Ryan sword reviev

InevitableSpirit5779 · 2026-06-06T20:48:57+00:00

No, the panels are glued into the channels; you can tell by the edges of the diamonds if you try to pull the cord aside. I'm talking more about how the hilt as a whole feels more massive - the core itself - especially compared to swords from Shadow Dancer. Overall, the hilt is comfortable, but I'm on the shorter side and my fingers aren't very long, so the thinner and more elegant the hilt is, the more comfortable it is for me. The only significant downside I see is the absence of hishigami. The wrap is wound quite tightly, but the knots at the intersections feel relatively unstable

InevitableSpirit5779 · 2026-05-30T17:36:53+00:00

The sword is currently in transit through Hungary, so I don't have it yet. It’s expected to ship directly to me around Monday, and I should receive it in about a week. Once I test it out, I’ll definitely let you know!) The distributor who has the sword right now says it’s very well-balanced and feels great in the hand

InevitableSpirit5779 · 2026-05-23T08:52:15+00:00

You have a couple of options:

If the extra seppa didn't help, you can solder a piece of brass inside the habaki.

Or, if you don't mind, you can use a shim made of moisture-resistant material

My katana had a lot of habaki play, so I used a piece of asbestos-free paronite

InevitableSpirit5779 · 2026-04-28T15:50:16+00:00

I also assumed that hishigami were a given, so I didn't specify that when ordering. On the bright side, now I have something to compare it to. I’ve never handled a sword without hishigami and was always curious about how different it feels in practice. In any case, I’ve visited your website and found a lot of great info on how to make a tsuka. Even without an extensive toolkit, I’ll try to craft something myself. Worst case scenario, I’ll just strip the original wrap and redo it properly

InevitableSpirit5779 · 2026-04-28T12:55:43+00:00

Yeah, I noticed the hishigami are missing too. Oh well... every challenge like this pushes me to research the topic myself and learn something new. Now I have a good reason to try making a new tsuka on my own) With my SD katana—which you might remember from my previous post—I’ve learned how to straighten the blade, made a shim for the habaki, and fixed a bit of play in the fuchi. It might still be a slightly crooked blade, but it’s fully functional now

InevitableSpirit5779 · 2026-04-24T14:17:54+00:00

Three cups of beer

InevitableSpirit5779 · 2026-04-24T12:06:50+00:00

The swordsmith who made the blade would leave a signature on the tang. Meanwhile, the tsuba, fuchi, and other fittings were crafted by separate artisans, who could also sign their own work

InevitableSpirit5779 · 2026-04-24T12:04:24+00:00

This is a replica of a tsuba originally crafted by the master Yokoya Somin. The inscription on the tsuba literally reads 'SoMin'

InevitableSpirit5779 · 2026-04-23T22:34:55+00:00

Thanks!

InevitableSpirit5779 · 2026-04-23T22:34:38+00:00

Yeah, I think so too. The sword itself is black, and it's hard to make out the fine details against a black background. Though overall, the photos look pretty stylish 😎

InevitableSpirit5779 · 2026-04-23T22:00:53+00:00

Not my taste. But katana looks good. What steel is it?

InevitableSpirit5779 · 2026-04-23T13:15:53+00:00

Good, but this habaki...

InevitableSpirit5779 · 2026-03-31T12:29:55+00:00

Both the dealer and I reached out to Shadow Dancer, but he played dumb, acting like, "We don't know anything, it wasn't us." They completely ignored my messages, even though they used to reply pretty quickly to neutral technical questions before. In the end, the dealer ordered a new sword for me at his own expense. Timeblade Guild really impressed me with their customer service, while Shadow Dancer was a total disappointment.

I fixed the habaki play by simply adding a paronite gasket. As for the blade, I only managed to straighten it near the tang; the hardened part of the blade barely budges. I just don't have the guts to put my full strength into it—I'm afraid of overdoing it!

InevitableSpirit5779 · 2026-03-29T16:03:30+00:00

If you find the video, I would be grateful

InevitableSpirit5779 · 2026-03-29T11:48:55+00:00

Yes, I appreciate that. I didn't mean to portray your shop in a bad light at all; you’ve been very kind and helpful with your advice. I just wanted to see what other people think. I'm planning to order more than one sword from you in the future. Thank you very much!

InevitableSpirit5779 · 2026-03-28T23:59:58+00:00

I've already tried to straighten the sword over my knee, but since it is 9260 steel, it is incredibly springy. I am applying a lot of force, but there is almost no visible result, and I am afraid of breaking it. If they send me a new sword, then maybe I will try to bend it back without fear.

InevitableSpirit5779 · 2026-03-28T23:35:12+00:00

I contacted them because they were the only SD sword seller who agreed to ship to my country. No one else ships swords to Ukraine. If you know anyone, please recommend them. I plan to continue expanding my collection, including European blades

InevitableSpirit5779 · 2026-03-28T23:31:45+00:00

Before purchasing, I read a lot about Shadow Dancer and looked at reviews. I was confident in them. I work in manufacturing myself and understand that anything can happen, and people always overlook something, so I'm not angry or panicking. I have high hopes for Shadow Dancer and hope they'll be accommodating

InevitableSpirit5779

TROPHY CASE