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Post by Vestri on Oct 2, 2011 11:30:01 GMT
G'day again guys, Now that I got over the whole import issues and the terminology of DH and TH, I was perusing through the SBG store and saw Ronin Dojo Pro Katana's for sale. I was really interested in these three - but Im leaning towards getting the Shinshi (Model 13.) Its ironic that its called "Gentleman" but 13 is a British superstition. sbg-sword-store.sword-buyers-gui ... ct175.html What do you people also think of the Red Pheonix? Its cheap but I do love the look of it and Im not really into cutting and more into style BUT I do want a very fucntional blade when I get one. sbg-sword-store.sword-buyers-gui ... ct156.html I also love the Fan motif on this one: sbg-sword-store.sword-buyers-gui ... ct169.html Anyway - what do people think of Ronin swords compared to Cheness? I see that most of the Cheness ones for $300 are DH and the Ronin ones avaliable on this site are TH but of 1060 steel. Not that I care, but it seems like Ronin swords really love talking about how they temper their steel. If you guys think Ronin arent as good as say the Kaze fron Cheness then I will get a better idea about what Im looking at. And are the Dojo Pro blades the same, with just different fittings? Im kind of thinking they are with the store pages saying the same thing. Sorry for all the questions, I feel so unsure about everything. But I am leaning towards the Shinshi the most.
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Post by William Swiger on Oct 2, 2011 12:42:45 GMT
The Dojo Pro line are all good swords. I think the blades are the same with different fittings. I have a Dojo Pro and also the previous edition of the 1045 Phoenix. Yeah - liked the bird tsuba as well. Sort of looks Norse. Both are good blades and you will not go wrong with either one.
I also have a Kaze and the blade is excellent, but fittings are so-so.
If I was not going to cut with one - I would get the Phoenix. Don't get me wrong as the Phoenix is a great cutter but I like the "cool" looks thing about it.
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Post by Vestri on Oct 2, 2011 13:12:08 GMT
Yea, well, the Website says the Pheonix can be used to cut, but I still dont know what the Pheonix CANT do that the Dojo Pro series can.
But Im pretty sold. But any other opinions out there?
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Post by Hiroshi on Oct 2, 2011 14:17:22 GMT
I vote for the Ronin Dojo Pro 100%
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Post by bleachsword on Oct 2, 2011 14:24:47 GMT
I have the Ronin Dojo Pheonix and have used it in several of my videos it cuts well and holds it edge.
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Post by Vestri on Oct 2, 2011 14:36:30 GMT
Hmm, looks like I can save some money if I get the Red Pehonix. It can also mean I can get the Tenchi with a Bo-Hi at a later date then I can have the best of both worlds.
I will let you guys know me decision, my only issue I have is trying to understand TH and DH. From what you guys keep saying, is that TH is much better because it means you get a blade that will have a lower chance of setting.
Please tell me if I got that wrong lol.
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Post by nihontoman on Oct 2, 2011 14:55:37 GMT
sorry, but you need to do some research on this forum until you buy anything. the decision you're now leaning towards won't give you "the best of the two worlds", at best it will more likely be something like "the mediocre of the two worlds"...
As for what I would buy if I were you: I would take the ronin dojo pro model and maybe some Dynasty forge musha class. Cheness have many issues that were already discussed here million times, the issues that make their products not very competitive these days....
My advice would once again be: read the forums, get some more knowledge and then buy swords... this way, there'll be much less chance of you buying the stuff you'd later be unsatisfied with ....
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Post by Hiroshi on Oct 2, 2011 14:59:18 GMT
Good advice Nihontoman
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Post by Vestri on Oct 2, 2011 15:19:46 GMT
Thanks for the Advice - been reading my back side off and I didnt mean best of both worlds as if I was getting something fantastic lol... I get what you mean though - I just want something really stylish for my new place Im moving to and eye catching as well as something impressive enough for my grandfather who is visiting in December who used to teach kendo in the Philippines and I dont want to dissapoint him with a blade thats not reasonable (During WW2, a Japanese soldier was caught by him and offered to be beheaded with his own Family Katana. They ended up friends and when he died, his will gave the sword to my grandfather so he has a good idea of decent quality blades.)
Anyway - Im seriously seriously leaning towards Model 7 (Tessen) Ronin Pro Dojo. I dont want the best atm, I just want sometihng good and everyone hasnt given me a problem about it yet. And yes, I was going to go Cheness a few days ago but after some long reading, I wont anymore - Maybe I might jsut get 2 Ronin swords - Model 7 now, and in December when they get the restock they were talking about, I might grab Model 1, OR the Pheonix model.
Thankyou for the reply.
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Post by nihontoman on Oct 2, 2011 16:10:21 GMT
yeah ronin dojo pro is much better choice that cheness IMO... good luck finding your ideal sub 300 sword you should also consider Kris Cutlery... while their blades aren't the prettiest, they are very good and tough. their fittings might not be the prettiest, but I think those are the best fittings you could find on a sub 300 sword (well, maybe not the gauze "samekawa")
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Post by Vestri on Oct 2, 2011 16:31:09 GMT
Hmm, I dont like the look of the fittings... maybe I like the elegant styles of Ronin Katanas.
Speaking of which, I REALLY love the Model 13 "Shinshi" Ronin sword - but Im just afriad the model number will haunt me with bad luck lol. Sad, I im not superstitious but it is a sharp sword... lol
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2011 17:36:03 GMT
Of all the three katana, I liked the model 13 best. The only unlucky thing I can think about Model 13 is that if you don't buy it, it will haunt you for the rest of your life. If you are still concerned about number 13, let Paul know that you are interested in ordering the Shishi model "12A". I am sure he understands . Oh wait "shi" rhymes with death in Japanese... so Shishi means "double death". Sounds like an awesome katana to me.
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Post by Adrian Jordan on Oct 2, 2011 18:41:22 GMT
The blades of the Dojo Budget(1045) are extremely durable. I have the tsunami model and while the fittings are somewhat plain, blackened iron, they do not feel or look cheap. The saya could have been done better, though, and the ito wrap made me mad every time I looked at it. It was loose and sloppy, so I had it redone. The polish is good.
From what I can see, the Dojo Pro series is pretty great all around. It looks like it has a pretty good, even polish.
The Kris is great, with quality in all the parts and overall construction. It will need to see some finishing before you will really like it though. The fittings are all pretty solid and much more attractive in person. The only cons being that there is a small bit of rattle in the saya and the polish is fairly rough.
The Kaze is nice. It has a big, tough blade with a very nice hamon. The fittings are all mediocre, but do the job. The ito is cotton, and of reasonably tight and of OK quality. The saya fit is perfect. The polish is good, but did show a couple of machine marks on the spine.
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Post by Vestri on Oct 2, 2011 19:56:52 GMT
Grr, too many ppl making suggestions to me (my friends who already own some very nice but old Katanas - still very fuctional from years of use)
So I ahve to add - and ask: Has anyone bought a Customised SBG Katana? Id love to be able to choose 100% the fittings, that would be so cool AND its still cheaper than the ones I can get here locally in Australia.
Would anyone recomend the SBG Katanas over the Model 13 Shinshi Im about to buy?
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Post by Hiroshi on Oct 2, 2011 22:44:44 GMT
I dont own an SBG katana but I cant remember hearing anything bad about them.
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Post by Adrian Jordan on Oct 4, 2011 2:56:11 GMT
I also do not have one, but all the problems I've seen are par for the course in this price range, i.e. the occasional loose ito or fittings, a little rattle in the saya. The only thing I hear that people have problems with is that they are supposedly pretty blade heavy in balance, but that the blade is also seemingly very tough. If you're looking for customization at this range, you also may want to pay the Huawei site a visit.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2011 8:26:22 GMT
vestri, i'll tell you, ronin dojo pro was my first katana. i have purchased at least 9 or 10 other swords since then, from hanwei, to cheness, to kris cutlery. if you want something that is purely tough and can take a beating, either get dynasty forge musha class, or kris cutlery. now if you want something that looks really nice and is fairly durable, grab the ronin dojo pro. fittings-wise, i still look back at my ronin dojo pro and feel i made a good purchase. if i had to do it all over again, i'd still choose that. but my love has now switched to kris cutlery blades for their durability AND suguha hamon, which is virtually non existent in the $300 market. anyways. all in all i think the dojo pro is a GREAT first sword....hell i've even been eyeing the 1045 blades just to have a fun version of my nicer dojo pro....
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