What steel grades are used in Chinese training swords?
Updated Feb 2026
Chinese training swords in this collection use high-carbon steel grades appropriate to both display quality and the demands of active handling. Manganese Steel is the primary grade: its exceptional surface hardness and consistent finish quality make it well suited to the clean geometric profiles of Chinese jian and dao forms, and its hardness provides the structural integrity appropriate to active use. 1095 carbon steel is used in premium pieces with its high carbon content of approximately 0.95% providing significant blade hardness and surface quality. Damascus steel training swords are available in both jian and dao forms, combining fold-forged layered patterning with the Chinese blade profiles. Full-tang construction is standard across all grades, with the blade steel running from tip through the complete handle body. All grades are high-carbon rather than stainless, confirming proper heat treatment appropriate to a serious collectible rather than a display-only decorative piece.