Solid and fearsome I have owned my example since 2009, and it has been one of my very favorite blades. It has a distal taper, and is ruggedly constructed. This is also probably the longest bladed saber out there. It flexes when it needs to without being whippy. This sword is an excellent cutter that combines brute force with the finesse of the saber’s design. The downside: my only complaint is that this is a rather blade heavy sword, and is probably a tad heavy for a weapon of this type, though not to a degree that would make it unusable in combat. I would say that it is not a beginner’s weapon. You have to train for it. This is typical of the M1840 heavy cavalry saber design that this piece is actually based upon despite what Cold Steel names it. I would go so far as to say that in terms of balance and weight, the Cold Steel version is vastly superior to the 6 lb. monstrosities that the U.S. Dragoon used during the American Mexican War period. If you train for this weapon a bit, you will be rewarded for the effort.