Black Ronin Ninja Sword w/Shouldeer Harness Sheath

by United

Product Features

• 26 7/8" Overall
• 17 1/8" Overall
• Stainless Steel Blade With Black Finish
• Nylon Cord Wrapped Grip
• Nylon Sheath Included

Product Description

ATTRIBUTES Blade Length (inches): 17.25 Blade Material: 420 Stainless Black Carry System: Nylon Sheath w/Leg Strap Handle Material: 420 Black Overall Length (inches): 26.88

Product Details

• Item Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B00062BO52
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #53,536 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors)
  • #45 in Sports & Outdoors > Other Sports > Martial Arts > Weapons > Ninja Weapons

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sharp and handy, questionable steel, nice scabbard, February 2, 2006

By 

Scott Burright (Laramie, WY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Black Ronin Ninja Sword w/Shouldeer Harness Sheath (Misc.)

Revised 22 Feb 2007.

I was looking for a high-end machete when I ran across this little sword by United Cutlery (UC) in Cabela's catalog, where it is sold as a "slimline machete," not a "ninja sword."

It's ground from a single piece of 420 J2 stainless steel with nylon cord wrapped around the hilt. This choice of steel is questionable for any blade over 12 inches. If it is heat treated to a hardness adequate for edge retention, it tends to be brittle, resulting in chipping of the edge or even catastrophic failure. If it is not heat treated, it tends to be too soft to really hold a sharp edge.

Still, I have heard of this piece being put to hard use and have never heard of one breaking. It may be that it's just short enough to get away with using 420 stainless. I suppose it's all in the heat-treat, and without Rockwell testing, followed by torture testing, I'll never know what this thing can and can't do.

It's reasonably sharp out of the box and can be tuned up with a few swipes from a carbide V sharpener. The Tang stamp says "hand made," and the finish is very good. I've heard complaints about loose handle wraps, but I haven't had that problem despite handling the sword quite a bit.

But is it a machete or a "ninja sword?" Well, it sure isn't a machete. It really does resemble a short Japanese sword more than anything. Rather, it resembles a longer version of the Americanized "tanto"-style knives that have become so popular in the "tactical" market. Granted, I have heard of people going into the woods and clearing brush with this thing, but I think it would be tiring, and when it comes to swinging a sharp metal object, tiring equals dangerous.

If you want a brush-clearing tool for fifty bucks or less, there are many choices: the ubiquitous Ontario and Meyerco machetes, the Woodsman's Pal, the Crocodile Knives no. 227, various machetes and field knives from Condor, and a pile of inexpensive offerings from Cold Steel, to name a few. Then there are dedicated gardening tools like ditch banks and weed knives. There's no reason to clear brush with an Americanized Japanese short sword unless you really want to.

As a sword, however, it handles nicely. It's solid and lively in the hand, nimble for thrusting, cutting, and chopping. I've made a mess of many cardboard boxes with it. Again, I don't know how it would hold up if bashed repeatedly into masonry or body armor, but otherwise, it makes for an expedient weapon in close quarters. So a short sword is what it is.

The sword clicks positively into the included Kydex scabbard, which is light and flat and allows for several different modes of carry. I wish I could find a machete at this price that came with such a nice sheath.

I have numerous clubs, axes, knives, swords, and sword-like objects around the house, some of high quality and commensurate price, but it is this el cheapo sword that leans against the headboard of my bed, and it's the first thing my right hand will touch in an emergency. (I'd much rather grab the Paul Chen Practical Wakizashi, but that belongs to my wife.) That, I suppose, is testimony to its design and execution, which is just about as well suited to fighting in tight spaces as anything out there. The grip could fill the hand better, and along those lines, I'm thinking of wrapping the handle with some leather grip tape.

The remaining question is: Can a blade this size, made of stainless steel, both hold an edge and stay in one piece? Come spring, I'm taking this thing into the woods to find out.

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Elegant Simplicity in a Blade, November 27, 2005

By 

OAKSHAMAN "oakshaman" (Algoma, WI United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Black Ronin Ninja Sword w/Shouldeer Harness Sheath (Misc.)

_I have collected swords, both eastern and western, for over 30 years now, and I finally bought this model out of curiosity. It is far better in both quality and design than I expected. This is a good quality blade. The steel is a good, rigid, stainless variety that seems to hold its edge. You could chop through a fence pole with it and it would not fold up on you.

_While this is not a full-length katana, it is of a good useable length for use in tight quarters- it is also easily drawable from your back without hanging up on the sheath. The hilt is covered with wrapped nylon over plastic, and of course since the tang is one piece with the blade there is nothing to separate. I find the overall look to be clean and modern- not cheap. The flat black finish will not catch light. There is an elegant simplicity to this tool.

_The sheath is especially nice- it will mount on your back or your hip. It is of solid constuction and will not pierce or pull off the first time it snags on a branch or fence. Being nylon, it will not rot or rust- like the sword itself.

_There are some cheaper knock-offs of this blade on the market for even less, but you are much better off to stick with the proven quality of United Cutlery.

_A sword can be either a tool of ill-omen, or a spiritual symbol, depending on the inner development of its wielder....

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best value you'll ever get for this price., December 19, 2011

By 

Angel Eena - See all my reviews

This review is from: Black Ronin Ninja Sword w/Shouldeer Harness Sheath (Misc.)

I must say first that I am a collector of high grade weapons (CAS Hanwei knows me by name practically). I generally collect only the finest pieces. That being said, everyone needs an "everyday" blade that they don't have to worry about ruining.

I bought this blade from the Atlanta Cutlery in Conyers about 8 years ago. Since then it has remained in the trunk of every car I've owned. I have used it as a machete to cut through brush, a toy to slice up random trash, a weapon to kill snakes (striking violently against concrete in the process), and numerous other purposes. The blade is still sharp, the wrapped handle still in good condition, and the color still present.

The sheath is a durable plastic, and even with the probably thousands of times I've used it over the past 8 years, it STILL stays as secure in the sheath as it did day one (it's not locked but it easily prevents accidental openings while being carried or stored, even while running).

I purchased it for roughly $25 and for that price I believe I've found one of the best quality-for-price blades I've ever owned. For anyone wondering whether or not to get this, I say if you're looking for something to use, or to show off to those that don't know much about blades, GET IT! If you're looking for a true collection piece you should definitely pass, and know that you can't find collector swords for this price.

In summation, it fits nicely in the hand, is weighted well and is one hell of a workhorse.

P.S. It cuts watermelons up like a PRO!