- Joined
- May 21, 2000
- Messages
- 6,271
The Design:
The Ronin is a collaboration between Spyderco, Michael Janich and Mike Snody. It is designed as a MBC defensive knife that allows for numerious carry options.
Fit and Finish:
The knife looks flawless. There are no rough edges or bad grinds and the knife came "scary sharp". The sheath was equally good. Outstanding quality, especially considering the price. ($99.00)
The Blade:
The Ronin's blade is a modified wharncliff style. This is the first knife of this blade type in my collection and I am quite impressed. The blade is 3" long and constructed of VG-10 steel. VG-10 is actually one of my favorite steels due to it's ability to take a very fine edge with relative easy, an attribute that is very important in a SD knife. The Ronin's tip is extremely fine, needle sharp in fact...the tip will penetrate with the slightest touch. The thin blade is completely flat ground making it an excellent cutter. The spine of the Ronin has a series of notches for thumb placement when using a Philopino grip. I actually use this grip most of the time so, I appreciate this detail.
The Handle:
The tapered micarta handle is 4 inches long and has 3 holes to reduce the weight and aid in manipulation. There is also a pronounced finger choil for added grip. The handle is comfortable and secure in all grips. I do think that adding an extra 1/2 to 1 inch of handle would make the Ronin easier to use for those with larger hands. This would also make it easier to use the pommel for striking.
Balance:
The Ronin balances nicely, just behind the finger choil. When practicing basic cuts and thrusts, the Ronin move like lightning.
The Sheath:
The sheath is one area where a lot of manufacturers screw up...not the case with the Ronin. The Ronin's sheath was designed with versatility in mind. The sheath allows neck carry, horizontal or vertical belt carry or IWB carry. The sheath is kydex and holds the knife securely.
Carry:
I have carried the Ronin for the last 5 days using different methods. The Ronin seems to be the best example of a SD neck knife that I have seen. It is not too heavy and the fantastic sheath makes the knife easy to access. I also carried the knife in horizontally on my belt for crossdraw. The Ronin is so small and light that it you honestly forget that it is there. This method allows for extremely quick access. The Ronin was also carried IWB. I had to add a loop of paracord for this, but it still worked great.
Testing:
I did some basic cutting test with the Ronin on different mediums. Light slashes to an old t-shirt produced gigantic cuts. The results were so amazing that I tested several larger Spyderco folders in the same manner...the Ronin outperformed them all. The needle sharp point allows for effortless thrusts, the blade sank deeply into foam targets with little effort. The edge remained sharp, even after extended testing.
Overall:
I really like the Ronin. It allows for several different carry options and is a great performer. It out cuts every other knife I own...even knives almost twice as large. The Ronin is now my constant EDC knife. The wharncliffe style blade is now one of my favorites. As an MBC knife, the Ronin is simply amazing. If the Ronin were the only knife I carried, I would still feel well armed. If you are looking for a good SD knife that is versitile, look no further than the Ronin...I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Improvements/Suggestions:
There is not a whole lot to improve upon IMHO. However, I would like the handle to be just a bit longer. A satin finish would look nicer, but BB is ok. I wish that Spyderco had included a "G" clip for IWB carry. I would like to see a larger version of the Ronin made...maybe a 4.5 inch blade. The design is great and a larger version would be even better for IWB carry.
I highly recommend the Ronin to anyone looking for a versitle SD/MBC knife at a reasonable price. Well done Spyderco/Janich/Snody.
The Ronin is a collaboration between Spyderco, Michael Janich and Mike Snody. It is designed as a MBC defensive knife that allows for numerious carry options.
Fit and Finish:
The knife looks flawless. There are no rough edges or bad grinds and the knife came "scary sharp". The sheath was equally good. Outstanding quality, especially considering the price. ($99.00)
The Blade:
The Ronin's blade is a modified wharncliff style. This is the first knife of this blade type in my collection and I am quite impressed. The blade is 3" long and constructed of VG-10 steel. VG-10 is actually one of my favorite steels due to it's ability to take a very fine edge with relative easy, an attribute that is very important in a SD knife. The Ronin's tip is extremely fine, needle sharp in fact...the tip will penetrate with the slightest touch. The thin blade is completely flat ground making it an excellent cutter. The spine of the Ronin has a series of notches for thumb placement when using a Philopino grip. I actually use this grip most of the time so, I appreciate this detail.
The Handle:
The tapered micarta handle is 4 inches long and has 3 holes to reduce the weight and aid in manipulation. There is also a pronounced finger choil for added grip. The handle is comfortable and secure in all grips. I do think that adding an extra 1/2 to 1 inch of handle would make the Ronin easier to use for those with larger hands. This would also make it easier to use the pommel for striking.
Balance:
The Ronin balances nicely, just behind the finger choil. When practicing basic cuts and thrusts, the Ronin move like lightning.
The Sheath:
The sheath is one area where a lot of manufacturers screw up...not the case with the Ronin. The Ronin's sheath was designed with versatility in mind. The sheath allows neck carry, horizontal or vertical belt carry or IWB carry. The sheath is kydex and holds the knife securely.
Carry:
I have carried the Ronin for the last 5 days using different methods. The Ronin seems to be the best example of a SD neck knife that I have seen. It is not too heavy and the fantastic sheath makes the knife easy to access. I also carried the knife in horizontally on my belt for crossdraw. The Ronin is so small and light that it you honestly forget that it is there. This method allows for extremely quick access. The Ronin was also carried IWB. I had to add a loop of paracord for this, but it still worked great.
Testing:
I did some basic cutting test with the Ronin on different mediums. Light slashes to an old t-shirt produced gigantic cuts. The results were so amazing that I tested several larger Spyderco folders in the same manner...the Ronin outperformed them all. The needle sharp point allows for effortless thrusts, the blade sank deeply into foam targets with little effort. The edge remained sharp, even after extended testing.
Overall:
I really like the Ronin. It allows for several different carry options and is a great performer. It out cuts every other knife I own...even knives almost twice as large. The Ronin is now my constant EDC knife. The wharncliffe style blade is now one of my favorites. As an MBC knife, the Ronin is simply amazing. If the Ronin were the only knife I carried, I would still feel well armed. If you are looking for a good SD knife that is versitile, look no further than the Ronin...I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Improvements/Suggestions:
There is not a whole lot to improve upon IMHO. However, I would like the handle to be just a bit longer. A satin finish would look nicer, but BB is ok. I wish that Spyderco had included a "G" clip for IWB carry. I would like to see a larger version of the Ronin made...maybe a 4.5 inch blade. The design is great and a larger version would be even better for IWB carry.
I highly recommend the Ronin to anyone looking for a versitle SD/MBC knife at a reasonable price. Well done Spyderco/Janich/Snody.
