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Ronin KatanaHeavy Duty Dotanuki Blades"Ever buy a sword online, sit around for weeks waiting for it to show up, and have it turn out to be total junk? Same here. I got so tired of it, I designed my own sword line, hired a forge to smith them, and started Ronin Katana".
- Chris Scoggin, Ronin Katana.com
While not all that well known outside of ebay circles, in late 2008 Ronin Swords Chris Scoggin joined the SBG sword forum and quickly proved himself to be a very honest and transparent, no BS supplier who was happy to share his extensive experience and knowledge dealing with the various sword forges in mainland China (you can read also his blog here). His swords were well received on the SBG Forums, with several very positive reviews and many of the 'fussier' members approving the direction he was taking with these swords, and they were hailed as well made, tough (Ronin Katana specializes in extremely durable, no nonsense 'Dotanuki' blades - i.e. heavy duty cutters) - and exceptionally good value. In this review and evaluation of Ronin Katana, we will be taking a look at their original line of 1045 carbon steel 'Dojo ready' Katana - as well as an upgraded, limited edition 1060 carbon steel series of swords that are so good they are listed exclusively right here at the SBG Sword Store...
1045 Carbon Steel Dojo LineThe swords that Ronin got started with were their 'dojo' line; a range of 1045 mono tempered carbon steel 'Dotanuki' blades, one of which - the 'Okinawa model' (now discontinued, as they keep their line continually fresh), is pictured below.
While there is little doubt these swords are popular, I must admit that I found the choice of 1045 carbon steel a slightly unusual one.. Normally, I would not actually recommend 1045 for a 'beater' Katana. Indeed, almost every other sword maker uses harder, tougher 1060 carbon steel for their 'serious' heavy duty swords.. For example, Cold Steel's infamously tough Warrior series blades are made from 1060 carbon steel, as are the Dynasty Forge Musha line. And the Cheness 9260 blades, (which I have personally had the pleasure of attempting to destroy under a variety of conditions) - are essentially 1060 steel with a silicon alloying agent.
So why did they do it?In theory, if a 1045 carbon steel blade is made in the thick Dotanuki style and tempered properly, it could ALMOST be as durable as a 1060 monster like the Cold Steel Warrior...BUT the advantage is that because 1045 carbon steel is relatively softer, and therefore quicker and easier to forge, shape, sharpen and polish - the blade can be made and sold for a lower price! While in theory I may still have my doubts about 1045 carbon steel, in practice, the durability of these swords is unquestionable and speaks for itself.
Not only did Ronin spend a lot of time destruction testing their swords (you can see some of the results of the tests here on his site), but heavy testing by SBG members such as Jason Woodard (you can read his full review on the forums here) assures me that these blades live up to their reputation as 'heavy duty cutters'.
To sum up about their choice of steel, my friend and senior member of the SBG community, Dan Dacombe, notes: "Though the blade is 1045 steel - a relatively softer grade - it is quite thick and well tempered. It flexed well and didn't make me feel like it was likely to bend or break - the lack of bo-hi added to its strength. It was paper-cutting sharp out of the box - according to the website, every sword is given a test cut before shipping. While it sounds like a marketing gimmick, I'd be inclined to believe it after seeing this sword. The blade is as good or better than others in this price range."
The general consensus is that the blade is very sharp, nicely tempered and durable. The only negatives reported on the blades themselves were that the polish - while acceptable - can be a little rough here and there (it is done by hand though, as machine polishing a blade can slightly weaken its tempering). And earlier versions had a false wire brushed hamon which was not very attractive or popular (and in response to this feedback has subsequentially been removed, leaving the blade plain like the Cold Steel warrior or Dynasty Forge Musha range).
Of course, every experienced Japanese sword enthusiast knows that the blade, while obviously critically important, is not of much use if there are problems with the fittings.. But it is actually the choice of the materials for the fittings that really does set Ronin Katana apart from most other entry level Katana makers...
The FittingsThere is little doubt that the materials selected by Ronin Katana are a cut above what else is available in this price range (pardon the pun).Taking a look at the tsuka, we find REAL silk ito of real rayskin, wrapped in the traditional ALTERNATING style (all of which are VERY RARE at this price point).
As you can see from the picture, they also have a very nicely waisted handle - unlike the blocky, shapeless things that are common to the sub US$300 market. But it gets even more impressive, because most of their Dojo line use a solid IRON tsuba and IRON Fuchi/Kashira where just about everyone else only uses alloy!
All components are well assembled, with each sword given a good once over and quality checked before shipping (on the negative side the Kashira - i.e. the butt-cap of the sword can be slightly 'wiggly'. A minor imperfection, but an imperfection none-the-less). Overall, it would seem that the combination of high quality (essentially ideal) materials used in it's construction, a decent assembly method - plus a well tempered, thick and durable blade - all for well under $200 shipped - results in a VERY competitive product! So much so that it is actually pretty hard to fault these swords, and the only real area that I can identify, despite some lingering concerns for the use of 1045 carbon steel, is that these swords are perhaps lacking a little in finesse handling wise...
Balance and HandlingWhile the weight and balance of these swords will naturally vary slightly depending on how much 'meat' is in the iron tsuba (i.e. a solid tsuba will shift the balance point back towards the handle, while a hollowed out, lighter one will move it forwards), the fact that these swords weigh around the 2.6lb mark and do not have a bo-hi (fuller/blood groove) option means that they have a tendency to feel a bit on the heavy/overly powerful side.The disadvantage of this is that these swords are clearly not for people who like an agile and light weight Katana. But for those who like an 'optimized for the cut' blade and are not so concerned with the practice of kata, a sword like this will be right up their alley.. It all just depends on what your personal preference is, but I think that as these swords are marketed as 'Brutal cutters' no-one would really expect them to be as lightweight as a ballerina..!
Recent DevelopmentsRonin Katana like to keep their Dojo line swords fresh, and while the blades and the geometries do not change, the appearance of the fittings are constantly evolving. However, their most exciting development to date, and the one that got SBG on board with them, was an upgraded, much more serious version of these swords called the 'Dojo Pro' line...
While the basic 1045 carbon steel Katana retail at around $165 to $175, the Pro line, which sell for around $100 more, have three main areas where that more than justify the price... The first area is that the blades are made from 1060 Carbon steel! (finally dispelling any lingering doubts about the relative softness of 1045 carbon steel!). Another area where the dojo pro line is improved over the original dojo line is by using real buffalo horn in the Koiguchi, Kurigata and Koijiri to reinforce the saya! Furthermore, they also differ from your standard run of the mill Katana by the diamond shaped kissaki, a reinforced tip made for maximum thrusting power.
And while these swords do not come with a wire brushed hamon, it's interesting to note that many of them have what you might call a 'ghost hamon' - caused by the thinner edge of a Dotanuki blade cooling at a different rate than the spine and resulting in a different mircocrystalline growth.
It's hard to say what the normal market price would be on swords of this quality - the closest possible competitor would probably be Dynasty Forges 'Musha', which also has a 1060 blade and iron fittings and is available for around $229-$250 + shipping.. However, the Ronin Katana has silk ito where the Musha uses cotton (though good quality cotton), has buffalo horn reinforcements on the saya, and a thicker, meatier blade optimized for power cutting. With 6 different limited edition styles to choose from, all with tsuba copied from actual Edo era antiques, for just $264.99 shipped I don't have to tell you that they are truly quite a bargain...!
ConclusionWith so many mono-tempered blades on the market these days, it is refreshing to find a company that is willing to try new things, and specialize in a niche - that is to say, heavy duty Dotanuki style Dojo grade Katana under the sub US$300 price point, and I will definitely be keeping an eye on them to see what they come up with next!!
WHERE TO BUYYou can of course pick up the original 1045 carbon steel Dotanuki blades here at Ronin Swords.com for $175 each. We also stock a limited edition 'Musashi' style in 1045 for $164.99 SHIPPED FREE IN THE USA AND CANADA at the SBG sword Store, and as previously mentioned, SBG are also the exclusive retailers for the limited edition Dojo Pro line of 1060 carbon steel that you can pick up for just $264.99 - also shipped free in North America (normal price for these is $295!).
Have Your SayMaybe you have one of these swords and would like to offer your take on it. Maybe you just want to add your $0.02 to the mix? As long as it is on topic and polite, feel free to share it!
What Other Visitors Have SaidClick below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...
roninsword vs dynasty forge musha
Not rated yet I hope this overview of Ronin Katana has been helpful. To return to A Beginners Guide to Authentic Japanese Swords from Ronin Katana: Heavy Duty Dotanuki Blades, click here
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Ronin Katana have been in business since 2004, and have quietly spent the last 6 years commissioning the best Japanese sword making forges in China to create their own line of entry level 'heavy beater grade' Katana that they have successfully sold on ebay and their own website.
