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Post by apeture on May 2, 2022 8:10:41 GMT
In my attempt to find a ronin katana longsword 7 at a slight discount, I found this odd brand called "Battle Tested". They seem to sell what looks identical to ronin katana European style swords, with minor nearly indistinguishable differences. For instance the ronin viking has wider grip pattern and the other looks like it's been twine wrapped. Some don't have the scabbard buckles and belt suspension. The difference in weight is also odd, thought details are very sparse from the sellers. What am I to make of it? Hardly worth a risk is what I'm guessing. If it's actually just the same sword somehow, I'd be fine buying it at the massive 30 some percent discount in price outside of the scratch and dent though! That'd be a steal and a half! These are two images showing the minor differences. Also worth noting, the longsword is listed as 6 pounds which is double the ronin's weight. I'm not sure how they're measuring that, but I found one seller even listing it as a whopping 8! Strange. What do ya think?
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on May 2, 2022 12:43:02 GMT
I am not familiar with the Battle Tested line. You might contact the vendors about how they are measuring the weight, i.e. w/scabbard, shipping weight, etc.
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tera
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Posts: 1,655
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Post by tera on May 2, 2022 16:22:07 GMT
I could be misunderstanding the OP, but the differences I see between those two pictures are anything but minor. Different pommel, guard, grip length, one has a fuller and the other doesn't. If those are the swords you are thinking may be the same, I would say they certainly are not.
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Post by apeture on May 2, 2022 18:34:34 GMT
I could be misunderstanding the OP, but the differences I see between those two pictures are anything but minor. Different pommel, guard, grip length, one has a fuller and the other doesn't. If those are the swords you are thinking may be the same, I would say they certainly are not. I wasn't indicating that those two were the same, my apologies. Those two are simply the alternative versions produced by Battle Tested, I hadn't posted the images from the ronin katana products. Also, it appears that the major difference I've discovered upon searching more websites and seeing an old thread on this site in fact, is that the Battle Tested use a softer cheaper steel to the ronin's model. Ronin uses high carbon 1075 spring steel, while these swords are listed for 1045.
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Post by apeture on May 2, 2022 18:39:21 GMT
I should have shown this earlier, but here are the original ronin katana images to match the ones posted in my first post.
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Post by markus313 on May 2, 2022 19:31:53 GMT
I’d bet I’ve owned four of the cheap RK#7-knockoffs over the years (stats below). Have test cut with three of them, tested one very harshly (on hanging wodden logs). Great, great value for the money. I suspect they’re made from 1045, the heat treatment is excellent. The bevels nicely done, appleseed from the factory, sharp. Great flex, good stiffness. Good handling. Robust (except for the loosening of the guards, no biggie). I prefer them over the Hanwei Tinker Longswords. Also own one of these (same maker, most probably, got it for 165 EUR from a shop in Germany), great value, like the others:
Also here:
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