Everyone that wants to actually use a sword hands-on will need to purchase one of the many good practice swords that are out on the market. A practice sword is not always easy to recognize just from a picture on a website and so it is important to read the description and know exactly what features to look for so that you really do get the right bladed weapon for the purpose. Purchasing the wrong sword to practice with will only result in the weapon breaking shortly thereafter, which is just a waste of time and money spent.
The best way to tell if a sword is suitable for practicing with is to read the description and keep an eye out for words such as “fully functional” and “battle ready”. A fully functional or battle ready sword has a blade made of special materials that make it flexible enough to be resilient to breaking when it hits another object or is hit, whether it be another weapon or a target like a rice mat or bamboo stick. The blade of a practice sword is made using one of the many claying methods and is a combination of different strength high carbon steels. Any sword with a stainless steel blade is not a practice sword, as it will quickly break.
Once you have determined which swords are suitable to be practice swords, then it is necessary to further specify exactly what it is you are looking for. Features to keep in mind include whether you want a one or two handed sword, what handle wrapping material you prefer, the overall length of the sword and the total weight. Not choosing the right practice sword can result in bodily injury and therefore it is best to start off on the safe side and purchase a lightweight, shorter sword if you are unsure of you capabilities.
It is not hard to find a good practice sword since there are many online stores that specialize in selling bladed weapons. There are also many good brands on the market from companies that produce high quality, handmade and balanced swords which are fully functional, such as Hanwei.
