Post by Marc Kaden Ridgeway on Feb 2, 2012 20:21:00 GMT -5
Ronin Katana Dojo Series 1045 Katana
Marc Kaden Ridgeway
2 Feb 2012
Atlanta GA
Theres a couple of reviews on these already , but the ones I've seen are on the older Dojo Series. This is a newer model, from a generation or two ago... and I think the improvements made to this line really merit another look ... so here it is.
While reading this review , I'd like you to keep in mind that this is a Ronin Katana Dojo 1045 ... not a Dojo Pro ...
I'd also like you to bear in mind that this is a second... a scratch & dent model that was rejected by Chris's INSANELY thorough QC process. This katana that I deem good enough to merit a new review on the Dojo Series was a katana Chris deemed too bad to sell.
After now having 10 Ronin Scratch and Dents I'd like to say that Chris's QC has to be the best in the industry.
That in and of itself is incredibly impressive.
My azaelia believes it might be spring , and has put out a single, exploratory blossom to see.
Historical Overview : An Evolution of Ronin Katana
A quick video look into Ronin Katana then and Ronin Katana now.
Specifications
Nagasa : 27 inches
Weight: 2 lbs 10 ounces
Tsuka: 10 inches w/o fittings
Motohaba: 1.2 inches
Sakihaba : 1 inch
Motokasane: @ 7mm
Sakikasane : @5.5mm
POB : 5 inches from tsuba
Aesthetics : Fit & Finish
Sugata is shinogi zukuri with chu-kissaki. The yokote is accomplished with a rather well done counterpolish. Despite this, the kissaki swells geometrically at the ko-shinogi saki (where the ko-shinogi join the mune in the kissaki) forming an elegant ,reinforced "snakehead " tip.
The through-hardened (maru) blade has a 27 in. nagasa, and has a gentle sori. The 1045 steel is polished to a nice even high satin all over... a good working polish , which won't show blemishes. The habaki is yellow brass , and its fit is decent.
The seppa are also yellow brass , and are key fret. Seppa are a bit important to me... I don't know why , but besides the obvious decreased functionality, those cheap ,stamped seppa are a huge pet peave of mine. It's nice to see decent seppa on a dedicated cutter of this pricepoint.
The Tsuba is a blackened bronze maybe? (I'm not sure and is rendering of a coiled Dragon. The fuchigashira are blackened iron , plain and understated, and in my opinion, classy. The menuki is a golden colored dragon.
The tsuka is 11 inches with fittings and is panelled in white samegawa and tightly wrapped in black-silk ito. The tsuka is channeled for the same' panels. The fuchigashira is well fit, and flows well with the tsuka, tsuba and seppa ... important for shock transference.
The black "piano lacqurred" saya is adorned with black chemical-silk sageo . The fit is nice and tight , and there isn't the slightest trace of rattle in the saya.
The kashira and kurigata are both fitted with shitodome, a nice touch when even some high-end Hanwei sport false shitodome, if any at all.
The over fit & finish is tight and precise, well built utilitarian workhorse cutter.
Handling Characteristics
I don't know what to say about the handling that I haven't said before. The tsuka shaping is excellent, and I can't overstate how important a good tsuka with nice shaping is to the handling of a katana. The tight silk ito provides a slip free grip.
The sword , at just over 2.6 lbs has a balance point of 5 inches , thanks to some nice taper , both distal and profile.
Every newer Ronin Katana I have handled seems to spring to life in the hand... a quality all katana should have, but few do.
Cutting
Ronin Katana are about cutting. I think weve seen enough of me cutting with Ronin Katana that we don't need to see a whole lot here. I just cut a couple of bottle to show it can cut... I don't know what happened on the first one .. I just knocked it over and knocked all the water out of it , seriously pooching the cut. That caused me to overpower the next cuts... but it cuts fine when i cut fine.
Didn't bother with bamboo ... weve cut CRAZY things on the destructive test series , so that point is proven.
Heres the vid... laugh with me.
The Good , The Bad & The Ugly
Let's just be honest here , this catagory is really not applicable here , as this is a Ronin Reject scratch and dent model that didn't make it through the rigorous QC. One reason it was likely rejected is that gap where the kashira joins the tsuka... you can see that in the Aesthetic section. The only other irritating thing is the usual wax in the saya that gets on the blade.
What's good is the incredible throughness of Ronin's QC process.
So section canceled ... instead of complaining lets just look at some more photos.
Conclusion
I was given this sword, not to review , but to use in the destructive testing video series. This is a sword Ronin Katana deemed too flawed to sell as scrath and dent even. I Thought it was good enough that it merited a review to help illustrate the progress and evolution of the company Ronin Katana.
Ronin Katana has built its reputation by building its brand... investing money year after year into improving their offerings. Thats EXACTLY what a company SHOULD do... but so few do. i think thats why Ronin is now one of the largest sword dealers in the world.
We can also see the strigent dedication that is shown to throrough QC ... nice to see when spending hard earned money.
As for the sword in the review... the exact model isn't available ATM , but the series it was a part of lives on, and sells for $175 . I personally think that there isn't a better constructed katana with half teh attention to detail and small touches , plus thorough QC availiable anywhere else for that price.
Thanks for reading... if anything I've said is erroneous or inaccurate, I hope Chris will chime in to correct me.
Marc Kaden Ridgeway
2 Feb 2012
Atlanta GA
Theres a couple of reviews on these already , but the ones I've seen are on the older Dojo Series. This is a newer model, from a generation or two ago... and I think the improvements made to this line really merit another look ... so here it is.
While reading this review , I'd like you to keep in mind that this is a Ronin Katana Dojo 1045 ... not a Dojo Pro ...
I'd also like you to bear in mind that this is a second... a scratch & dent model that was rejected by Chris's INSANELY thorough QC process. This katana that I deem good enough to merit a new review on the Dojo Series was a katana Chris deemed too bad to sell.
After now having 10 Ronin Scratch and Dents I'd like to say that Chris's QC has to be the best in the industry.
That in and of itself is incredibly impressive.
My azaelia believes it might be spring , and has put out a single, exploratory blossom to see.
Historical Overview : An Evolution of Ronin Katana
A quick video look into Ronin Katana then and Ronin Katana now.
Specifications
Nagasa : 27 inches
Weight: 2 lbs 10 ounces
Tsuka: 10 inches w/o fittings
Motohaba: 1.2 inches
Sakihaba : 1 inch
Motokasane: @ 7mm
Sakikasane : @5.5mm
POB : 5 inches from tsuba
Aesthetics : Fit & Finish
Sugata is shinogi zukuri with chu-kissaki. The yokote is accomplished with a rather well done counterpolish. Despite this, the kissaki swells geometrically at the ko-shinogi saki (where the ko-shinogi join the mune in the kissaki) forming an elegant ,reinforced "snakehead " tip.
The through-hardened (maru) blade has a 27 in. nagasa, and has a gentle sori. The 1045 steel is polished to a nice even high satin all over... a good working polish , which won't show blemishes. The habaki is yellow brass , and its fit is decent.
The seppa are also yellow brass , and are key fret. Seppa are a bit important to me... I don't know why , but besides the obvious decreased functionality, those cheap ,stamped seppa are a huge pet peave of mine. It's nice to see decent seppa on a dedicated cutter of this pricepoint.
The Tsuba is a blackened bronze maybe? (I'm not sure and is rendering of a coiled Dragon. The fuchigashira are blackened iron , plain and understated, and in my opinion, classy. The menuki is a golden colored dragon.
The tsuka is 11 inches with fittings and is panelled in white samegawa and tightly wrapped in black-silk ito. The tsuka is channeled for the same' panels. The fuchigashira is well fit, and flows well with the tsuka, tsuba and seppa ... important for shock transference.
The black "piano lacqurred" saya is adorned with black chemical-silk sageo . The fit is nice and tight , and there isn't the slightest trace of rattle in the saya.
The kashira and kurigata are both fitted with shitodome, a nice touch when even some high-end Hanwei sport false shitodome, if any at all.
The over fit & finish is tight and precise, well built utilitarian workhorse cutter.
Handling Characteristics
I don't know what to say about the handling that I haven't said before. The tsuka shaping is excellent, and I can't overstate how important a good tsuka with nice shaping is to the handling of a katana. The tight silk ito provides a slip free grip.
The sword , at just over 2.6 lbs has a balance point of 5 inches , thanks to some nice taper , both distal and profile.
Every newer Ronin Katana I have handled seems to spring to life in the hand... a quality all katana should have, but few do.
Cutting
Ronin Katana are about cutting. I think weve seen enough of me cutting with Ronin Katana that we don't need to see a whole lot here. I just cut a couple of bottle to show it can cut... I don't know what happened on the first one .. I just knocked it over and knocked all the water out of it , seriously pooching the cut. That caused me to overpower the next cuts... but it cuts fine when i cut fine.
Didn't bother with bamboo ... weve cut CRAZY things on the destructive test series , so that point is proven.
Heres the vid... laugh with me.
The Good , The Bad & The Ugly
Let's just be honest here , this catagory is really not applicable here , as this is a Ronin Reject scratch and dent model that didn't make it through the rigorous QC. One reason it was likely rejected is that gap where the kashira joins the tsuka... you can see that in the Aesthetic section. The only other irritating thing is the usual wax in the saya that gets on the blade.
What's good is the incredible throughness of Ronin's QC process.
So section canceled ... instead of complaining lets just look at some more photos.
Conclusion
I was given this sword, not to review , but to use in the destructive testing video series. This is a sword Ronin Katana deemed too flawed to sell as scrath and dent even. I Thought it was good enough that it merited a review to help illustrate the progress and evolution of the company Ronin Katana.
Ronin Katana has built its reputation by building its brand... investing money year after year into improving their offerings. Thats EXACTLY what a company SHOULD do... but so few do. i think thats why Ronin is now one of the largest sword dealers in the world.
We can also see the strigent dedication that is shown to throrough QC ... nice to see when spending hard earned money.
As for the sword in the review... the exact model isn't available ATM , but the series it was a part of lives on, and sells for $175 . I personally think that there isn't a better constructed katana with half teh attention to detail and small touches , plus thorough QC availiable anywhere else for that price.
Thanks for reading... if anything I've said is erroneous or inaccurate, I hope Chris will chime in to correct me.