If you are speaking of Chinese swords, then you are referring to a wide range and variety of swords. This is not just because China is a large country, but also because it has a long history and many different groups have developed their own kinds of swords and throughout history these have changed dramatically. There are also different kinds of Chinese swords that have their origins in the various martial arts disciplines that have been practiced for a long time throughout the country.
Each of the Chinese Dynasties had their own styles of swords and also used different claying methods for the blades. The swords forged today, however, are usually very high quality pieces and if you want to be sure of getting a good weapon it is best to stick with the well known brands with good reputations, such as Hanwei from Paul Chen or Cold Steel. Regardless of whether you intend on using the sword or not, the well made Chinese swords are worth the money because they will look authentic, have better, non rusting decorations, well wrapped handles and true to form hand guards and pommels.
Since there are so many kinds of swords that have come from China, you can collect them all and put them on display or build a collection based on a certain dynasty or type of sword. Some of the most common Chinese swords include butterfly swords which are dual swords, war swords that are similar to sabers or broadswords and katana for martial artists. There are also many unusual kinds of Chinese swords that will make great eye-catching pieces for any collection or even great weapons to practice with to learn something new. Such weapons include the hook sword, the nandao which is a larger and heavier version of the butterfly swords and jian which is a very long sword with a double edged blade.
For those that want a particular Chinese sword there are also many replicas of historical weapons that can be purchased. In order to get an idea of what is available it is highly recommended to go to a few websites and look specifically for Chinese swords. This way you can compare and see all the types of Chinese swords that are being made.
