Ronin Dojo Budget 1045 "Tsunami"
May 10, 2011 23:30:56 GMT
Post by Adrian Jordan on May 10, 2011 23:30:56 GMT
OK, I am finally able to do a review on this sword. I got this piece right here from the SBG Sword Store, $159.99 w/free shipping and a small international transaction fee of $5 or so. I had long wanted a katana with a rattan wrap and the Tomoe family triple-comma style tsuba, which to me is the most attractive.
The blade is Shinogi-ZukuriI and has chu-kissaki.
Here are the stats from the RoninKatana website.
Features and stats:
Ability level: Dojo use (bamboo, tatami mats, etc)
Metal/Quenching: Water quenched through hardened 1045 mono-steel
Rockwell Hardness: 50/40
Hand Sharpened: Very sharp. Ready for use right out of the box.
Blade length: 27 inches (habaki to tip.)
Over all length: 40.9 inches
Tang: Full tang with signature.
Grip: 11.4 inches
Wrap: 100% silk over genuine ray skin.
Saya: Premium lacquer. Silk sageo.
When I got the sword, I found that the Ito was loose and the diamonds uneven, so I cut it off and had it replaced with a nicer green silk wrap purchased from Swordnarmory. The wrap was done by Dominic at www.katanakustomizations.com for $50 including shipping. He did an amazing job and I couldn't be happier with the service I got. I also had the samegawa replaced, as the original was shoddy and in two uneven pieces on each side. The new samegawa is very nicely done.
Here are some pictures of the over-all sword.
The tsuka and nakago.
The blade.
Here you can see the "ghost hamon" that has been the source of so much trouble in the past.
The saya.
Overall:
THEN:
At first, I felt a little underwhelmed by this sword. The blade came with several scuff marks and did not feel very sharp, the saya is very light and the rattan wrap is slightly loose over the saya. The tsuba and seppa are all somehow stuck together and will not budge off of the sword, making possible replacement of either or the habaki impossible. However, the tsuba and seppa are above-average quality. The ito was loose and the diamonds were uneven. Taking off the ito, I found that the samegawa was even worse than I thought. It was a sickly yellow and was pieced together from two poorly fitted halves on each side. The horn fittings on the saya are very nice, and the sageo is upper-medium quality. The blade is not "very sharp," but is sharp enough, and it cuts like a dream. A real pleasure to use this katana.
NOW:
After getting the samegawa and ito replaced, as well as using some Metal Glo to polish up the blade and habaki, this is a whole new sword. The wrap is attractive and rock solid. The samegawa is nice and bright, not to mention even. The blade is still great. When I got this sword, I felt that the only substantial saving-grace was the blade. Now, I love the whole thing. Balance is about 5and 1/2in out from tsuba. This is not a super-nimble sword, but nevertheless is fairly easy to handle and is a blast to cut with.
PROS:
Awesome cutting blade.
Attractive design.
Solid and durable.
Quality furniture.
Great Cutter.
CONS:
Not great ito.
Loose fittings.
Very poor samegawa.
Final Thoughts:
If I had to get this sword again,and I couldn't upgrade the fittings, it would be a hard decision. The fittings were just not very good. However, the blade is a real beast. I love to cut with this sword even above my Cheness Kaze. I'm about 85% on getting this again if I had to keep the old fittings. If it was a little bit cheaper to accommodate for the deficiencies I found, I get it again in a heartbeat. The only way I could rate this would be on a 10 star system, as a 5 star would not give enough wiggle room. A solid 7 out of 10.
The blade is Shinogi-ZukuriI and has chu-kissaki.
Here are the stats from the RoninKatana website.
Features and stats:
Ability level: Dojo use (bamboo, tatami mats, etc)
Metal/Quenching: Water quenched through hardened 1045 mono-steel
Rockwell Hardness: 50/40
Hand Sharpened: Very sharp. Ready for use right out of the box.
Blade length: 27 inches (habaki to tip.)
Over all length: 40.9 inches
Tang: Full tang with signature.
Grip: 11.4 inches
Wrap: 100% silk over genuine ray skin.
Saya: Premium lacquer. Silk sageo.
When I got the sword, I found that the Ito was loose and the diamonds uneven, so I cut it off and had it replaced with a nicer green silk wrap purchased from Swordnarmory. The wrap was done by Dominic at www.katanakustomizations.com for $50 including shipping. He did an amazing job and I couldn't be happier with the service I got. I also had the samegawa replaced, as the original was shoddy and in two uneven pieces on each side. The new samegawa is very nicely done.
Here are some pictures of the over-all sword.
The tsuka and nakago.
The blade.
Here you can see the "ghost hamon" that has been the source of so much trouble in the past.
The saya.
Overall:
THEN:
At first, I felt a little underwhelmed by this sword. The blade came with several scuff marks and did not feel very sharp, the saya is very light and the rattan wrap is slightly loose over the saya. The tsuba and seppa are all somehow stuck together and will not budge off of the sword, making possible replacement of either or the habaki impossible. However, the tsuba and seppa are above-average quality. The ito was loose and the diamonds were uneven. Taking off the ito, I found that the samegawa was even worse than I thought. It was a sickly yellow and was pieced together from two poorly fitted halves on each side. The horn fittings on the saya are very nice, and the sageo is upper-medium quality. The blade is not "very sharp," but is sharp enough, and it cuts like a dream. A real pleasure to use this katana.
NOW:
After getting the samegawa and ito replaced, as well as using some Metal Glo to polish up the blade and habaki, this is a whole new sword. The wrap is attractive and rock solid. The samegawa is nice and bright, not to mention even. The blade is still great. When I got this sword, I felt that the only substantial saving-grace was the blade. Now, I love the whole thing. Balance is about 5and 1/2in out from tsuba. This is not a super-nimble sword, but nevertheless is fairly easy to handle and is a blast to cut with.
PROS:
Awesome cutting blade.
Attractive design.
Solid and durable.
Quality furniture.
Great Cutter.
CONS:
Not great ito.
Loose fittings.
Very poor samegawa.
Final Thoughts:
If I had to get this sword again,and I couldn't upgrade the fittings, it would be a hard decision. The fittings were just not very good. However, the blade is a real beast. I love to cut with this sword even above my Cheness Kaze. I'm about 85% on getting this again if I had to keep the old fittings. If it was a little bit cheaper to accommodate for the deficiencies I found, I get it again in a heartbeat. The only way I could rate this would be on a 10 star system, as a 5 star would not give enough wiggle room. A solid 7 out of 10.