Ryan Sword Review part 1 of 3 "Unsharp Katana"
Nov 18, 2010 10:01:30 GMT
Post by Kitsune on Nov 18, 2010 10:01:30 GMT
REVIEW WRITTEN NOVEMBER 18 2010
EDIT NOV 21 2010 (Cut Tests Info updated) See Page Three of thread for detailed Post
PART 2 of 3 Posted Nov 21 2010
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1394
Introduction
Well this is my first sword review so please bear with me; I have many swords but was wanting something of a workhorse for cutting with. When one owns a 400-500$ Sword. One (Myself really) is reluctant to damage the sword which may reflect a substantial investment.... I wanted something Cheap and low end that could stand in for my expensive swords, and only use them for demonstrations ect.
I had been watching for such a sword for a few years when I noticed a listing on Ebay for around 50$.... Which conventionally says the sword is garbage and a wall hanger, the listing also had a web site which I visited. www.ryansword.com/ and of course looked around. I was quite impressed to see not one Rat tail tang, and what appeared to be pretty decent constructed swords all for a nominal price....
However Youtube is where I find many of the flaws out on swords and see them in action. I found only 2 Reviews of this Ryanswords Product. (A few were from the manufacturer but I never belive manufacturers reviews they spin it to look good)
The First review was which shows loose fittings a bent blade and a dull blade out of the box.
The second showing a rat tail tang.. quite dangerous. However I also realized that they were both done by the same wiwingti person. Which I later found out is a sword seller that sells most of the competitors swords and.... I never believe competitors reviews because they tend to spin them in a Negative light. Not that I know this person myself (I believe he is a member of this forum) its just a general rule I have.
The only other reviews I found were on the "Sword Forum International" swordforum.com/vb3/showthread.php?t=99456 But when I read this over and over.. All I could see was someone happy with their sword and got attacked for buying from a specific manufacturer. Honestly the stuff didn't seem to be adding up....
1) Competitors Didn't Like the sword (Big surprise)
2) Manufacturer LOVED the sword (Big Surprise)
3) "The worst Reputation online" had yielded only like 3 Neg links in a search on both Yahoo and Google.
4) Rat tail tangs were clearly not shown in ANY of the Ryanswords Web site
5) Not one person who wasn't a competitor actually offered up 'proof' of the shoddy workmanship. And honestly if I were a competitor, buying a wall hanger and claiming it was a Ryanswords 'might' be a plausible way to discredit them.
6) Those that were the defenders of Ryanswords were owners who challenged people to buy and compare them to their other manufacturers swords
7) On the other hand Ryan Swords web site claimed a great rep... but I couldn't find evidence of that either.
I decided to contact Ryan directly through his live chat on his web site and sus out what there was to help me decide.
His responses were reasonable,
1) Hes the manufacturer so keeps his prices low.... (Not sure how true that is but bulk buys of parts and assembling them Really can cut your costs down... Tats simple business)
2) The Steel was through hardned and not differentially tempered... and everyone knows 1060 is cheaper than 1095 ect.
3) On the low end swords the "Hamon is fake" I take that to mean wire brushed and etched
Honestly in my two long conversations with both him and Michael, I was quite confident I could give them a try and decide for myself.... Worst case scenario I received a Wall hanger I customized (As you can mix and match fittings ect on their web site) and the best case scenario I got a decent Sword at a low price.
It was at this point I decided I would review his products and post it as a completely unbiased view. I am getting my friend Evan and a staunch Paul Chen Practical line supporter to assist me. (He has no reason to be for or against these swords as he didn't invest money and I am just coming to him for his opinion which I will note in Italics where his comments are.)
Historical overview
The swords I wanted to have didn't need to be incredibly historical, but just a decent cutter to beat about a bit. The really kewl part was that these swords very closely matched in specs with the Oni Forge Swords I already owned. Making them an Ideal practice weapon. As for the fittings and customization choices I made I'll keep the reasoning to my self.
Full Disclosure
I honestly didn't have any negative or positive direction on these swords.. All I knew was there was some bad press and people seemed to be slamming others without actually looking at the product themselves. I hate Here say and groundless accusations. Provide me evidence and I'll jump on the band wagon.
However with all due honesty My 240$ investment does give me reason to have a little bias in hopes I didn't waste my money, Thats what My friends opinions added to mine is all about. Hes more experienced in swords, and he has nothing to lose or gain by helping me review it.
On the up side if its a total flop, I'll just go back to using the Oni Swords so no harm done.
The Unsharp Sword specifically I felt I could use to learn more about care, maintenence and modifying a katana
Here is a cut and paste of the EXACT Order I emailed to Ryan Swords
Ryan193
- Tsuka 2#
- Black Same
- sageo = tsuka2# color
- sageo wrapping as Ryan337
- TSUBA from Ryan608
Ryan333
-Tsuka 2#
- Black same
- sageo yao tsuka2# de color,
- sageo wrapping as Ryan337
- TSUBA from Ryan608
Ryan560 UNSHARP
-Tsuka 2#
- Black same
- Saya from Ryan333
- sageo yao tsuka2# de color,
- sageo wrapping as Ryan337
- TSUBA from Ryan608
I would appreciate if the sword Bags all matched as well.
If I did the math right this comes to
Ryan193 $46.88
Ryan333 $46.88
Ryan560 $42.88
Shipping $103.00 (6kg to Canada)
---------------------------
Total $239.64 USD
Model:Ryan337
www.ryansword.com/jp-handforged-katana-sword-hualee-saya-can-cut-bamboo-p-62.html
Model:Ryan608
www.ryansword.com/1055high-carbon-steel-blade-japanese-sword-katanawhite-p-427.html
Model:Ryan560
www.ryansword.com/406handmade-japanese-sword-katana-unsharp-for-iaido-p-302.html
Model:Ryan333
www.ryansword.com/406handmade-sword-katana-cherry-blossom-tsuba-sharp-p-18.html
Model:Ryan193
www.ryansword.com/331handmade-japanese-musashi-sword-wakizashi-sharpedge-p-248.html
Initial Impressions
After I had made my order I was quite happy to see this relatively unbiased review appear on the Forum
forum.sword-buyers-guide.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=829&p=8095&hilit=ryan#p8095
And I am happy to say my swords arrived in a VERY similar condition. Well packaged in Styraphome. Plastic wrapped Handle/Tsuka
And inside the Saya the blade was oiled and wrapped in a Plastic..... Sword Condom as my wife put it.
I will break these three swords up into different threads so you can compare specifics and get a clearer picture..
The Sharp Katana, and Wakizashi Reviews will go up after cutting tests this weekend (Nov 20-21/2010)
The Ryan560 UNSHARP was VERY tight fitting in its saya when I unsheathed it. And it appeared straight to the eye as well. A quick tap on the Tsuka yielded no loose fitting sounds and I was surprised to find a Wire brushed Hamon on it (Hadn't expected it) It handled nicely given my limited experience with katana compared to most. When I tried to re sheath it, it bound up (About 3/4 of the way in and I had to realign it but it slipped in nicely.)
After closer inspection I noticed this re sheathing problem occurs about 1 in 20 times and may be attributed to another piece of info I found when oiling it. After cleaning things up I could feel the wavy feeling under my fingers of what must have been where the steel was rolled out under rollers of some kind (Probably when pressing the steel during manufacture) Its only noticeable to the touch and not the naked eye.
After a good thorough going over we measured it up against the advertised numbers vrs actual numbers
Statistics
Blade/Nagasa Length: 28.7" (Actual length 28.25")
Handle/Tsuka Length: 10.6" (Actual Length 11")
Overall Length: 40.6" (Actual Length 39.25")
Guard/Tsuba Width: 3 1/8" W X 3" H
POB (Point of Balance): 5.5" from Tsuba
COP (Center of Percussion): Not yet tested
Weight: 202.9 oz (990g)
Components
The Blade/Nagasa
The blade is AISI 1055 Carbon Steel Unsharpened with a Bohi.
Again the Blade actually measured in about a half inch shorter than advertised.
Point of Balance matches perfectly with the Sharpened Ryan333 I have as its counterpart.
The Hamon was VERY obviously fake, and would look better without it
(Though it helps me tell which blade is sharp and which is not at a glance)
The Blade has very nice flex to it with a immediate return to center
The biggest problem is the Unsharpened blade is literally that, Its not sharpned but not blunted either. They didn't work it at all and its still quite possible to cut yourself on the sharp "Corners".
While Oiling it I could feel the wavy feeling under my fingers of what must have been where the steel was rolled out under rollers of some kind Its only noticeable to the touch and not the naked eye.
The Handle/Tsuka
Is of 2 Pin Construction
Though an obvious Hardwood (though the seller doesn't state what kind)
The "Genuine Ray Skin" Could be real, but its of a far lesser quality than the Oni Forge Swords. The Bamboo Pins stand out in contrast with the Black Same, no attempt was made to disguise it.
And finally the wrapping could be tighter (I can Deliberately roll it with my fingers, but its not so loose to be a to be a problem. In fact it is more comfortable to grip than my Oni Swords)
The Dragon Manuki fit snugly and do not shift (In spite of the Wrap)
The Guard/Tsuba
The Tsuba was chosen to be a nice Cherry Blossom, over all a nice design but the gold paint is flaking slightly where my thumb pushes against the Tsuba to unsheathe the blade.
And you can see the Casting lines in the Tsuba.
The Pommel/Fuchi-Kashira
Is of a simple flat black and undecorated design. However after some usage I notice by happen stance that if I deliberately applied pressure against it with my thumb the Fuchi would shift aprox a Millimeter. (Not by accident only by direct intent, and there is no loose fittings issues aside from this)
After Dissembling my Katana The Loose Fuchi was due to the One sized fits most fittings they used. This I fixed by placing a VERY small dab of gorilla glue just to avoid shift in the future. It also appeared to have a slight bubble in the side of it which could be a possible weak point. However putting back together is where the REAL excitement occurred.
While I admit fully it was my first disassembly and reassembling of a Katana with no formal training at all... the Kashira broke as I was tapping it to tighten everything together. (I did use a scrap piece of wood which I 'think' was pine.. However It may not have been.) This did afford me the opportunity to see inside the fitting its self and it appeared to be of very low quality metal "not a big surprise" really. What does one expect out of a 50$ sword LOL
The Kashira appeared to have had a little glue in it as well to make sure the piece didn't shift (Which again it did not and it in fact only broke when I beat it against a hard surface)
Evan - "It appears to be made of Cast Iron or some other porous metal."
On the up side the Habiki was of the same quality I have on my Oni Forge swords.
The Scabbard/Saya
There was a lot of crap in the Saya when I knocked it out to make sure it was empty of shavings
Definitely a Hard wood and matches up with the sword well.
The wrapping is nice but because it was not wrapped in plastic it has a couple burrs on it where the wrap has been pulled a little.
As stated above there is a minor re sheath issue which may actually be the blade and not the Saya
Handling Characteristics
With my limited comparison to Oni Forge and Paul Chen Katana. This one does feel most comfortable for me. And the Dragonfly Tonbo (Original version) seems to handle the closest to this blade for me. It is very easy to hear the Bohi affect the air on a good cut, and was exceptionally easy to handle. (Bear in mind I have only actually been using my Katana for the past month, prior to this is was Viking Blades and Axes) I may be 5'9" and 240lbs but I don't have a lot of upper body strength, and have been using a 30lb bow all summer so its exercising different muscles. It feel a little heavy on my forearm but comparable to my Paul Chen Practical Viking sword (LOL and thats one handed) With two hands it is very easy to handle for a long period of time.
When Compared to the Sharp version of a Ryan Sword, it doesn't handle exactly the same, but close enough to be a reasonable approximation.
Test Cutting (EDITED NOV 21 2010)
Pool Noodles: Dangerously Sharp Cutter, Considering its Unsharpned
Plastic Bottles: Glances off 2L Pop Bottles filled with water (however a Stab Penetrates easily right through)
Plastic 1-gallon Jugs: Easily Cuts through and Stabs Through
Grass Mats: Dangerously Sharp and easy cutter aprox 2 Inches into Mats
Cardboard: Good Penetration cutting into a Box, But Only stabs Into the Box on a Thrust
(Doesnt go through the second side)
Conclusions
This sword is worth the money you spend on it, I wouldn't have paid more than 100$ for it and I find it very comparable to my Paul Chen Practical Viking sword. (I paid 120$ with no shipping, for that, its scabbard was dinged up, its Blade had some scratches but it handled well and I didn't feel it was over priced) So when I compare that to the Un edged Katana from Ryan Swords I can say the same. If I needed a Stage sword, or something to practice form with, I've no problem with getting another.
Pros
- Easiest Customers Service I have EVER HAD Bar None
- Inexpensive at 43$ + 43$ Shipping = 86$ (To the US and Canada)
- Customizable with various fittings and options for colors
- Balance Identically Point Matches the Sharp Katana
- Comparable to the Other name brands of Double the cost
(When shipping not a factored for either)
Cons
- Sellers Reputation varied dramatically depending on who you talk to.
- Parts are obviously low end (Cast Lines and Flaking Paint on Tsuba, Ray skin, Low end metal Fuchi-Kashira)
- Blade has a Rolled Steel feel to it and is made from 1055 Steel
- Blade doesn't seat in saya perfectly every time
- Blade needs to be sanded or filed so you have a rounded edge that wont cut accidentally.
- Measurement discrepancies between web site and Actual Sword can be off by a full inch
- Handles Similarly to the Sharp Katana, but not identically (lighter)
- The lowest quality parts Ryanswords Have appear to be placed on the Iaido "Un sharp" swords
EDITED ADDITION NOV 21 2010
- Dangerously Sharp need serious modification for "Theatrical, Reenactment, or Stage Combat"
The Bottom Line
You get what you pay for in this sword (And then some) While its by far not defect free, it is definatly safe, in my opinion, and worth the money you paid. Ultimately your not getting ripped off. The damaged fittings were caused by myself and had I not taken it apart, and forced things to see what they could take, It likely wouldn't have broken or shifted. I have in fact contemplated buying one for my best friends little brother (Hes in his mid 20s)
** ADITIONAL NOTE **
Having also obtained the Sharp 50$ Katana and Wakizashi It is obvious to me that out of the three about 75% of the poor parts were in the un edged Katana for Iaido. The Rolled feel of the blade, the Flaking Tsuba Paint, the Bubble in the Fuchi and finally the apparent hidden flaw in the Kashira did not appear in any of the Other peices.
The other peices DID exhibit (Between 2 swords)
one other 'minor' sheathing flaw which was corrected quickly
Small Measurement discrepancies between web site and actual product
one other Tsuba with cast lines
Depending on the Cut tests this weekend, I will be ordering a Katana for my wife for Christmas and a second Wakizashi If I do this I will get a replacement Kashira from Ryan Swords.
EDIT NOV 21 2010 (Cut Tests Info updated) See Page Three of thread for detailed Post
PART 2 of 3 Posted Nov 21 2010
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1394
Introduction
Well this is my first sword review so please bear with me; I have many swords but was wanting something of a workhorse for cutting with. When one owns a 400-500$ Sword. One (Myself really) is reluctant to damage the sword which may reflect a substantial investment.... I wanted something Cheap and low end that could stand in for my expensive swords, and only use them for demonstrations ect.
I had been watching for such a sword for a few years when I noticed a listing on Ebay for around 50$.... Which conventionally says the sword is garbage and a wall hanger, the listing also had a web site which I visited. www.ryansword.com/ and of course looked around. I was quite impressed to see not one Rat tail tang, and what appeared to be pretty decent constructed swords all for a nominal price....
However Youtube is where I find many of the flaws out on swords and see them in action. I found only 2 Reviews of this Ryanswords Product. (A few were from the manufacturer but I never belive manufacturers reviews they spin it to look good)
The First review was which shows loose fittings a bent blade and a dull blade out of the box.
The second showing a rat tail tang.. quite dangerous. However I also realized that they were both done by the same wiwingti person. Which I later found out is a sword seller that sells most of the competitors swords and.... I never believe competitors reviews because they tend to spin them in a Negative light. Not that I know this person myself (I believe he is a member of this forum) its just a general rule I have.
The only other reviews I found were on the "Sword Forum International" swordforum.com/vb3/showthread.php?t=99456 But when I read this over and over.. All I could see was someone happy with their sword and got attacked for buying from a specific manufacturer. Honestly the stuff didn't seem to be adding up....
1) Competitors Didn't Like the sword (Big surprise)
2) Manufacturer LOVED the sword (Big Surprise)
3) "The worst Reputation online" had yielded only like 3 Neg links in a search on both Yahoo and Google.
4) Rat tail tangs were clearly not shown in ANY of the Ryanswords Web site
5) Not one person who wasn't a competitor actually offered up 'proof' of the shoddy workmanship. And honestly if I were a competitor, buying a wall hanger and claiming it was a Ryanswords 'might' be a plausible way to discredit them.
6) Those that were the defenders of Ryanswords were owners who challenged people to buy and compare them to their other manufacturers swords
7) On the other hand Ryan Swords web site claimed a great rep... but I couldn't find evidence of that either.
I decided to contact Ryan directly through his live chat on his web site and sus out what there was to help me decide.
His responses were reasonable,
1) Hes the manufacturer so keeps his prices low.... (Not sure how true that is but bulk buys of parts and assembling them Really can cut your costs down... Tats simple business)
2) The Steel was through hardned and not differentially tempered... and everyone knows 1060 is cheaper than 1095 ect.
3) On the low end swords the "Hamon is fake" I take that to mean wire brushed and etched
Honestly in my two long conversations with both him and Michael, I was quite confident I could give them a try and decide for myself.... Worst case scenario I received a Wall hanger I customized (As you can mix and match fittings ect on their web site) and the best case scenario I got a decent Sword at a low price.
It was at this point I decided I would review his products and post it as a completely unbiased view. I am getting my friend Evan and a staunch Paul Chen Practical line supporter to assist me. (He has no reason to be for or against these swords as he didn't invest money and I am just coming to him for his opinion which I will note in Italics where his comments are.)
Historical overview
The swords I wanted to have didn't need to be incredibly historical, but just a decent cutter to beat about a bit. The really kewl part was that these swords very closely matched in specs with the Oni Forge Swords I already owned. Making them an Ideal practice weapon. As for the fittings and customization choices I made I'll keep the reasoning to my self.
Full Disclosure
I honestly didn't have any negative or positive direction on these swords.. All I knew was there was some bad press and people seemed to be slamming others without actually looking at the product themselves. I hate Here say and groundless accusations. Provide me evidence and I'll jump on the band wagon.
However with all due honesty My 240$ investment does give me reason to have a little bias in hopes I didn't waste my money, Thats what My friends opinions added to mine is all about. Hes more experienced in swords, and he has nothing to lose or gain by helping me review it.
On the up side if its a total flop, I'll just go back to using the Oni Swords so no harm done.
The Unsharp Sword specifically I felt I could use to learn more about care, maintenence and modifying a katana
Here is a cut and paste of the EXACT Order I emailed to Ryan Swords
Ryan193
- Tsuka 2#
- Black Same
- sageo = tsuka2# color
- sageo wrapping as Ryan337
- TSUBA from Ryan608
Ryan333
-Tsuka 2#
- Black same
- sageo yao tsuka2# de color,
- sageo wrapping as Ryan337
- TSUBA from Ryan608
Ryan560 UNSHARP
-Tsuka 2#
- Black same
- Saya from Ryan333
- sageo yao tsuka2# de color,
- sageo wrapping as Ryan337
- TSUBA from Ryan608
I would appreciate if the sword Bags all matched as well.
If I did the math right this comes to
Ryan193 $46.88
Ryan333 $46.88
Ryan560 $42.88
Shipping $103.00 (6kg to Canada)
---------------------------
Total $239.64 USD
Model:Ryan337
www.ryansword.com/jp-handforged-katana-sword-hualee-saya-can-cut-bamboo-p-62.html
Model:Ryan608
www.ryansword.com/1055high-carbon-steel-blade-japanese-sword-katanawhite-p-427.html
Model:Ryan560
www.ryansword.com/406handmade-japanese-sword-katana-unsharp-for-iaido-p-302.html
Model:Ryan333
www.ryansword.com/406handmade-sword-katana-cherry-blossom-tsuba-sharp-p-18.html
Model:Ryan193
www.ryansword.com/331handmade-japanese-musashi-sword-wakizashi-sharpedge-p-248.html
Initial Impressions
After I had made my order I was quite happy to see this relatively unbiased review appear on the Forum
forum.sword-buyers-guide.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=829&p=8095&hilit=ryan#p8095
And I am happy to say my swords arrived in a VERY similar condition. Well packaged in Styraphome. Plastic wrapped Handle/Tsuka
And inside the Saya the blade was oiled and wrapped in a Plastic..... Sword Condom as my wife put it.
I will break these three swords up into different threads so you can compare specifics and get a clearer picture..
The Sharp Katana, and Wakizashi Reviews will go up after cutting tests this weekend (Nov 20-21/2010)
The Ryan560 UNSHARP was VERY tight fitting in its saya when I unsheathed it. And it appeared straight to the eye as well. A quick tap on the Tsuka yielded no loose fitting sounds and I was surprised to find a Wire brushed Hamon on it (Hadn't expected it) It handled nicely given my limited experience with katana compared to most. When I tried to re sheath it, it bound up (About 3/4 of the way in and I had to realign it but it slipped in nicely.)
After closer inspection I noticed this re sheathing problem occurs about 1 in 20 times and may be attributed to another piece of info I found when oiling it. After cleaning things up I could feel the wavy feeling under my fingers of what must have been where the steel was rolled out under rollers of some kind (Probably when pressing the steel during manufacture) Its only noticeable to the touch and not the naked eye.
After a good thorough going over we measured it up against the advertised numbers vrs actual numbers
Statistics
Blade/Nagasa Length: 28.7" (Actual length 28.25")
Handle/Tsuka Length: 10.6" (Actual Length 11")
Overall Length: 40.6" (Actual Length 39.25")
Guard/Tsuba Width: 3 1/8" W X 3" H
POB (Point of Balance): 5.5" from Tsuba
COP (Center of Percussion): Not yet tested
Weight: 202.9 oz (990g)
Components
The Blade/Nagasa
The blade is AISI 1055 Carbon Steel Unsharpened with a Bohi.
Again the Blade actually measured in about a half inch shorter than advertised.
Point of Balance matches perfectly with the Sharpened Ryan333 I have as its counterpart.
The Hamon was VERY obviously fake, and would look better without it
(Though it helps me tell which blade is sharp and which is not at a glance)
The Blade has very nice flex to it with a immediate return to center
The biggest problem is the Unsharpened blade is literally that, Its not sharpned but not blunted either. They didn't work it at all and its still quite possible to cut yourself on the sharp "Corners".
While Oiling it I could feel the wavy feeling under my fingers of what must have been where the steel was rolled out under rollers of some kind Its only noticeable to the touch and not the naked eye.
The Handle/Tsuka
Is of 2 Pin Construction
Though an obvious Hardwood (though the seller doesn't state what kind)
The "Genuine Ray Skin" Could be real, but its of a far lesser quality than the Oni Forge Swords. The Bamboo Pins stand out in contrast with the Black Same, no attempt was made to disguise it.
And finally the wrapping could be tighter (I can Deliberately roll it with my fingers, but its not so loose to be a to be a problem. In fact it is more comfortable to grip than my Oni Swords)
The Dragon Manuki fit snugly and do not shift (In spite of the Wrap)
The Guard/Tsuba
The Tsuba was chosen to be a nice Cherry Blossom, over all a nice design but the gold paint is flaking slightly where my thumb pushes against the Tsuba to unsheathe the blade.
And you can see the Casting lines in the Tsuba.
The Pommel/Fuchi-Kashira
Is of a simple flat black and undecorated design. However after some usage I notice by happen stance that if I deliberately applied pressure against it with my thumb the Fuchi would shift aprox a Millimeter. (Not by accident only by direct intent, and there is no loose fittings issues aside from this)
After Dissembling my Katana The Loose Fuchi was due to the One sized fits most fittings they used. This I fixed by placing a VERY small dab of gorilla glue just to avoid shift in the future. It also appeared to have a slight bubble in the side of it which could be a possible weak point. However putting back together is where the REAL excitement occurred.
While I admit fully it was my first disassembly and reassembling of a Katana with no formal training at all... the Kashira broke as I was tapping it to tighten everything together. (I did use a scrap piece of wood which I 'think' was pine.. However It may not have been.) This did afford me the opportunity to see inside the fitting its self and it appeared to be of very low quality metal "not a big surprise" really. What does one expect out of a 50$ sword LOL
The Kashira appeared to have had a little glue in it as well to make sure the piece didn't shift (Which again it did not and it in fact only broke when I beat it against a hard surface)
Evan - "It appears to be made of Cast Iron or some other porous metal."
On the up side the Habiki was of the same quality I have on my Oni Forge swords.
The Scabbard/Saya
There was a lot of crap in the Saya when I knocked it out to make sure it was empty of shavings
Definitely a Hard wood and matches up with the sword well.
The wrapping is nice but because it was not wrapped in plastic it has a couple burrs on it where the wrap has been pulled a little.
As stated above there is a minor re sheath issue which may actually be the blade and not the Saya
Handling Characteristics
With my limited comparison to Oni Forge and Paul Chen Katana. This one does feel most comfortable for me. And the Dragonfly Tonbo (Original version) seems to handle the closest to this blade for me. It is very easy to hear the Bohi affect the air on a good cut, and was exceptionally easy to handle. (Bear in mind I have only actually been using my Katana for the past month, prior to this is was Viking Blades and Axes) I may be 5'9" and 240lbs but I don't have a lot of upper body strength, and have been using a 30lb bow all summer so its exercising different muscles. It feel a little heavy on my forearm but comparable to my Paul Chen Practical Viking sword (LOL and thats one handed) With two hands it is very easy to handle for a long period of time.
When Compared to the Sharp version of a Ryan Sword, it doesn't handle exactly the same, but close enough to be a reasonable approximation.
Test Cutting (EDITED NOV 21 2010)
Pool Noodles: Dangerously Sharp Cutter, Considering its Unsharpned
Plastic Bottles: Glances off 2L Pop Bottles filled with water (however a Stab Penetrates easily right through)
Plastic 1-gallon Jugs: Easily Cuts through and Stabs Through
Grass Mats: Dangerously Sharp and easy cutter aprox 2 Inches into Mats
Cardboard: Good Penetration cutting into a Box, But Only stabs Into the Box on a Thrust
(Doesnt go through the second side)
Conclusions
This sword is worth the money you spend on it, I wouldn't have paid more than 100$ for it and I find it very comparable to my Paul Chen Practical Viking sword. (I paid 120$ with no shipping, for that, its scabbard was dinged up, its Blade had some scratches but it handled well and I didn't feel it was over priced) So when I compare that to the Un edged Katana from Ryan Swords I can say the same. If I needed a Stage sword, or something to practice form with, I've no problem with getting another.
Pros
- Easiest Customers Service I have EVER HAD Bar None
- Inexpensive at 43$ + 43$ Shipping = 86$ (To the US and Canada)
- Customizable with various fittings and options for colors
- Balance Identically Point Matches the Sharp Katana
- Comparable to the Other name brands of Double the cost
(When shipping not a factored for either)
Cons
- Sellers Reputation varied dramatically depending on who you talk to.
- Parts are obviously low end (Cast Lines and Flaking Paint on Tsuba, Ray skin, Low end metal Fuchi-Kashira)
- Blade has a Rolled Steel feel to it and is made from 1055 Steel
- Blade doesn't seat in saya perfectly every time
- Blade needs to be sanded or filed so you have a rounded edge that wont cut accidentally.
- Measurement discrepancies between web site and Actual Sword can be off by a full inch
- Handles Similarly to the Sharp Katana, but not identically (lighter)
- The lowest quality parts Ryanswords Have appear to be placed on the Iaido "Un sharp" swords
EDITED ADDITION NOV 21 2010
- Dangerously Sharp need serious modification for "Theatrical, Reenactment, or Stage Combat"
The Bottom Line
You get what you pay for in this sword (And then some) While its by far not defect free, it is definatly safe, in my opinion, and worth the money you paid. Ultimately your not getting ripped off. The damaged fittings were caused by myself and had I not taken it apart, and forced things to see what they could take, It likely wouldn't have broken or shifted. I have in fact contemplated buying one for my best friends little brother (Hes in his mid 20s)
** ADITIONAL NOTE **
Having also obtained the Sharp 50$ Katana and Wakizashi It is obvious to me that out of the three about 75% of the poor parts were in the un edged Katana for Iaido. The Rolled feel of the blade, the Flaking Tsuba Paint, the Bubble in the Fuchi and finally the apparent hidden flaw in the Kashira did not appear in any of the Other peices.
The other peices DID exhibit (Between 2 swords)
one other 'minor' sheathing flaw which was corrected quickly
Small Measurement discrepancies between web site and actual product
one other Tsuba with cast lines
Depending on the Cut tests this weekend, I will be ordering a Katana for my wife for Christmas and a second Wakizashi If I do this I will get a replacement Kashira from Ryan Swords.