I'm ordering a scratch and dent Dojo Pro #14 tomorrow. I've heard nothing but praise for them being virtually brand new and bad ass. Spoke to Chris today I'm excited like a kid getting his first Super Nintendo. Your channel and videos are awesome man thank you so much you helped me make my mind up and choose a katana. 🙏
After hearing you say it cuts like a demon and watching all of this I ordered one. She’s beautiful and you’re right for a 6 foot man it is perfect and I love the red lacquer. She’s almost my favorite.
Interesting story... the Dojo-pro #14 is about to become my 3rd sword. Every time I go to research a sword I think I might like I find myself back on your channel. You've helped me avoid what I feel like would have been several disappointing purchases and 100% helped me choose my 1st sword. You were instrumental in my decision on my 2nd, and now you've given me the confidence to make this model my 3rd. Your content is entertaining and helpful. Have you seen the new Mongolian Sabre from LK Chen? What are the odds of you getting your hands on one of those for a full review? I'm looking at maybe adding one to the collection and I would value one of your full destruction tests, even though they hurt a little. Some more than others... LMAO!
+mosinmama Thanks! I am glad you get a kick out of them. This review is the first one I have done on a sword I also destructive tested. It was fun to contrast the testing with a little drunken humor.
I have been looking for a Katana with real fittings and a durable battle worthy blade for sometime now and have finally settled upon the Ronin Katana Dojo Pro. For a bit I looked at blades that were folded with a real hamon and a differential heat treatment but came to realize that this process while it makes for an incredibly good looking blade didn't actually make the most DURABLE blade.Then I looked into Ronin's monotempered 1060 and how they are crazy durable and can handle heavy dojo applications made the decision even easier.
To anyone considering a ronin. I recently purchased a dojo pro #19. The blade is great. Straight, and sharp. It cuts like a demon laser on PCP.. However, out of the box the tsuka was very bent/warped. Took it out and in less than 5 cuts the ito was slipping all over the place. Fast forward a session or 2 and the kashira is about to fall off. Great blade. Poor tsuka/construction. If I had it to do over I would buy a bare blade and go from there.
You sold me on Ronin Matt, I'm gonna order this #14 and the medieval sword, Which would you recommend the model 1 or 7(what 2 hand models I narrowed down to) as far as the best sword for the money, I think they both look great...Hey RONIN get Matt commision for sales, lol...
Similar shape and geometry as Dojo Pro, but not for destructive cutting nor heavy cutting. Yet when the zombie invade the world, I know that I can rely on the blade to protect my self.
The geometry is not too off what most companies sell. There are a lot of options out there. You can get something from Ronin in their higher end lines, they have a similar geometry. There are also all sorts of things from Hanwei, Munetoshi, Dynastry Forge, and a bunch of others. If you are looking for a similar shape + real hamon you have lots of options. I get a kick out of the blades from Huawei on ebay. They don't exactly have a model, you just look at what their ebay page has. Still, they make nice blades.. Ore the Ronin Elite too, those feel nice in the hand..
Ronin's fittings are pretty good at the Dojo Pro level. Mine have held up remarkably. I did shim the saya of mine for tighter retention when sheathed but it was perfectly acceptable beforehand. The first sword I owned was a cheap Musashi 1045 cutter. I wish I had done my research and gotten a Ronin instead for my first. These swords are tanks.
+That Guy You Know Not that I can see. The fuchi kashira are plane, the menuki are the regular dragon ones (I think). The tsuba is about the only one that has a theme to it. Its not like the Hanwei Oni Katana.. But it is also a lot less.
Hey Matt, in your personal opinion what sounds like a better deal a ronin Dojo Pro for $200 or a hanwai Raptor for 300? Im looking for a durable cutting sword.
@@Matthew_Jensen I'm not a practitioner, I'm just an enthusiast. That would do some backyard cutting and looking for something that would cut medium targets and last for a while. The dojo 8 model and the Raptor shinogi zukuri
Both solid products. For the money I would go with the Roinin. It is a $100 based on what you have noted and the performance will be similar. The blades have proven to hold up well. I would guess the handle on the Ronin will feel a little better in terms of shape but less in terms of material. The hanwei tsuka ito will probably hold up longer than the ronin though. Still for $200, it seems like a good deal for a dojo pro. If you use it enough to make the ito fall off you will have a better idea of what kind of sword you want next. Hope that helps.
Thanks for the feedback, I went for the Ronin katana. The buyer actually accepted a bid on it and I got it for $180 which is awesome! On swordbuyersguide it's going for $314
Drinking? Testing a sword with a design called "torso cutter"? With a sword numbered for death in Japanese culture? Also the sword is stylised around a trapped demon? Instant click...
Mathew or anyone with experience, I just received my Ronin Dojo Pro 14 today. Beautiful sword. The only issue is the Tsuka, Tsuba and fuchi are installed somewhat crooked so the blade comes out at a right angle. I would estimate by the time you reach the blades tip it is close to 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch off centre. Therefore the balance is off, and if you were to lay the sword horizontally you can see the curvature/off angle of the blade coming out of the Tsuka. Is this something I can correct ? Without compromising the integrity of the sword ? Chris has kindly offered to accept it as a return however I would really love to fix it and keep it it is so awesome. Thanks in advance to anyone able to advise me
You never heard of a second hand store or pawn shop or yard sale or thrift shop or previously own or pre-owned. ect.most everything has a secondary market even junk and some trash for recycling.
You are funny without all that brother, specially the blaspheming, please don’t use the name of God in vain. I love your videos and I don’t want to stop watching just because you got lazy and try to get some cheap laughs.
