Spartan-Ronin Five Rings Project¬—FIRE: The Heat of Battle

More than just another collaboration, the Spartan-Ronin Five Rings Project is a study of philosophy translated into steel. The collaboration between Spartan Blades and Tu Lam draws from the writings of Miyamoto Musashi in his The Book of Five Rings. The first element brought forth in the series is FIRE—pressure forward, control the rhythm, and commit to the moment. In the heat of battle, timing and momentum win the field.

The Spartan-Ronin Five Rings Project—FIRE

Like the Torii, the Spartan-Ronin Five Rings Project carries the quiet lineage of Green Beret experience and Okinawan influence. Using the Pandia as its canvas, the FIRE features artwork depicting a samurai armor-clad Tu Lam, standing on the battlefield. A rifle takes the place of his katana. On his back, the Ronin Tactics sashimono waves. The scene is set against a backdrop of fire and mountain, as two helicopters provide air support.

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The meticulous work is etched into the 6AL4V Titanium frame with a blue anodized finish. A combination of bronze anodizing and a Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) coating brings life to the mountains, flames, Tu’s armor, and sashimono. Likewise, a DLC coating on the water below frames the scene and alludes to another element of the Five Rings.

The obverse side of the frame is adorned with five rings, highlighted in bronze anodizing with a DLC coating. Appropriately interwoven in the top ring is the Japanese kanji for Fire, similarly anodized and coated. Engraved just above the frame lock sits the Ronin Tactics mon. Likewise, an engraved version of the Rōnin logo rides above the pivot.

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The monolithic titanium pocket clip, with familiar Spartan arrow, features a bronze anodized finish. Configured for right-hand, tip-up carry, it is reversible for left-hand, tip-up carry as well. A bronze-anodized cover plate fills in the pocket clip cavity on the opposite side, for a clean presentation. To complement the color palette, all hardware is also bronze anodized.

The bronze anodized pivot rounds out the theme with an engraving of a Japanese floral pattern, reminiscent of the Oda clan mon. Housed within is the well-known IKBS bearing system, which delivers the blade smoothly into lockup via the flipper design. Once it arrives, it is secured in place with the frame lock.

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The FIRE Canvas

The Pandia is available in a matte titanium finish with three hardware color options: titanium, blue anodized, and bronze anodized. Running the circumference of the frame is a stepped chamfer. On the base model, it is smoothed out, but still slightly noticeable. However, on the FIRE model, the steps are as bold as the artwork itself. I dig it.

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Aside from the frame shape and material, the blade is the only thing the FIRE and standard Pandia have in common. Constructed of CPM Magnacut, the blade features a high flat grind to enhance its slicing performance. The flat grind is met at the spine by a swedge that runs roughly ¾-inch of the blade. Sharpening is made easy, thanks to the generous sharpening choil.

Although listed as a spear point, I can’t help but see a drop point. But only because the tip doesn’t sit at the center of the blade at the ricasso. However, the upsweep of the spine after the thumb ramp technically does center the tip with the blade itself. It is an interesting shape that is open to interpretation.

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The Pandia in Hand

To be honest, for as long as I have used Spartan Blades’ knives, I have never had an issue. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to have some fun. Sure, I enjoy writing, but playing with new knives makes this job enjoyable (don’t play with knives, kids). Not to mention, the unique blade profile kind of intrigues me.

Something I tend to do with more robust EDC knives is cut an old bike tire. With this, I am checking for the feel of the knife in the chest-lever grip. First, I cut a length of tire in half, then I stacked the two halves and bisected both pieces. Like buttah.

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Although not quite as rewarding as whittling, reducing a cardboard box to a pile is equally satisfying. So, I spent the following twenty minutes “whittling” the box into splinters of its former self. The sweeping belly, combined with the keen factory edge, slipped right through the cardboard. As a result, the handle remained comfortable throughout the entire process.

Since the blade comes to a spear point, I had to test its penetration capabilities through a thick piece of leather, into a catalog. The tip penetrated the leather and into the catalog, just over a quarter inch in total. However, the tip felt a little high relative to my hand. So, while it is a spear point at the tip, it is more of a drop point in practice.

Finally, to test how the edge held up on the Magnacut blade after the cardboard test (which is very hard on an edge), I cut up a heavy-duty military gun belt, half-inch climbing rope, and sisal rope. No issues. The edge was still keen and easily sliced through everything. A testament to Magnacut and Spartan Blades’ heat treat.

The Spartan-Ronin Five Rings Project is Fire

This is more than a knife series. It is a story of an ancient brotherhood depicted in steel. Beginning with FIRE, Spartan Blades and Tu Lam are establishing the cadence and timing for this project. Specifically, expect the series to continue through 2026.

As with the special-edition Spartan-Harsey Folder series, the Spartan-Ronin Five Rings Project is visually stunning. Likewise, the Pandia is a seriously comfortable and functional knife. I have been carrying it for a few months, and it has performed many tasks before these tests. It has not been touched up at all, yet it just keeps performing. And it’s comfortable.

Full disclosure, I wasn’t sure how I felt about the Pandia when I first saw it. I was intrigued but not completely sold. The Five Rings Project is what caught my attention. And I’m glad it did. The Pandia has grown on me over these past few months, and I am now completely sold.

Spartan-Ronin Five Rings Project FIRE Specs

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