Chinese Swords: What to Know Before Buying

Summary: If you're in search for a quality chinese sword or weapon there are a few things you should know before you dish out the cash.

If you are looking for a sword worthy of battle you want to be sure and choose a blade that is made of high carbon steel or folded steel. What's wrong with a stainless steel blade you might ask? Stainless steel blades are nice if you're going to hang the sword on the wall. As a matter of fact, they're often called "wall hangers". Stainless steel blades simply are not made to stand up to the rigors of cutting and dojo exercises. Two very popular makers of blades that are battle ready are Paul Chen and Cold Steel. Cold steel, although and American Company has most of their oriental blades forged in China. They have done well in replicating the look and feel of a well made Chinese sword at a very affordable price. Cold steel has a great video that you can usually get for free that shows professionals putting Cold Steel blades to the test. You can never go wrong with a Cold Steel Chinese sword or weapon. However Paul Chen swords are quite a bit more popular in the United States and around the world. Most Paul Chen blades are forged with a technique called "differentially tempering", meaning that the top of the blade is actually stronger then the edge, which means that it's nearly impossible to break the blade when you're really putting it to the test. You'll probably pay a bit more for a Paul Chen sword than a Cold Steel but most people are happy to and believe it's well worth the extra cost. Another popular brand of swords is United Cutlery, which are mostly for show or hanging on your wall. United swords are usually much less expensive but are very nice for above the mantle or a great decorative piece for a study or office. Probably one of the most popular Chinese swords that everybody wants to get there hands on right now is the Chinese Saber which was used by cavalrymen and foot soldiers in the rush of battle. Whether you're looking for a battle ready sword like the Paul Chen Zatoich Sword or one just to hang on the wall for decoration, you can be sure that it will add beauty and appeal to any room in your home or office.