Practical(?) Tai Chi Sword

by Ben
(Canada)

The Review of the Hanwei Practical Tai Chi sword perpetuates the misconceptions around Chinese swords that explains the sad quality of most reproductions. For more information on REAL Chinese Swords I suggest checking Great River Taoist Center and Seven Stars Trading.

As the owner of 4 antique jian and 6 antique sabers I do have some limited knowledge to evaluate the Hanwei sword.

1: sword measured to the man. This is myth arising out of modern 'performance' with a sword using flimsy lightweight weapons. With a real, combat worthy blade 32" is really heavy and places lots of torque on the wrist. I have on jian with a 31.5" blade and it weighs around 2.5-3 lbs. VERY heavy. Most average jian had lengths of 29" (measured from the junction between guard and handle) and many duan jian (short sword) of 24" or so existed too.

2. The hanwei sword is too thin, too light, too flimsy in the blade. Real jian blades flex a bit but are stiff enough to be able to cut/poke even an armored foe. I have an antique 28" jian that weighs about 1.75 lbs. That's light for a real jian.

3. Hilt construction of the Hanwei is poor. My loosened and I had to epoxy it. It loosened just with vigorous forms let alone cutting.

4. The hanwei tai Chi sword is not combat worthy and if you use one you're not really developing the techniques and energies our ancestors created in the art using real weapons.

5.No such thing as a 'Tai Chi' sword, just jian (straight sword) and Dao (sabers). Tai Chi was not a common art, not large enough to commission a special blade just for it.

6. If you want a good replica that is like the real thing and is affordable and cuts well check out Huanuo swords. Their monosteel swords are sharp, HRC around 50-55 and really tough. Good tight hilt constructions. Most of their jian are 30" in blade and weigh about 2 lbs.

7. You're better off saving and get a good sword. In my early days I bought a Kris Cutlery, Hanwei practical tai chi, numerous lung chuan garbage swords before finally just buying the good replica and antiques. Money wasted that all together would have paid for a good repro like Huanuo.

Specials thanks to Scott Rodell for our hours of chatting and his excellent seminars for this information I'm presenting. Talk to him directly at the two sites I listed and you'll get even more info.