Ronin Katana - Dojo Pro
Oct 20, 2010 13:33:02 GMT
Post by James Gall on Oct 20, 2010 13:33:02 GMT
Introduction
The SBG forum is really a wonderful place, you get to "meet" & get to know a whole range of terrific people. One of those people who i feel fortunate enough to have spoken with is Mr. Chris Scoggin. Since joining the SBG community over a year and-a-half ago, he has stood out to me (and many others) as a man of great integrity. I had long awaited an opportunity to test out a Ronin Katana for myself, but - like many - i simply didn't have the funds available to do so. This is not to imply that Ronin Katana are not affordable ... because they are. But with the recession and all ... well...
So you could imagine my excitement when Chris asked me if i would be interested in reviewing one of his Dojo-Pro model katana back in June. I was chomping at the bit to get my hands on a Ronin model, which arrived at my doorstep with haste. Unfortunately, it was around this time that i was plagued with some reoccurring health issues that often make even the slightest tasks a monumental challenge. Chris was totally understanding of my situation, and allowed me plenty of time to test the sword & write up a review at a comfortable pace. I apologize to you Chris for taking so long to review this sword, and i appreciate your patience & understanding over these past months.
Needless to say, if Mr. Scoggin treats his customers even HALF as well as he's treated me throughout this arrangement, then i think it would be fair to say that Ronin Katana has some of the best customer service around...
Initial Impressions
The sword arrived double boxed, the smaller box being supported with additional packing material inside of the slightly larger outer box. I think we've all seen a sword box before, so i will spare you the unpacking pictures... Inside the inner box was the sword, set aloft through two foam blocks that helped stabilize the sword. Upon pulling the sword free of the packing i griped it firmly by the mouth of the saya and gave it a single shake. I was delighted that there was no rattling. I unseated the blade to find a thin coat of protective oil, which wiped away with a towel & a little alcohol. There was some sticky sap like residue near the tip of the sword, which keeps reappearing on the blade every time the blade is re-sheathed, but i am sure it is a temporary issue as it is appearing less & less.
The sword seemed to be well balanced, at or around the 5" point, and overall of very solid build. The theme is very basic & rugged, with subtle artistic expression throughout that accurately represents the individualistic allowance afforded to the average warrior in service to his lord. The symbolism speaks of serenity, of joy ... yet i cannot imagine this sword being carried and/or used in a time of peace, i feel this sword would have belonged to the warrior who saw battle frequently. No bells & whistles, no frills ... just your basic workhorse cutter.
Statistics
Type: Dojo-Pro Model #2 ____________________________ Steel: 1060-High Carbon [Through Hardened]
Blade Length: 28" __________________________________ Tsuka Length: 11"
Overall Length: 42" _________________________________ POB: 4.5- 5"
Weight: 2.6lbs _____________________________________ Fuchi/Kashira: Blackened Iron
Menuki: Polished Brass ______________________________ Ito: Silk
Sageo: Synthetic Silk ________________________________ Saya: Black lacquered w/polished Buffalo Horn
Components
The Blade/Nagasa
The blade is a high carbon 1060, which is through hardened. The lack of bo-bi makes for a very robust blade, which i tend to enjoy using quite a bit more than the fullered katana which are so popular these days. The kissaki is the result of a fairly decent counter-polish with faux yokote line with pretty good placement. The blade itself is what i would call a performance polish - its not quite mirror, but its not rough either. You can actually see the grain of the steel in average light. The lines are crisp, and the shape is bang on shinogi-zukuri. The blade is not extremely sharp, but there is a nice apple seed shape to the ha, which typically makes a sword a real tatami eater. Bottles would probably bounce right off this blade ... this sword was shaped & polished with hard target cutting in mind.
The Handle/Tsuka
I immediately took notice of the tsuka, and was surprised by the amount of taper/swell it had. A lot of manufacturers don't even come close to offering a proper swell in their tsuka cores, which when done right allows for the hand to grip the sword more efficiently. Silk ito is used in the hineri-maki style wrap, over a very small node samegawa. The wrap itself is super tight, along with the finishing knots - no loose ends. However, the crossovers form some pretty inconsistent diamonds throughout, which leaves something to be desired in future models.
The Tsuba
The tsuba is a blackened iron sukashi style in a butterfly & cherry blossom motif. In Japanese culture, the butterfly is thought to carry the spirits or souls of the recently departed. An old superstition says, that when a butterfly enters your guestroom and rests behind a bamboo screen, the person whom you love the most is coming to visit you. They are seen as messengers, and are symbols of joy & longevity. This single butterfly is complimented by a few cherry blossoms, who's short blooming time & fragile blossoms, are often representative of the transience of life. This is also represented through the symbolism behind the metamorphosis wherein a butterfly is created.
The Fuchi-Kashira & Menuki
In addition to the tsuba, the fuchi & kashira are also a blackened iron. While plain in comparison to the tsuba, the rugged simplicity compliments the overall design, and helps to round out what i feel is a very handsome koshirae. The real blackened iron is a far departure from the painted pot-metal fittings that are all too common in the sub three hundred dollar market. The subtle distressed texture & blackening of the iron produces a matte finish, which is really contrasted by the slight reflective shimmer provided by the black silk ito. Not sure what the menuki are?
The Scabbard/Saya
The saya is your basic black lacquered affair, with synthetic silk sageo. However, there are a few little treats amidst this seemingly plain scabbard. The koguchi, and kojiri are a hand cut & carved buffalo horn. Which have been brought to a high polish to showcase the natural beauty of the grain, and then covered with a protective coating of clear lacquer. The same goes for the kurikata, which features a polished brass shitodome. There was a very tiny "fracture" in the lacquer where the kurikata meets the body of the scabbard, which is fairly common. The mouth of the saya is a precisely shaped to the habaki, which allows for a very static feel when the blade is seated, and also provides an ideal amount of resistance when attempting to draw the sword. There is absolutely zero blade rattle when the blade is sheathed. One slight annoyance is a reappearing sap type of residue that is deposited on the shinogi-ji near the kissaki every time the blade is sheathed - & unsheathed. Though, it seems to be ceasing.
Handling Characteristics
This sword handles very well in my opinion. The blade is well balanced, and even without bo-bi still quite reactive to the violent changes of direction experienced in kata. The meaty cutting edge inspires a confidence when wielding this sword, that it can easily stand up to the abuses a blade is subjected to while cutting down significant targets. There is no feeling of "fragility" that is often associated with razor sharpness. The shape of the ha is clearly focused on splitting targets as opposed to whipping through them. This is an instrument ... a workhorse cutter.
Conclusions
This sword is pretty great. Retailing at $275, this sword is expensive enough to exhibit the qualities we all look for in a dojo cutter - while remaining cheap enough that you wouldn't feel hesitant to actually use it in training. Its an affordable cutter, with an emphasis on utilitarianism, all the while retaining an aesthetically pleasing blend of subtle artistic expression representative of the artisans of the period. It is unfortunate, that i am currently at a point in my life where cutting is nearly impossible, the bamboo spine prevents me from testing a swords true prowess. However, i've used enough swords to know a good cutter when i see one ... and this sword is no exception.
Pros
- Very affordable
- Seemingly durable
- Real iron fittings & tsuba
- Silk ito
- Hand cut buffalo horn
Cons
- Counter-polished kissaki
- Inconsistent hineri-maki
- Scabbard "goo"
The Bottom Line
Overall, i feel this sword represents an excellent value at the $275 price point. Its designed & sold with the student in mind, and is marketed and sold as exactly that - a dojo cutter. It doesn't try to be something its not, in that its not adorned with elaborate designs & decorations. This is a performance piece, who's robust through hardened blade & real iron hardware are meant to stand up to the riggers of training. A sword for the true swordsman, if you will...
Thank you again to Mr. Chris Scoggin for the opportunity to review one of these swords for the SBG community,
based on what i've seen, i will definitely be a customer of Ronin Katana in the future.