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Pros: Materials, Sheath/Scabbard, Handle Material, Blade Material, Finish, Overall Quality, Usable
Cons: None
Actually rather glad its got synthetics
ok so I love swords like this, but as functional as something like this is, its usually jsut giving mention to the nature of the blade and not the practicality of the fittings or the sheath. I know wooden sheaths have been around since someone needed a hard sheath in the days of yore, but back then there were also people who specialized in repairing things like that, not many of em today. The handle and sheath on this however, are pretty durable fiber glass, and honestly I feel much safer using this as a knock around sword of sorts for whatever reason. I'm surprised more "practical" functional weapons don't use more synthetics in the harder to replace parts like the sheath.Little side note, its sharp, but not exactly sharpened, if that makes any sense. the nature of the blade is such that it is very thin, and a lot of the sharpness comes not from intensely grounded edge but rather the weight and thinness from the top. Tai Chi straight swords of more modern make are thinner than their traditional Jian counterparts, more inclined to making light fast cuts with the side and delivering the true blows with thrusts, so even though this is a functional sword, this was never a blade designed to go chopping a tree in half. Not that this can't cope with being knocked around hard, it totally can, its just that a lighter blade like this wasn't made to chop but rather to be agile and precise.Wonderful sword, may buy another for a friend, or even look into their two handed jian of a similar style (with the fiberglass and metal fittings).
