Ronin Dojo Pro Model 004 vs. Cheness Kaze

by Lincoln L.
(Virginia, USA)

Okay, so I just received this week two katanas that I have been dying to get. The first to arrive was the Ronin Dojo Pro Model 004, and the second was the Cheness Kaze model, which arrived a day later. It was a great chance to compare two almost identically priced blades and I was definitely excited to get them.

Aesthetically speaking, there is no competition between the two. The Ronin Dojo Pro Model 004 was hands down the more attractive piece by far. The super-tight silk ito, the solid iron furnishings, and the buffalo horn accents on the saya were all beautiful. Also the sword fit perfectly in the saya with just enough resistance to keep the blade in the saya if turned upside down. Beyond some very minor scuffing on the blade there was almost nothing to mar its overall beauty. I was very impressed. There was also a cleanly sliced section of 2-fold manila folder in the box signed "Edge Test 1-15-10" to show that it had been inspected beforehand. Very nice.

Comparitively the Cheness Kaze was far more subdued, and without all the nicer accents and furnishings. It was definitely more basic/economical/mundane in its presentation. But in its defense I have to say that there is a subdued attractiveness to the Kaze model that should not go unmentioned. While it cannot match the Ronin Dojo Pro in the quality of its fittings it is not ugly by any stretch. It was also rock-solid and very tight in its fittings and wrap. No complaints about the assembly. The Kaze even featured a brass peg for extra security which I really liked. But for looks: Advantage Ronin by far.

Balance-wise I was very impressed by the Ronin Dojo Pro as well. It's a pretty beefy sword, yet still feels very light and maneuverable in the hands, moreso than the Kaze which definitely felt a bit heavier to me, even though both blades claim a similar point of balance. So for overall balance and feel: Advantage Ronin.

Now it comes to the real deal - the edge. Fittings and attractiveness aside, I had heard such great things about the Kaze that I expected a real razor of a blade, and I was not diappointed. Comparatively the Ronin Dojo Pro, while certainly sharp, couldn't match the scary sharp edge of the Kaze. Moreover the Ronin Dojo Pro Model 004 did not have uniform sharpness over the entire edge of the blade. The last 6 incges or so near the Tsuba, as well as the last 6 inches or so near the tip of the blade were not paper-cutting sharp like the blade's midsection. that being said it only took about 20 seconds to "condition" the edge with a tungsten carbide wand to cure that little problem. After that it was pretty darn sharp from end to end. Sharp enough certainly.

But the Kaze...wow. As I mentioned, that blade is scary sharp over every milimeter of its edge. A super-clean polish with no scratches. The blade itself was truly awesome. And in the paper-cutting test it glided through the material like a laserbeam, while the Ronin Dojo Pro met with more resistance. Don't get me wrong, the Ronin Dojo Pro is a sharp sword, no doubt about it. I'm not complaining, and it does its job as advertised (a durable, heavy-duty cutter). But the Kaze is hands down the sharper blade out of the box with a wicked edge. So in the test of sharpness: Advantage Kaze.

Final Thoughts:
Overall I appreciate both swords very much and am in love with each of them. Money well spent on both models and not an ounce of regret. For swords in this price range it's hard to compete with the looks, fittings, balance, and performance of the Ronin Dojo Pro. You really can't get tight, high quality fittings like these, with a sharp, finely constructed blade to boot, anywhere else in this price point that I have seen. And believe me I shopped around. For $265 you can't go wrong with the Ronin Dojo Pro Series in my opinion.

But if you're willing to trade looks and fancy fittings for a tightly assembled blade that is just a nasty, out of the box cutting machine, the Kaze lives up to all the great press its been getting. The Kaze may be a bit plain but it is ready for business with no nonsense. It counters the superior beauty, balance, and finishings of the Dojo Pro nicely with a truly spectacular cutting edge and understated looks. It has the harder, heavier feel which I appreciate as much as the lighter more balanced feel of the Ronin.

Either way you can't go wrong, and I'm jazzed to have both.