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Post by nddave on Jul 26, 2017 16:36:48 GMT
So it's pretty much a Ronin Elite sold for $200-$300 more with some BS marketing? Classy... Actually change all that around and you would be closer to being right. It's a Kawashima.Just buy straight from them and avoid all the markup and BS. Isn't Kawashima just a buyer/distributor like Ronin and not an actual manufacturer? The sword you linked looks more similar to the "hammer forged" or DH Dojo Pro than the Elite. I was browsing through the rest of Kawashima line at Aliexpress and they do have some extra variants and pretty much the same stock in both Euros and Katana that Ronin or even SBG store has carried as exclusives. I even saw the supposed discontinued project X type XVIIIe. The prices are cheaper but the shipping is ridiculous and pretty much brings most the swords equal to Ronin pricing and shipping. One thing I noticed is you consider Ronin's marketing BS. What has lead you to believe this? For all my encounters and discussions revolving around Ronin they've seems to be pretty legit in regards to customer service and being honest about where the swords come from and how they made and distributed. The other thing in regards to Kawashima compartivley is, are rhe swords shown on Aliexpress or other sell sites actually in stock? Are their customer service and support up to snuff compared to Ronin? Sure it may be a little cheaper ( maybe not after that ridiculous shipping, lol) to buy from Kawashima on Aliexpress, but are you going to get the same product and or buyer guarantees like you would buying from Ronin or SBG Store? I definitely would rather buy from a reputable vendor or distributor and pay a little more than go cheap and have no buyer protection or guarantees. For example I can get a $100 Musashi katana just about anywhere from TrueSwords (who are actually a Budk branch) to Sword of the East to Swords of Might ect ect but really if was going to I'd buy from someone reputable like KoA or SnA as they've both are reputable vendors that sell Musashi katana and would be content paying a little more for their quality inspections and buyer guarantees and warranties if they actually charged a little more for them lol. Here's a link for the rest of what's sold under Kawashima at Aliexpress for those wanting to check out the stock. m.aliexpress.com/w/wholesale-kawashima-sword.html#/
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Post by treeslicer on Jul 26, 2017 17:41:02 GMT
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Post by johnwalter on Jul 26, 2017 18:33:01 GMT
Actually change all that around and you would be closer to being right. It's a Kawashima.Just buy straight from them and avoid all the markup and BS. Isn't Kawashima just a buyer/distributor like Ronin and not an actual manufacturer? The sword you linked looks more similar to the "hammer forged" or DH Dojo Pro than the Elite. I was browsing through the rest of Kawashima line at Aliexpress and they do have some extra variants and pretty much the same stock in both Euros and Katana that Ronin or even SBG store has carried as exclusives. I even saw the supposed discontinued project X type XVIIIe. The prices are cheaper but the shipping is ridiculous and pretty much brings most the swords equal to Ronin pricing and shipping. One thing I noticed is you consider Ronin's marketing BS. What has lead you to believe this? For all my encounters and discussions revolving around Ronin they've seems to be pretty legit in regards to customer service and being honest about where the swords come from and how they made and distributed. The other thing in regards to Kawashima compartivley is, are rhe swords shown on Aliexpress or other sell sites actually in stock? Are their customer service and support up to snuff compared to Ronin? Sure it may be a little cheaper ( maybe not after that ridiculous shipping, lol) to buy from Kawashima on Aliexpress, but are you going to get the same product and or buyer guarantees like you would buying from Ronin or SBG Store? I definitely would rather buy from a reputable vendor or distributor and pay a little more than go cheap and have no buyer protection or guarantees. For example I can get a $100 Musashi katana just about anywhere from TrueSwords (who are actually a Budk branch) to Sword of the East to Swords of Might ect ect but really if was going to I'd buy from someone reputable like KoA or SnA as they've both are reputable vendors that sell Musashi katana and would be content paying a little more for their quality inspections and buyer guarantees and warranties if they actually charged a little more for them lol. Here's a link for the rest of what's sold under Kawashima at Aliexpress for those wanting to check out the stock. m.aliexpress.com/w/wholesale-kawashima-sword.html#/ I'm just providing a link EDIT:While along with Jussi,I don't care for Ronin,I think that's known.But I actually meant to say the other vendor was up selling Kawashima,not Ronin.After readin again, I see my mistake.I don't think I've seen any there that specifically look like Ronin. My apologies for that.
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Post by johnwalter on Jul 26, 2017 18:36:49 GMT
That Munetoshi is a good deal for what it is at that price.I test Munetoshi for Jacky at SnA.
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Mikeeman
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Post by Mikeeman on Jul 26, 2017 19:55:51 GMT
Eeeehh, I'm really not fond of that kissaki. Looks like it suffers from that classic "I forgot to keep curving" that that a lot of low end katanas have.
On a somewhat related note, I find it ironic that there is a Chinese company selling under the name Sugoi Swords. If I'm not mistaken, "sugoi" is the Japanese word for "amazing" or "awesome." So the name is "Amazing Swords." Well played, dealer of fake Japanese swords. Well played.
Edit: Fun Fact: There are two pages to this thread and I didn't notice and was replying to the last post on the first page... Good job, me.
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Mikeeman
Member
Small Business Operator
Posts: 2,904
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Post by Mikeeman on Jul 26, 2017 20:03:14 GMT
That Munetoshi is a good deal for what it is at that price.I test Munetoshi for Jacky at SnA. The Lion Dog (Jubei or Munetoshi version) is probably still my favorite budget sword. They are really solid for the price. Even over the Musashi Shirikawa line, IMO.
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Post by johnwalter on Jul 26, 2017 20:04:15 GMT
Eeeehh, I'm really not fond of that kissaki. Looks like it suffers from that classic "I forgot to keep curving" that that a lot of low end katanas have. On a somewhat related note, I find it ironic that there is a Chinese company selling under the name Sugoi Swords. If I'm not mistaken, "sugoi" is the Japanese word for "amazing" or "awesome." So the name is "Amazing Swords." Well played, dealer of fake Japanese swords. Well played. Edit: Fun Fact: There are two pages to this thread and I didn't notice and was replying to the last post on the first page... Good job, me. I agree Michael.
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Post by nddave on Jul 26, 2017 22:51:48 GMT
Isn't Kawashima just a buyer/distributor like Ronin and not an actual manufacturer? The sword you linked looks more similar to the "hammer forged" or DH Dojo Pro than the Elite. I was browsing through the rest of Kawashima line at Aliexpress and they do have some extra variants and pretty much the same stock in both Euros and Katana that Ronin or even SBG store has carried as exclusives. I even saw the supposed discontinued project X type XVIIIe. The prices are cheaper but the shipping is ridiculous and pretty much brings most the swords equal to Ronin pricing and shipping. One thing I noticed is you consider Ronin's marketing BS. What has lead you to believe this? For all my encounters and discussions revolving around Ronin they've seems to be pretty legit in regards to customer service and being honest about where the swords come from and how they made and distributed. The other thing in regards to Kawashima compartivley is, are rhe swords shown on Aliexpress or other sell sites actually in stock? Are their customer service and support up to snuff compared to Ronin? Sure it may be a little cheaper ( maybe not after that ridiculous shipping, lol) to buy from Kawashima on Aliexpress, but are you going to get the same product and or buyer guarantees like you would buying from Ronin or SBG Store? I definitely would rather buy from a reputable vendor or distributor and pay a little more than go cheap and have no buyer protection or guarantees. For example I can get a $100 Musashi katana just about anywhere from TrueSwords (who are actually a Budk branch) to Sword of the East to Swords of Might ect ect but really if was going to I'd buy from someone reputable like KoA or SnA as they've both are reputable vendors that sell Musashi katana and would be content paying a little more for their quality inspections and buyer guarantees and warranties if they actually charged a little more for them lol. Here's a link for the rest of what's sold under Kawashima at Aliexpress for those wanting to check out the stock. m.aliexpress.com/w/wholesale-kawashima-sword.html#/ I'm just providing a link EDIT:While along with Jussi,I don't care for Ronin,I think that's known.But I actually meant to say the other vendor was up selling Kawashima,not Ronin.After readin again, I see my mistake.I don't think I've seen any there that specifically look like Ronin. My apologies for that. No worries, but and yes there may not be exact replicas on Japanese side of the swords but you can tell they're very similar down to the tsuka shape and wrap style to the Fuchi Kashira and Menuki. If I saw one of these Kawashimas without any prior knowledge I'd say it was a Ronin. The European Swords are obviously the same as on that page there's the Ronin Xa, Viking X and XVIIIa Longsword models right there with a few variations. There's even the Project X "Chrom Killer" XVIIIe and the old "supposedly discontinued" hex nut longsword. It seem like you mentioned there's no exact copies of any of Ronin's Dojo Pros or Elites, but you can see they're of the same build a design with the only real significant differences being more artsy Saya DH 1095 instead of 1060TH on the Kawashima line. Someone might have to give one a try at the sub $300 level and see how it compares to a Ronin Dojo Pro. I would but I'm kinda Katana'd out right now and am back into collecting European swords and completing my sub $300 typology. Might have skipped them over but I don't think I saw any Wakizashi on the list, might go for one of them as I'm kinda in the market and use it to compare to my Dojo Pro, if there is any.
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