Two Handed Crusader Long Sword - Euro Model #13

This will be a long review. Yes, I am very satisfied with the sword. Yes, I will purchase another Ronin Katana product in the future. I am not an experienced sword collector nor am I a Hema practitioner, but I do know what to look for in a sword, and I understand what to expect at various price points. I also went down the rabbit hole of research before I pulled the trigger on this purchase. The first sword I received was sent back. It was acceptable, for a sword at this price point, but then I found a slight amount of left/right wiggle in the pommel, so slight I thought I should just except it, but I did not. I emailed RK, they responded immediately with a prepaid return label and sent me a replacement sword. The new sword came with a handwritten letter signed by Sara thanking me for being a good customer. That's a lost art, and classy. Thank you. The new sword was at a different level of quality. First, the blade was sharper than the first, and the first sword was reasonably sharp. The single edge bevel was also a big selling point for me. I wanted to complain about the grip wrap on the first sword which was a different material from the scabbard, very hard, slick and unforgiving, plastic like. On the new sword the grip appears to be real leather, huge improvement. The sword fits in the scabbard with proper retention. The scabbard is several inches longer than the blade, so RK is probably using the same scabbard for different models, again understandable. The Crucifix on the pommel was crooked on the first sword, it's straight on the second. Regardless, my plan is to solder a St. Benedict coin into the pommel recess after I have a priest bless it. The pommel on the second sword is slightly off center but it doesn't bother me, nor is it really noticeable. Everything on the sword is tight, straight and right. The blade is ridged with appropriate flex. Looking down the broad side of the blade, in the right light, you will see slight forging hammer marks. This is normal. At any other angle the blade appears clean and sharp, as to be expected. I will say I can pick out a minor imperfection of the geometry of the final grind toward the tip, but that is me being anal, I will address that in a moment. I weighed the sword at 3lbs 2.5 oz. The point of balance is 6.5". The blade thickness at the hilt is 6.5mm, 5.5mm halfway, 4.1mm at the end of the fuller. It then swells to 4.8 ish as the fuller turns into a center ridge tapering to 3.6mm one inch from the tip. So the weird tip geometry has to do with the transition from fuller to diamond shape point. I know this is not an Albion. Ronin Katana did a good job, and I am very pleased. I would call this a type xiia hand and a half war sword. The purchase scratched my itch. It feels good in the hand, and I can't wait to start practicing Hema and cutting drills. I could easily give this sword 5 stars for the price point but I wont because I'm tough on reviews and I don't know if RK has quality control issues or if the first sword was left over from an earlier production run and things have just improved with time. Either way, both swords were good, the second is great. The fifth star awaits because with a little more attention to detail, quality control and perhaps choice in grips, color and scabbards RK could step up a tier in the sword market. Thank you. -Brett B.

What a great sword. I picked it out as a scratch and dent sale purchase. I had to look high and low for “scratches,” and there’s some very mild scratches towards the top of the blade. Who cares? It is simply marvelous. Very well made, the balance is excellent and it is probably my cornerstone piece. I love how well made it is. Who wants some artsy wall hanger. This is functional bad-assery. Ronin katana has a new life long fan and forever customer in me. If I had to choose a blade to take into battle, this is it. Now to convince my wife that I need more weapons. The struggle is real!

It cut clean through whatever I put it through

Feels solid. 3/5 starts because the pommel is slightly loose and has a very slight rattle. Other than that a very solid piece for the price.

This sword is everything I hoped for. A classic type XIIa, the blade is long and wide and slowly tapers to a well defined point, making it ideal for both cutting and thrusting. It’s sharp but not razor sharp, which feels just right for a sword of this type. The handle is comfortable and has just enough room for two hands, making it more of a bastard sword in my opinion. The sword actually has the exact same dimensions as my Jon Snow Longclaw wall-hanger, which is precisely what I wanted. It’s very nice that a scabbard is included, and although the belt is confusing, it all looks attractive and feels like decent quality. It’s a bit difficult to draw the sword out, but that’s better than the sword sliding out on its own and I’m sure it will loosen slightly with continued use. The reason I can’t give this sword five stars is because right out of the box, the pommel was slightly loose and makes a rattling sound when I wiggle it. I’m not sure if this is a common problem or something that needs to be addressed, but since it doesn’t twist or seem like it will break off or anything, I’m going to try to ignore it. Overall I am very pleased with the quality of this sword for the price. It’s my first “real” sword and I would highly recommend it for anyone looking to get into this hobby.

Well made sword, fit and finish is outstanding. Exceptional customer service.

It came in great condition, it is a little hard to unsheathe at first but the more I do it, the more it eases. But it still holds tight in the sheathe which is perfect. It arrived roughly 5 days later than estimated but considering 2020-21’s circumstances, I really have no complaints and I fully understand on the company’s and delivery’s behalf. And to top it all off, upon request, I did get a funny note and I think the book will do great, Chris. Can’t say the same for Prince Henry though.

This longsword is about 50% cut, 50% thrust in capability. The fullered, broad blade is at its base wide enough to allow for deep, devastating cuts with much surface area present for blocking & parrying. The tip could be finer but is sufficient. The sharpened edges (almost perfect) permit easy slicing. Blade has traces of something both sticky & grease-like; probably a rust preventative. A few markings left from the forging & polishing remain. Feel free to draw the sword upon unboxing, wiping the blade clean & oiling it up. The guard is minimalistic, not optimal for the sword connoisseur nor the novice. Not a big deal though; the guard would be very effective for strikes because of its blunt, square ends with little surface area. The hilt wrap is ribbed (my favorite grip form), soft & perfect for both single or double-handed use. The engraved pommel is circular & hard; quite capable of stunning or wounding one's foe. This sword is long & weighs merely about 3 pounds out of its scabbard but feels heavy; the point of balance is relatively far from the hilt indicating that a lot of steel went into the blade before it was fullered. Is this bad? Certainly not. But this is no novice's longsword; bulk up thine upper body in addition to sword practice. Low & intimidating sound when cutting through air. The scabbard is festive, adorned with numerous cords & strips. One can adjust these to simplify carrying the sword above the waist; a handy yet unnecessary bonus. The scabbard is great, the best I've used yet. The sword is not tight in the scabbard so it's easy to draw... be careful. Packaging was damaged & handling seemed desperately rushed. Delivery was 2 days late; not Ronin Katana's fault but during ordering I was required to pay for priority mail (it wasn't cheap). For an all-purpose longsword this is about the best you can get; go custom & you can get exactly what you want but prepared to pay much more. Of course, if you have the tools & know the techniques you can customize swords however you want or even forge your own.

A classic Type XIIa. I originally received the sword with a scabbard that was so tight it was extremely difficult to unsheathe the blade. Fortunately, after contacting RK about this issue and requesting an equal exchange, Chris assisted in sending me my new Euro 13. The scabbard was now fitted properly for the blade. However, I did also notice some other welcome details - the fuller and the blade itself had a straighter profile than the first blade. This was pleasing but makes me wonder about the consistency of the straight profiles for other Euros. Regardless, the package was more than satisfactory. The balance and weight of the sword are not Albion-level but are impressive and refreshing compared to lower priced models. It's lighter than one would think as well and not terribly difficult to wield one-handed. There was no secondary bevel and the edge was consistently sharp and even. It easily holds its edge and cutting power against the light backyard sessions I put it through (mostly water bottles and jugs). The scabbard is more than simply decent but it is the sword belt that adds a rather nice touch to the sword as the fitting is also a rather faithful interpretation of a 13th century scabbard and belt. In fact, I will be ordering a second one for another hand and a half sword - should RK allow one-off purchases like this. In any case, this is a definitive solid choice for any beginner collector seeking a classic 12th to 13th century hand and a half sword in a XIIa incarnation that won't break the bank as it remains within roughly entry-level price range. Sharp, surprisingly agile, with unstated elegance and with a rather nicely peened pommel evoking the cross of the Knights Templar as well.