When I first received this sword, I immediately gave it the once over. I have had wooden practice swords before, and even crafted some myself, and I must say that this hardwood Tai Chi sword is much better than those which are crafted from two pieces. This one piece construction, along with excellent shaping and carving to represent the classic Tai Chi sword, makes this an excellent alternative to steel practice, and incredibly affordable. The weight is very decent, and carving of the pictographs and Yin-Yang, a nice touch.