Sub-$300 Katana (2014 edition)

TrueBlue11c said:
less than 12 hours and we get some current reviews on the 2 new swords
Click to expand...

HAHA Starting the countdown, eh? Taking the day off tomorrow to do some side work(some demo + roof repair). When I log on, this will be my first stop(before my vaping blogs)! SOOOO looking forward to it! I can't help it... I feel like a damn fanboy without even owning one! I'm curious how the Ronin is gonna shake out. I know you will give an honest opinion, and with your experience and the fact that you own others to compare with, it should be an excellent review.
 
I will be completely honest on my opinion, I will try to not let excitement turn into bias. I love all things japan/Okinawa. I even have a lot of Japanese ink. Been obsessed since I was a kid, my first favorite movie was revenge of the ninja and I was like 4. I still have the original cassette lol.
I mostly study sai and tonfa, but love the essence of the sword. You should read the book of five rings when you get a chance, it's informative mostly on tactic and the warrior mindset.
 



The kanji on my sai say " strength through adversity"
well the actual Japanese proverb is "after the storm the earth hardens"
 
Last edited:
I've got a lot of stuff coming in. I just keep trading around and the shipments keep coming.
I got the ronin for my wife for mothers day so, I'm sure it's going to be something fun. I gave her a price range of $500 and she wanted the ronin which was a lot cheaper. Nice to have someone like minded living with you.
 
Great pics of the sai! I don't own that book yet, but I have read through some of it. Last time I went to B&N, I did get "Samurai: The Code of the Warrior" by Thomas Louis and Tommy Ito, as well as, "The Samurai Sword: Spirit-Strategy-Techniques" by Kohshyu Yoshida. This is but the beginning of my journey.
 
TrueBlue11c said:
I've got a lot of stuff coming in. I just keep trading around and the shipments keep coming.
I got the ronin for my wife for mothers day so, I'm sure it's going to be something fun. I gave her a price range of $500 and she wanted the ronin which was a lot cheaper. Nice to have someone like minded living with you.
Click to expand...

Most definitely. And lovers of green as well! That's what drew me to the model. And the geometric pattern is cool as well.
 
Yea, green is my favorite color. My sai that are being built now will have a red wrap and they are from a completely different maker, whom I've been using around 15 years. Maybe my next katana will have a green theme. She does want to change the tsuba out for a cherry blossom theme though.
 
TrueBlue11c said:
Yea, green is my favorite color. My sai that are being built now will have a red wrap and they are from a completely different maker, whom I've been using around 15 years. Maybe my next katana will have a green theme. She does want to change the tsuba out for a cherry blossom theme though.
Click to expand...

Great personal touch. I like how you can "make it yours." I need a scorpion themed tsuba and fuchi-kashira. :P
 
That'd be cool. I'll probably change out my tsuba when I find one I like. My wife already found a couple she liked. If this ronin is as good as I think it's going to be, I might get one of their high end ones. They have a lot of cool models to choose from. Their laminated swords are very reasonably priced. I still have a lot of high end stuff I'm selling off. So once I get done with all that I might get a chance to purchase one in the near future.
 
Skyjiro Taka Chigai: pros- Folded beautiful blade, a favorable kissaki, balance great and razor sharp.

Ronin Dojo Pro: pros- absolutely awesome tsuka (the tapering should be an industry standard),
The saya is very nice and has polished horn adoring it, the sori is pronounced.

there's no real con's the are both great for their prices, I'd just like every company to start tapering their tsukas. I'm feeling sick today so I won't be able to cut. So I'll have more info on that later. They're both sharp, but the Skyjiro is shaving sharp. Either way, now I want a high end Ronin, just an awesome sword. I really don't think you can beat them at that price.

THESE ARE ALL MY OPINIONS AS A CONSUMER, OPINIONS MAY DIFFER WITH OTHERS, BUT BE CIVIL.
 
Awesome! They both do look really great! I liked just about EVERY skyjiro blade they had. I had checked those guys out myself. The "commas" was cool, I like that design(and it was cheapest, hehe). The folded feathers is neat though, very unique. No cons, eh? That's good. As far as sharpness is concerned, will you have to sharpen the Ronin? Is that a 10" tsuka on the skyjiro? Comparatively, does the skyjiro just stomp the ronin, or is it closer then that?
 
They both have their strong sides. I like the ronin handle because it's tapered. I don't think you'll need to sharpen it, the ronin is plenty sharp for cutting tatami, beach mats and objects similar.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top