Great sword to get your foot in the door and learn. the sword does warp towards one side so i am constanly bending it back the other way to make it straight, just a slight inconviece. i have accidently smacked myself countless of times so it was a good idea to go with this dense placstic sword first.

Well, they're nice-looking, but cheaply made. These are "wushu-style"; when I practice even lightly with these swords, the blade flops around. Don't even think about sparring with this thing. I woudn't recommend it for much except maybe... tai chi?

This item is not good for anything other then a child's toy or cos-play with a costume. If you are looking for something you can use for training this is NOT it.

I've had one of these, an earlier version, for the past 2 years. Great sword and can easily withstand faster sword forms like Sen Cye Sword. I use it now for my practice and was even allowed to use in in one seniors competition and no one could tell the difference until they looked closely. The reason mine looked so real is that I went to the store and got some brass and silver metallic silver spray paint and painted it up nicely. Paint adheres well unless you want to do some sword fighting, then you have to repaint a bit. Sword looks real with the paint job and has nice detailing. It has the weight of a light sword and handles well. Takes a little getting used to at first if all you are using is a wooden sword. Balance is good. The thing I really like about this is you don't have to worry if someone steals it due to its low cost and there is no worry about using it in the rain, rust, or it falling apart (as it consists of only two parts the guard that slides over the sword blade and handle and snugs in place). Only complaint is that if you leave it leaning on the wall the blade gets a bit curved and you have to bend it back the other way a little to straighten it out, not a real problem. Blade is thick enough to withstand mock sword drills with another person having a wooden or polypropylene sword. Great buy if you are starting out. I don't use my wood sword any more since I started using this one for form practice. If I needed another practice sword this in my opinion is the way to go instead of a wooden sword.

This sword is affordable, fun, and pretty cool looking. The POB is about 4 inches from the guard. I'm glad I purchased it, but note that the blade is warped and will probably continue to warp over time. You could probably bake the sword and clamp it straight as it cools if the warping ever gets too bad. If you are looking to purchase practice weapons for a studio these are acceptable, affordable, and kids will love the style. Wood swords are certainly better but anything worth your time will cost you more.