Chinese War Sword

First impressions: This sword is a BEAST! For the money (only $100) you get a AWESOME sword. As I looked it over I started thinking that if I were armed with a Katana and my opponent pulled this bad boy out, the "Oh brother" factor would arise in the back of my mind. The pros: The blade on this sword is flawless. Not a single mark or chip to speak of. The wrap is tight and stays in place whether you do a fast or strong attack. The pommel (like the Pudao) is firmly in place and can split ones head with the greatest of ease. The "S" shaped tsuba makes for a great trapping mechanism should one block with the spine of the blade. The cons: The sword is BLADE HEAVY. So 2 hands are a MUST with this weapon despite the fact that most Chinese weapons cater to the users fluid movements. In other words, no fancy katas with this sword. The scabbard is made of a flimsy leather material and has to be snapped in order to fully sheath the blade. Thus, quick draws are non-existent with this weapon. The blade could be sharper, however the shear weight of this sword (4 lbs) would cut threw cutting mats (or an opponent) with very little effort. Overall this is a great sword for the price.