Ronin Euro 5 Italian Longsword: Initial Impressions vs the Cold Steel Italian Longsword
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- čas přidán 19. 01. 2022
- Another recent acquisition from Ronin Katana, to match my Euro 4 Italian Arming Sword (I do love me a nice fishtail pommel), and how it compares to the Cold Steel version. Hopefully I'll get some good weather to do some performance comparisons soon.
Currently $285USD at SBG:
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Good comparison. The RK Italian Longsword is a pretty good deal, that checks almost all the right boxes. The right amount of distal taper, weight, and balance. Attractive flamboyant fishtail pommel with a good peen that's polished, and a comfortable crossguard. I don't like the way RK does waisted grips though--it's nice to have a waisted grip on a budget sword, but the central waist is so rounded and thick, which is definitely wrong. The blade is a bit too narrow even though it has the correct profile taper. It's about 41-42mm wide, and type XVIa should be wider than 5mm at the base--nitpick but something they should be able to fix without a lot of effort.
I have the RK3-2 Alexandria--looks great and imposing and all that. But the pommel is puny and seems to be hollow. So the sword overall is light for a type XVIIIc, but lacking proper counterweight, therefore incredible tip heavy. A good project sword to add a proper hefty pommel for a type XVIIIc and it's all good.
Both the CS and the RK models in this video are pretty good choice for sub-300 dollar longswords. Room for improvement, but still solid offerings as they are.
Isn’t this sword meant to be a type XVII not XVIa?
No, type XVII has hexagonal cross sections and has narrow and extremely tapered blades. Neither of these two has that to even remotely qualify as type XVII.
Just purchased today. I’ve been researching for a while, but the somewhat tender awe you displayed for the piece sold me. I had to have it. Your voice reminds me very much of Matthew Gray Gubler, has anyone told you that before? 😆
Really liking that long sword addition you have there from Ronin, just about exactly what I'm looking for, for the price and as a long sword...great share Michael...although I do like model 1 wider blade as well
They do have some nice longsword designs. I just had to go for that fishtail pommel.
@@michaelrizzo5523 Which sword do you like better the Ronin Euro 5 Italian Longsword or The Cold Steel Hand and a Half Sword and why? I appreciate your knowledge and feedback. God Bless
@@thechristiansamurai8459 The Cold Steel Italian is the lightest and nimblest of the three I have. The CS Hand and a Half is a dense beast if you want a heavy cutter. The Ronin is somewhere between the two, but the grip shape is very different. Ronin does make a few longswords with straight grips.
@@michaelrizzo5523 The Hema world of martial artist's has admitted that the Cold Steel Hand and a Half is a VERY GOOD DURABLE budget cutting sword. I have seen a review of a Ronin Katana Viking Sword that bent during chopping a branch it was 1075 carbon steel. While this was abusive testing the cuts on the branch wasn't what I consider that hard of usage because swords contact shields and armour on occasion. Furthermore I believe the Cold Steel Hand and a Half is a very durable and well tested sword for the price. This maybe why the HEMA WORLD likes the sword plus it's very attractive and very sharp and can be easily customized to your liking if you so desire. I have a place on my wall for this sword next to a plaque that reads THE WORD OF GOD IS ALIVE AND ACTIVE SHARPER THAN ANY DOUBLE EDGED SWORD. May God Always be with you my friend. God Bless..
@@thechristiansamurai8459 Indeed. I've heard the Cold Steels are the recommended affordable cutters for HEMA practitioners. And they are very good cutters.
RK is my favorite and I saw somebody on youtube do a destruction test on the Italian Arming Sword and the thing is exxxtremely tough and well constructed. the handle was broke and the tang exposed and was beefy....the peen on the pommel never budged.
Matthew Jensen has tried destroying a few now, and they're impressively tough, with some very nicely crafted blades for the price.
If you had to pick one to keep and one to get rid of after roughly a year, which would stay and why?
I'm looking at these swords head to head for myself but also somewhat brand to brand for a friend of mine. Price would end up being the same but i would have to import to get myself a ronin so warranty and that sort of thing would be a pain in the event something goes wrong, that being said im swayed more towards the ronin for several reasons, im more just looking for reasons not to get it at this point.
Well, the Ronin's a good solid sword, and the blade is very impressive for the price, but I'm planning on doing some modifications as it just hasn't grown on me like the Cold Steel has.
The Cold Steel needed some grip modding and I replaced that cheap thin leather, but its a much lighter, nimbler sword, and is the better soft target cutter. It just feels a bit flimsy (which is an odd thing to say about a Cold Steel product) because the blade is so slim towards the tip.
I find myself mostly wishing the Ronin had a different grip profile after handling it for a while now. It's too round in the middle. It's on my project list, and if I do manage to improve it I'll do an update. For me, a grip that fits me makes a huge difference in handling.
@@michaelrizzo5523 Cheers man I appreciate the reply and information, I would be keen to see an update on that cause I'm a bit worried about the waisted grip on the ronin with my large hands. It would be nice to see it opened up, modified and to see what it would to look like once it was a bit less bulbous and dressed up in some nicer leather.
Here’s a big question for me is the Ronin #5 floppy and does it “sag” under its weight when you hold it horizontally?
Not at all. It's a very substantial, rigid blade. Very good for thrusting and half-swording.
@@michaelrizzo5523 OK because I bought the red dragon temple church sword and that one is a little floppy. Probably isn’t the most floppy sword but it is a little And I want a good stiff long sword and the fact that this one comes platy sharpened is a big plus because the temple church one is very very blunt
@@TheMan-je5xq I've been consistently impressed with Ronin's blades, even though their fittings are pretty basic. I have a couple of Red Dragon plastic swords I may review one day, but plastic just doesn't have any of the feel of steel.
@@michaelrizzo5523 well I will say I was a little put off by the basic design of the guard on the #5 there, I will say it basically looks like guard for the Hanwei Tinker design but jazzed up just enough to make it look better
"I bought two swords and saved myself $20." Hahahahahahahahaa! Happy Aftermath!
Well, if you know you're probably going to buy both anyway, why not just jump in?
Yes Happy Aftermath, now cut some stuff up...lol
I definitely prefer ronin katana…cold steel’s weapon durabilities and life longevity are usually low…the quality is sadlynot really there in CS