Chinese Broadsword of RCSandMore
Updates
UPDATE
(02/18/2022):
Doing some clean-up, I learned that an outgoing link in this post was being re-directed. Wow! The “Yahoo! Small Business” was sold to Verizon. So I removed the link.
(12/15/2020):
Just doing a clean-up, I found even the Better Business Bureau complaint listing for RCSandMore is completely gone!
(02/05/2014):
While re-designing the site, I ran a broken links check and found that RCS and More’s website ultimately disappeared; it no longer exists…It seems I was not the only one to have an issue with them.
Searching for a Chinese martial arts weapon, bearing specifics in mind, is difficult enough; performing this search online is like tip-toeing through a minefield. And I made a gross misstep.
I Needed a Chinese Broadsword
Our current Kung Fu students studying Northern Shaolin at PATHS Atlanta Kung Fu have trained and progressed nicely. Recently I realized that we’d have martial artists swinging various traditional Chinese weapons around and that I had better freshen up my skills.
Chinese broadsword forms take up a lot of space – regardless of the Kung Fu style practiced and even the type of Chinese Dao. The Dao is a traditional Chinese saber, also often called a broadsword, due to the wide blades; imagine a broad kitchen knife or butcher blade.
The broadsword, more accurately known as the “Ox-Tailed Sword/Saber,” or Niu Wei Dao (牛尾刀), and in some circles known as the “Willow Leaf Sword/Saber” or Liu Ye Dao (柳葉刀), is often mistakenly called the Da Dao (大刀), or big knife or saber. The reasons for this are easy to guess but are outside of the scope of this review.Â
Kung Fu Students Ready for Broadsword
In our Northern Shaolin curriculum, the students’ first encounter with weaponry is the Chinese broadsword, and yet oddly enough, it is via the form named “Pek Kwar Da Dao.” Pi Gua is also the name of another traditional Chinese Martial Art style, 劈挂掌 Pigua Zhang.
Throughout the years, I have bought and owned a great many 兵器 Bīng Qì Chinese weapons, and have spent a fair chunk of change on them as well. Unfortunately, all of these are now gone; some weapons have been stolen, and others were lost.
But I still need to practice the moves and techniques, the form and the feel of that beloved piece of gear for martial arts training: the Dao, the Da Dao, the Niu Wei Dao – whatever – I just needed a Chinese broadsword. If you’re curious about the Chinese terminology, you might be interested in our selection of Learn Mandarin Podcasts. While you’re at it, maybe Chinese History or other types of Podcasts might be some fun too!
Well. That. And some other goodies 😛
MMy requirements were simple: the shape and size roughly generic, the material not flimsy, as most contemporary wushu, and yet not sharpened nor not wooden, and priced relatively cheap.
I was seeking a solid Aluminum Chinese broadsword.Â
Searching Chinese Martial Arts Weapons & Reviews
During cursory and then more detailed searches online, I found that most of the Chinese broadswords available were of the contemporary wushu variety: chrome-plated spring steel or fancy pieces well out of the range I was willing to spend. And I sure wasn’t looking for Battle-ready gear.
After more searching, I began to come across very few listings that fit my requirements, with most of them sold via online versions of “Mom and Pop” shops. The website designs are usually close to horrible and definitely outdated, and often the products being sold fall into no niche category. Instead selling almost anything and everything they can – drop-shipping, etc.
As someone in the Online Marketing and SEO (Search Engine Optimization) industry, you can imagine that these sites make Sifu Craig Kiessling cringe a bit, but sometimes these can be great experiences since a friendly, home-grown feeling of good personalized customer service.
But at the same time, they could also ultimately be a fly-by-night organization with quick set-up scams. And no or low-quality Chinese Broadswords.
Instead of researching this one particular company, I fell for it. And oh boy, did it hurt!
Customer Service is Key
The company in question, RC’s and More, seemed to be an online mom-and-pop shop operating through Yahoo! Small Business. I ordered their advertised broadsword and began to wait the 7 – 14 days RC’s said it would take. I noticed that the financial transaction went through without delay, so I was hopeful.
On the 21st day of no delivery, I dialed the number to talk to Customer Service at RC’s and More. What I got was their voicemail that said “You have reached our Online Store. Our hours are blah-blah-blah…Leave a message”.
Well, I did leave a message.
No call-back. Then there were the emails I sent. And of course, more calls.
It boils down to this: They took my money, sent me no product, and gave me no communication.
Nada. Zip. Zilch. No Dice. Nothing
Even after investigation and complaints to the Better Business Bureau – nothing. Why? They couldn’t find them or get in touch with them either!
My Advice? All in all, stay the hell away from these Rip-Off Artists!
I worked with my bank to get the charges reversed. Searching again, with a much more wary eye, for A Chinese Broadsword.
If this was interesting and you’d like another, more positive experience review, check out this other Chinese Broadsword review, Deluxe Chinese Broadsword of AWMA. Or, if you want to see a few glowing reviews from our Kung Fu students, check out What Our Students Say.