Summary: For the price, I was blown away by the quality of this Tai Chi Practice sword for the price. If you are considering a wooden practice sword for doing the forms for non-combative purposes, you might want to consider this one instead. It is a fraction of the cost of well-crafted and official Tai Chi swords, but still has a good overall quality and feel, making it a great beginner sword for practicing forms. It can also double as a nice decoration. Although I am not an expert on martial combat or swordsmanship, it is NOT a battle-ready sword (explained next-to last paragraph below).
Full Review:
I read this was probably the best beginner Tai Chi practice sword on the market for the price, and was skeptical until I received it. WOW! Considering well-crafted Tai Chi swords can be several times more of an investment for a better quality, this sword at least gets you close to that feel. The scabbard itself also looks and feels great - although maybe little too light/delicate at times. Even the yellow tassel also feels of good quality. I have used cheaper collapsible Tai Chi swords with some basic and lower quality tassel threads, so this is a welcomed change. After making the change from the collapsible swords, it is a good feeling having a sword with actual weight and balance to it.
Now to give picky criticism. There are light seams on the edges of the cast metal where they were melted together but barely noticeable except with visually scrutiny or with focused touch. The scabbard-etched-dragons on mine were asymmetrically in comparison to one another (being on opposite sides, this is a difficult detail to notice). The tiny words "CHINA" are stamped on the visible portion some inches from the seat of the blade (I find this hardest to forgive - but glad I can only barely notice it). Now, these are minor details that would take some scrutiny to find up close. But still, good swords are hard to find at this price, and the detail and quality excelled above my average expectations given the cost.
The sword tip has more spring/flair than my fellow practitioners' blades of another manufacture. Some may not like this characterized flair (especially if they are used to a firmer tip), but this seems more a matter of preference. I am guessing it also makes it a little harder to impale drywall by accident, but have no experience in this area.
As a final note, although I am inexperienced on the finer details of how this sword can or cannot be used in martial arts, I can say with certainty this one is NOT battle-ready. There is no edge, and the tip generally flairs and gives way to pressure. Although I have not dissembled my own while making this assumption, the stylized nut on the end may imply this is a half or full "rat tail" style tang. You can use it for Tai Chi sword forms or as a nice "wall-hanger" without problem, but if you are looking for something more durable or combat-ready, you should probably look elsewhere.
If I could do it all over, I would definitely buy this sword again. I am still keeping it in mind as a potential gift idea...just in case.
| Brand | MASTER USA |
|---|---|
| Blade Length | 38.5 Inches |
| Handle Material | Metal |
| Blade Material | Stainless Steel |
| Style | Modern |
| Item Weight | 2 Pounds |
| Hand Orientation | Right |
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 41 x 4.5 x 2.25 inches |
| Package Weight | 1.16 Kilograms |
| Brand Name | MASTER USA |
| Country of Origin | China |
| Model Name | JS-106-MC |
| Color | Silver, Gold, Yellow, Black |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Manufacturer | Master Cutlery LLC |
| Part Number | JS-106-MC |
| Included Components | see description |
| Size | 38.5-Inch Overall |
