuki6181 I was thinking lohmans but there are so few ppl doing work these days (Cottontail too), that expect it would be oit of your hands for 1/2yr or more.

[@sanjurohanamizuki6181]

@@Tygrus I am not presently in the market for a blade , mine has served me quite well for a very long time now ..... but , if that were not the case , I'd rather a blade not be in my hand for more than a year , more than three years , more than the rest of my life , if it did not feel natural in my hands

[@katana24]

Could you improve the audio quality for next unboxing?

[@Matthew_Jensen]

That is the plan. I tried a shotgun mic and these are the results. I should be able to get something a bit better next time. I don't mind the framing visually but the audio is not my best work.

[@tengu190]

Please review a Imperial Citadel katana by Citadel.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

I think that is a limited edition, probably only going to seen them second hand from time to time.

[@tengu190]

@@Matthew_Jensen You don't know anyone who has one?

[@ridgemannikko1045]

The first image with you holding something toward the camera made it look to me like you had accidentally cut your arm off with the sword.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

Don't but that bad juju out in the universe. LOL, I kind see it now too.

[@culture-nature-mobility7867]

Where do you set the limit, the threshold from where on you don't do destructive testing with a sword?

[@Matthew_Jensen]

I don't know that I really have that set yet. Frankly I am still feeling a little odd about not breaking all samples but I don't have the time or health to do it. Swords that warrant breaking are often from vendors without much media, so the question of durability may be on peoples minds. Also vendors that sell swords specifically intended to be durable warrant hard use. If I have already broken items from a vendor, I don't know how much breaking another would add. For example, If I got another dojo pro from Ronin, I am not sure how much it would help to break it. I have done it five or six times now. By contrast, I did not break the sword from Z-Sey. It was a new vendor without much media but I opted to skip breaking. Reason being, it bent on tatami, and was not sold as a durable blade. I figured buyers might want to see it used but people buying it were not likely to abuse it because they already know it would break. I am still figuring it out. Destruction testing will will be a part of my channel. I have four or five lined up to break right now. At the same time, breaking everything is not necessary. The thaitsuki blade will probably be pushed and might chip or bend but I am not going to deliberately break it in half. Unless there is a good reason to do so.

[@culture-nature-mobility7867]

@@Matthew_Jensen Thanks for that elaborate answer! 👍🙏

[@sportsfan1255]

what/whos blades would you say that will holds its value over time?

[@Matthew_Jensen]

Albion... Thats about it.

[@JS-ed2hg]

I hate some of these fedex, ups and USPS drivers. To them fragile means destroy. It's ridiculous SMH. Beautiful sword stay safe my friend. 3k is a little steep seems like you're paying more for the blade than anything.

[@strydyrhellzrydyr1345]

Idk... I'm not so sure how much I like it... I don't like how the line is half way up the blade... And it definitely should be more of a mirror polish...

[@lMINERl]

Unboxing 3k sword My inner mind : plz dont break it plz dont break it Plz dont break it

[@mohammadabusyed9981]

💯💯💯💯💯

[@robertjensen1438]

Algorithm comment thing

[@Matthew_Jensen]

response to show engagement

[@TONEDEAFSOUND]

it’s hard for me to justify 3,000 on a katana because i’d want to just invest a bit more into either and antique or a japanese forged blade

[@alltheabcs261]

Lol to get a real Japanese forged katana that's gonna set you back at least 6k to actually get a really good one it's been 10k - 25k

[@TONEDEAFSOUND]

@@alltheabcs261 you can absolutely find antiques for around 3k i’m not looking to get a really good one if it’s antique ya know?

[@rugerjones78]

That thang bleedin p!

[@nesking3115]

The thing that turns me off of Thaitsuki is that they claim to be “Nihonto “,which is only authentic Japanese Katana can rightly be called “Nihonto “..

[@kaynhuros2050]

Most nihonto cost WAY more than that

[@Matthew_Jensen]

Most does indeed.

[@nytrash]

No way a monosteel Thai made sword is worth $3,000. I’d rather spend that cash on a Motohara or something with nicer koshirae. You could almost buy a nihonto for that.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

This is honsanmai and uses folded steel. It has some more depth than a mono-steel blade. .

[@medievilassassin]

For 3k I would want perfection but that’s just me as I expect perfection when I buy a Hanwei 😂

[@Matthew_Jensen]

Not many Hanwei are at $3k. The onese that are suffer from some of the same kind of issues. There are folks that do clean up a little better. Motohara and Citadel are in the same price league for example.

[@medievilassassin]

@@Matthew_Jensen yeah that’s what I mean buddy I expect a 800 Hanwei to be perfect 😂

[@tommybrowne8759]

3000 thousand dollars is way to much for this Katana when you expect the blade to be atleast 80% of the price and hate to say the blade material is lack luster

[@LancelotChan]

LOL, not signed...

[@makidiaz3894]

This is unbelievable for 3k. Shame on them.

[@shanewright344]

It's a nice looking sword, but I don't think it's worth $3000

[@stefthorman8548]

for 3k, i would expect custom perfection, not this mass production quality, 19:42 the handle just looks like crap, the squares are an mess, it would have been better if it has an hour glass shape, other then the handle, it looks decent, but even if it was fitted perfectly, i would still consider it an 1000$max sword.

[@jonandresen1483]

That is...not awesome. Wrong six ways from Sunday.

[@jhl3653]

Obviously overpriced. Poorly conceived sugata. They should have just made a shobu instead of this bizarre osoraku thing. Worst of all, the hamon/yakiba is inappropriately thin. No thank you.

[@88997799]

Katana hermaphrodite? 😂

[@tntanto2]

Never liked Thaisuki swords, lots of issues. I only buy Japanese made swords.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

That is quite a step up unless you find a good deal second hand. Are you able to find Japanese made swords in the same ballpark?

[@tntanto2]

@@Matthew_Jensen its possible to buy ww2 swords for same price and yes, got a Nihonto by Ogawa Kanekuni made in 1981 for 89 usd

[@tntanto2]

@@Matthew_Jensen and for that price the polish should be way better

[@DutchAce]

For 3000 you still see the same thing mass production . Its really a dissapointment when you pay 3000 end almost see no diffrwnce between 300dollar sword its the same china thing .like all the rest. I mean the robe m the fat handel . The sheed . Tiny point blade its all same

[@Matthew_Jensen]

There is a difference but also some major points that sand out as underwhelming or similar to lower priced items. The ito tightness and polish on the kissaki stand out. On the flip side, well shaped blade, complex lamination, unique fittings made from real silver, and high quality sageo are a few points that stand out.

[@ipressedabutton]

i hate when they put condoms on my sword it feels so cheap

[@TheJCJexe]

Why are you standing so far away? Need more close-ups on everything. Lazy video.

[@handel1111]

Unsigned No wooden case