Ronin-Katana fujiwara katana
Oct 4, 2007 21:48:56 GMT
Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2007 21:48:56 GMT
Hi all. I just had to do a review on this sword I picked up through Ebay. We’ve all seen them, the .01 cent specials. There’ve been a few reviews here and there about different ones. This one comes from an outfit called Ronin-Katanas
From their Ebay ad (cut and pasted, the misspellings are theirs):
*This hand forged katana is guranteed to be an authentic Ronin Katana tang signed sword.*
Features and stats:
Functional: Yes. This katna is certified as a fully functional entry level cutter.
Metal: Through hardened 1045 Monosteel.
Rockwell Hardness: 45-50 on the blade and 40 on the spine.
Sharpened: Yes. There is already an edge on this blade.
Blade length: 27 inches.
Over all length: 40.9 inches
Tang: Full tang with signature.
Bohi (Blood Grooves): Yes. On both sides to lighten the blade.
11.4 inch hand carved tsuka core (wooden handle).
Grip: Genuine ray skin.
Wrap: Imported Japanese cotton.
Bonus items: Black/White cotton sword bag for storage or transport. Certificate of authenticity signed by the smith.
Take a look at Han Wei, Cold Steel, Paul Chen, and others selling entry level cutters. After shipping you are spending $200-$300 for an entry level cutter.
Check my feedback. I have hundreds of satisfied buyers, and have managed to keep a 100% feedback. I only sell authentic Ronin Katana tang signed swords.
I personally inspect every sword or dagger I sell. I check for:
rust
lose fittings
lose wraps (cotton or leather)
cracked saya (scabbard)
chips on the blade
BTW, I looked up the feedback, 548 members, 100% feedback, 0 mutually withdrawn, 708 feedback responses (that’s 160 repeat customers).
Not being a steel expert, I also looked up 1045 steel on the web:
General Information
Principal Design Features
1045 is a medium carbon steel is used when greater strength and hardness is desired than in the "as rolled" condition. Extreme size accuracy, straightness and concentricity combine to minimize wear in high speed applications. Turned, ground and polished bars can be machined unsymmetrically with minimum distortion.
Applications
Used in gears, shafts, axles, bolts, studs, and machine parts.
Heat Treatment
Suitable for flame and induction hardening.
Forging
Can be hammer forged and responds to heat treatment.
Physical Data
Density (lb / cu. in.)
0.283
Didn’t sound that bad to me, so…
I plopped down my .01 cent and got outbid immediately. I then wrote the seller what his reserve price was on the thing: $24.99. So 24.99 + 25.00 shipping later, I owned a genuine guranteed … katna
Anyway, the seller offered about 12 different models of kats, and a couple of waks, with the waks (suprisingly to me) more expensive than the kats (about 50.00 + shipping). The model I chose was called the Fujiwara katana.
It arrived within 3 days of purchase, shipped double boxed (sturdy shipping carton and flimsy product box). The sword itself was “floated” on styrofoam inserts away from the box edges- a very nice touch for shipping on a low price kat. It also came with a basic cotton sword bag, in black.
.
When I inspected the piece I was very surprised at its clean lines and tight construction. And suprisingly, there were no
rust
lose fittings
lose wraps (cotton or leather)
cracked saya (scabbard)
chips on the blade
I guess it was inspected ;D; The sole mark I found on the blade was what appears to be a hammer mark at the yokote.
.
.
There was also a very slight discoloration of the ito at the kashira:
.
.
.
The factory edge was semi sharp (more than Windlass’ factory edge, but less than Cold Steel’s).
The sword included a certificate of authenticity:
.
.
The stats on mine as received:
Weight (woot I got new scale!):2 lbs, 11 oz. (In saya)
Weight: 2 lbs, 2 oz (sans saya)
Total length: 40 3/4 inches (In saya)
Total length: 39 1/4 inches (sans saya)
Blade length: 27 9/16’s in.
Blade style: Shinogi zukuri w/ bo-hi
Blade width:1/4" at habaki, tapering to 3/16’s” at yokote
Handle length (tsuka): 11 7/16’s
Handle details: Kashira of apparantly blackened copper, gold tone Dragon menuki and ito “slots” (term escapes me). Two meguki easily accessible. Fuchi of same indeterminate material as kashira. Brown cotton ito, tightly braided, with a very small discoloration at kashira. Same is apparantly rayskin (off white). Seppa are bronze (or a bronze colored alloy)
Tsuba: 9 ¼” circumference, 5/32” thickness. This particular model done in what I interpret as a yin-yang design.
Habaki: 1 ¼”, bronze VERY nicely made (no play or gaps visible)
Hamon: A hamon line is present, probably simulated by grinding.
Saya: Lacquered black, brown cotton sageo. Gold tone fitting on kurikata
cop: 14 1/2"
pob: 5 1/2"
Now, on to the testing:
Right out of the box, vs ¾” pine board (unfixed target with grain of the wood), light swing.
.
.
.
Now versus a ponderosa pine table top, 1” x 24” (new from Lowe’s)- numerous images
.
.
.
1st swing, with grain of target
.
The target split in half, with the katana impacting steel bar supporting the target. Needless to say, no more swings made with the target's grain...
.
.
Against the grain...
.
.
.
so on and so forth...
.
.
afterwards
.
.
.
Flex test
.
.
.
.
After cutting and cleaning up
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Ratings:
Historical accuracy : I'm going to pass on this one, no expert on Japanese style swords.
Fit and finish 4.50/5.00 (dinging for gold tone fittings and the slight discoloration of the ito)
Handling 5.00/5.00
Structural integrity 5.00/5.00
Value for money 5.00/5.00
Overall rating 4.875/5.00
Well, what can I say? This 50.00 baby held up to everything I threw at it amazingly well, as well as any of my higher price swords. It lived up to the hype of the ad and then some. I can’t ask for more than that in a blade. I imagine I’ll be buying another guranteed … katna from Ronin-Katanas pretty soon. ;D
From their Ebay ad (cut and pasted, the misspellings are theirs):
*This hand forged katana is guranteed to be an authentic Ronin Katana tang signed sword.*
Features and stats:
Functional: Yes. This katna is certified as a fully functional entry level cutter.
Metal: Through hardened 1045 Monosteel.
Rockwell Hardness: 45-50 on the blade and 40 on the spine.
Sharpened: Yes. There is already an edge on this blade.
Blade length: 27 inches.
Over all length: 40.9 inches
Tang: Full tang with signature.
Bohi (Blood Grooves): Yes. On both sides to lighten the blade.
11.4 inch hand carved tsuka core (wooden handle).
Grip: Genuine ray skin.
Wrap: Imported Japanese cotton.
Bonus items: Black/White cotton sword bag for storage or transport. Certificate of authenticity signed by the smith.
Take a look at Han Wei, Cold Steel, Paul Chen, and others selling entry level cutters. After shipping you are spending $200-$300 for an entry level cutter.
Check my feedback. I have hundreds of satisfied buyers, and have managed to keep a 100% feedback. I only sell authentic Ronin Katana tang signed swords.
I personally inspect every sword or dagger I sell. I check for:
rust
lose fittings
lose wraps (cotton or leather)
cracked saya (scabbard)
chips on the blade
BTW, I looked up the feedback, 548 members, 100% feedback, 0 mutually withdrawn, 708 feedback responses (that’s 160 repeat customers).
Not being a steel expert, I also looked up 1045 steel on the web:
General Information
Principal Design Features
1045 is a medium carbon steel is used when greater strength and hardness is desired than in the "as rolled" condition. Extreme size accuracy, straightness and concentricity combine to minimize wear in high speed applications. Turned, ground and polished bars can be machined unsymmetrically with minimum distortion.
Applications
Used in gears, shafts, axles, bolts, studs, and machine parts.
Heat Treatment
Suitable for flame and induction hardening.
Forging
Can be hammer forged and responds to heat treatment.
Physical Data
Density (lb / cu. in.)
0.283
Didn’t sound that bad to me, so…
I plopped down my .01 cent and got outbid immediately. I then wrote the seller what his reserve price was on the thing: $24.99. So 24.99 + 25.00 shipping later, I owned a genuine guranteed … katna
Anyway, the seller offered about 12 different models of kats, and a couple of waks, with the waks (suprisingly to me) more expensive than the kats (about 50.00 + shipping). The model I chose was called the Fujiwara katana.
It arrived within 3 days of purchase, shipped double boxed (sturdy shipping carton and flimsy product box). The sword itself was “floated” on styrofoam inserts away from the box edges- a very nice touch for shipping on a low price kat. It also came with a basic cotton sword bag, in black.
.
When I inspected the piece I was very surprised at its clean lines and tight construction. And suprisingly, there were no
rust
lose fittings
lose wraps (cotton or leather)
cracked saya (scabbard)
chips on the blade
I guess it was inspected ;D; The sole mark I found on the blade was what appears to be a hammer mark at the yokote.
.
.
There was also a very slight discoloration of the ito at the kashira:
.
.
.
The factory edge was semi sharp (more than Windlass’ factory edge, but less than Cold Steel’s).
The sword included a certificate of authenticity:
.
.
The stats on mine as received:
Weight (woot I got new scale!):2 lbs, 11 oz. (In saya)
Weight: 2 lbs, 2 oz (sans saya)
Total length: 40 3/4 inches (In saya)
Total length: 39 1/4 inches (sans saya)
Blade length: 27 9/16’s in.
Blade style: Shinogi zukuri w/ bo-hi
Blade width:1/4" at habaki, tapering to 3/16’s” at yokote
Handle length (tsuka): 11 7/16’s
Handle details: Kashira of apparantly blackened copper, gold tone Dragon menuki and ito “slots” (term escapes me). Two meguki easily accessible. Fuchi of same indeterminate material as kashira. Brown cotton ito, tightly braided, with a very small discoloration at kashira. Same is apparantly rayskin (off white). Seppa are bronze (or a bronze colored alloy)
Tsuba: 9 ¼” circumference, 5/32” thickness. This particular model done in what I interpret as a yin-yang design.
Habaki: 1 ¼”, bronze VERY nicely made (no play or gaps visible)
Hamon: A hamon line is present, probably simulated by grinding.
Saya: Lacquered black, brown cotton sageo. Gold tone fitting on kurikata
cop: 14 1/2"
pob: 5 1/2"
Now, on to the testing:
Right out of the box, vs ¾” pine board (unfixed target with grain of the wood), light swing.
.
.
.
Now versus a ponderosa pine table top, 1” x 24” (new from Lowe’s)- numerous images
.
.
.
1st swing, with grain of target
.
The target split in half, with the katana impacting steel bar supporting the target. Needless to say, no more swings made with the target's grain...
.
.
Against the grain...
.
.
.
so on and so forth...
.
.
afterwards
.
.
.
Flex test
.
.
.
.
After cutting and cleaning up
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Ratings:
Historical accuracy : I'm going to pass on this one, no expert on Japanese style swords.
Fit and finish 4.50/5.00 (dinging for gold tone fittings and the slight discoloration of the ito)
Handling 5.00/5.00
Structural integrity 5.00/5.00
Value for money 5.00/5.00
Overall rating 4.875/5.00
Well, what can I say? This 50.00 baby held up to everything I threw at it amazingly well, as well as any of my higher price swords. It lived up to the hype of the ad and then some. I can’t ask for more than that in a blade. I imagine I’ll be buying another guranteed … katna from Ronin-Katanas pretty soon. ;D