I thought this was a pretty good sword for the price, but there are just a couple of things that might turn away a buyer.Pros:- It is carbon steel indeed. Because of this, the blade can be used as a semi-functional weapon, but I'll get into that later.- It disassembles like a dream. If you want to practice sword care, this is the sword to buy. It shows you how all of the different parts fit together the same way you will find in higher quality weapons.- It is very nice to look at. Great decoration or dress sword- Isn't too cumbersome to wield and swing around. The fittings are super tight and can always be adjusted by tightening the pommel nut.Cons:- The sword does have a full tang, I'll give it that; however, not only is it a rat tail tang, but the blade is still welded to the rat tail pretty sloppily. Any heavy use of the sword may cause it to snap, but so far it is surprisingly sturdy.- It is not sharp at all. I did not find this much of a problem because I can put a descent edge on anything, but for any new buyers who cannot, I would not expect to use this as a functional weapon.- The handle leather and the scabbard leather are completely different. It is more of an aesthetic thing, but it is worth mentioning.- It has no distal taper, but the sword is so small, it is almost not noticeable.As a final evaluation, it is a perfect beginner sword. Disassembles easily and accurately, doesn't come with and edge, and feels like a sword. If you have a new interest in HEMA or WMA or your relative does, this would be absolutely perfect. It does, however, under perform compared to its cheap oriental weapon counterparts on Amazon.