Learning something new with every video. "No wigglies" adding that to my sword dictionary. Just ordered my first two katanas. A scratch and dent Ronin RK and Honbon Forge 1060 TH. I'll be sure to do the check for wigglies!
Picked up a dojo pro a while back.out of the box the blade was bent and within the first 5 jugs the Ito Ito was unravelling and the kashira came off. Wasn't please. The blade shape and sharpness was excellent but a sword is only as good as it's weakest link. Going to fix the bend and redo the tsuka eventually.
Eric Husayn I just bought the 14 trapped oni. Really don’t even want to get it dirty. Mine seems well built for the money. I may crack and try out a few water bottles. Maybe. I’ve seen some on videos that sliced paper. Mine would not slice paper but still sharp
Liked both reviews. Own a dojo pro and enjoy iai with its sturdy weight but am dismayed at the shown failure. You are much kinder than I would have been with your review.
Ronin has the best shaped tsukas . when I lacquer my ito it i creases the grip and its rock hard and very solid . I pull my fuchi off amd lacquer the wood and I spray lacquer down in the koiguchi and let it dry good and put it back together and I never had any problems with my tsukas .
I'm new to sword collecting and am a little overwhelmed to say the least. Could you suggest a couple of Katana around this $850 pricepoint. I was looking at a Ronin Elite, but after watching this video I wonder if there may be a better choice. Please and Thank you!
I like Ronin Katana. The entry level blades are, with the fittings and basically the whole package which is what, like $150 delivered to your friend's house and thereafter you have a friend for life because it is well put together and just looks fucking hot. In a lot of ways their cheap ass entry level stuff is a good reason to look toward Ronin Katana. If that was the only option I would not have ANY worries about my choice when looking at entry level shit. Sleek and classy, nice. The Dojo Pro line (three to four hundred) is perfect for an entry level hack (me) who wants to do kata while sober and chop shit up during normal times. Sharp, sleek and svelte but solid as fuck, well put together for the project at hand. If I had ONLY one option and four hundred dollars I would go with Ronin Katana Dojo Pro. Just like if I had one fifty for an entry level (which I did for my son in law who, for now, isn't interested in practicing but really wanted a wall piece that didn't look like a turd) I would do the same. I'm not getting paid for this shit but I probably should check out that possibility. Maybe a job with Ronin Katana will show up at my gate winking at me. Who knows? Anyway, I recently bought an Elite (blade only). Blade only blades are actually housed in a wooden handle and saya (scabard). Now, the two main and probably only important issues I have with Ronin Katana are: the waxy shit in the saya and the loose rattly rattle that the saya presents which could possibly be very problematic for those of us who have past ptsd issues with uninvited rattly sounds. It does not gurgle or make weird creepy breathing noises, which is cool, because that is one more thing that...... Anyway, I like Ronin Katana, with the only issues being the rattly waxy saya. I'm into woodworking so I'm happy to build my own, which, for me, is part of the fun. In summary, Your choice of the Ronin Elite is something I can't help you with, but outside of the saya issues, you will have a really solid mutherfucking sword. If you have reservations, there are something like thirty odd Dojo Pro little beasts with which you will be hap hap happy. Good solid piece of equipment you can put through whatever you can think of to do with a sword. Whatever you do, make sure to have fun with it That is kind of why I go for the meat and potatoes over the piece of artwork you'll be heartbroken over when you scratch it while doing what it's meant for.
I guess after all of the above, my conclusion would be that if you want something that catches the eye and is superficially beautiful, Ronin Katana may not be your thing. However, If you want to swing around and cut with a cool ass sword then maybe you should get that which you are lusting after. Peace and stay safe.
I don't understand how tatami can chip a blade. I mean, it's literally straw. Maybe it had more to do with the blade than the target? Either way, very kind review. Lesson I take away is that complex lamination is more a liability than asset
I am not sure it was a chip as much as the fine part of the edge snapped off. It is hard to say. It is worth noting those tatami mats can be pretty dense. Surprisingly so at times.
@@Matthew_Jensen is there a chance it was rolled on an unswept floor and picked up some random detritus? Either way, enjoyed the vid and cutting. Thanks for making swordtube not suck.
Love the videos! Have you tried SBG's Project X Japanese? They come from the same forge as the Ronin Elites, but there is a option for folded steel with soshu-kitae lamination. I have two, which turned out completely different; one with a very visible and active hada, and the other much more subtle (almost unnoticeable). I haven't seen any reviews for the folded & laminated version, and was hoping you may have given one a try - off camera.
Looks like a layer of paper was wrapped around the tsuka core to get it to line up with the fuchi, hence the "bulge". I think the tsuka core was too small for it to line up, so Ronin "cheated" it.
I am in the process of getting this blade sharpened. What kind of edge did this blade come with? Do you have a recommendation I can send this blade too?
What about the Condor Tool & Knife Katana Sword ,have you any opinion on that , it's 1075 and the sell the two smaller blades that make a three piece set. They are also not completely traditional with fittings and so forth.
They have proven to be on the durable side. I think that is where they excel over a few others. The Dojo pro are very robust blades if that is what you are looking for.
@@Matthew_Jensen Actually yes, you hit the nail on that one! I am looking for a first sword to practice really because so far I have only practiced with bokkens, and I want something that is durable enough, can cut but it's not super facy on its materials and just overall can stand on its own. Thanks for the advice, man. I like your video reviews!
just go first hand dude honestly if a 3000 dollar katana and a 250 dollar katana smashed into each other AT FULL SPEED *caps they would probably take an equal amount of damage aswell
Excellent review o wise and venerable one! I am humbled by the hight of your enthusiasm and depth of your knowledge great sword reviewer is humbling!!! But I still think it would be better as a drunk review😎👍! Just saying.😕
Ronins seem to be very sturdy but what bothers me is I own a dojo pro which cost about $300 and it has the same issues that a elite has and ronin elites cost about $700-$900. Seems like you're just paying for the blade.
The handle was switched out from the original dojo elite handle.i have never seen that simple of a handle on a ronin dojo elite before.not original in my opinion.hooefully the blade is original.
Waxy Mcgoo. I really like Ronin Katana and all of their stuff but if you care the wax goo inside their sayas is the thing that would get in the way between one and their hot and sexy new friend. Plus, blah blah they rattle in the saya.
Honestly, I have NEVER heard so many flaws with a Katana anywhere and it seems to be a pattern with your other swords as well. I just had a custom Katan made, and I paid $122 for it and it's perfect, nothing on it is loose, all the fittings tight, no cracks in the handle when taken apart but when I see you review different Katanas, some a bit under $1000 and some for over a few hundred dollars, I'm just shocked at all the things wrong with them and my swords are made in China and I will continue to buy my Katanas from the company I buy them from!! There's no way I'm going to shell out $500-$2000 for a Katana with really loose, shit fittings on them, no offense bro, but I'm so glad you do these videos because I'm working on my 4th custom Katana and NONE of the ones I already own have ANY problems, I'm very happy and satisfied with the quality and craftsmanship of the Katanas I buy from them and everything on them, from the silk Ito, to the ray skin wrapping, are totally real and on there tight, so tight, I can't even move the Menuki that's on both sides of the sword. I should send you some pictures of 'Hirate' my last Katana!!!