Which Dadao?

As of what I know, I think the CS version is built extremely thick for heavy duty chopping of bamboo and whatnot. I've read in reviews that the CS dadao's edge comes far too thick for cutting light targets like bottles. The Kris cutlery one is too short IMO, and from CS rep in the sword community, their swords handle like a "sharpened crowbar". Though they are extremely tough and durable blades, CS tends to make their blades much thicker in order to achieve this goal. Consequently, they tend to be heavier than their historical counterparts (or other reproduction blades for that matter)

I'd get the Hanwei Military dadao. From the reviews, the blades comes semi-sharp.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2048&hilit=military+dadao
as you can see in the video in that review, the Hanwei dadao doesn't give clean cuts, but a strong diagonal chop at a steep angle will do the trick. Notice that with good edge alignment, one can get a very good cut, as seen by Greg's last cut in that vid. Meanwhile, with the CS dadao, you'd have no chance of cutting a bottle (exploding it, maybe....)

So yeah, I'd go for the Hanwei because it's cheaper, it has a sharper edge, can take on both light and heavy targets, will probably handle better, is probably more historically accurate, and it comes with a pretty epic poster. Sure, it may not be as durable as the CS version, but the only kind of abuse that'd severely damage something as thick as the Hanwei dadao would be smashing it into concrete and/or trying to cut a tree down (actually, I'm pretty sure it could, but it would dull the edge). And if you want something that can cut wood, get an axe or machete.

IMO, the Kris cutlery one is too short and the CS is overbuilt and overpriced.

I have not used the Cold Steel Dadao, thought about buying one but it seems like for almost every person who picks one up and finds it well built somebody else finds poor/lose handel. I own both the Hanwei Militaryn Dadao and a Kris Cutlery Dadao. I like the Hanwei, it was dull when bought but after sharpening it cuts well and from some reviews here on SBG I feel it is very solid. I love the Kris Cutlery Dadao! I hear kris Cutlery is going to discontinue it and am thinking of picking up a second while I still can. The Kris Cutlery Dadao is a little shorter than the other two but when I am holding it, there is no mistaking its all sword and not to my mind knife like. The blade is flat ground with no secondary edge. A few lite strokes on a golden edge maker knife sharpener and its back to shaving sharp. It has a hardened edge and really takes/holds a sharp edge. I find it very fast and cuts mats like a sword should.

Zombie Tools, while great, are more tactical weaponry so I wouldn't recommend them to someone who does appear to be looking for a historically based weapon. They are great, but i've not seen much concern with traditional or historical precedents.

That said, I have no experience with any of the above asked brands/sword type, but what i've seen on the board does seem to indicate you will be happier with the hanwei over the CS

I have the regular Hanwei Dadao, not the military one, and when I was deciding which dadao to buy, I looked at this one and the CS dadao. I found the CS version's blade was very thick and the sword itself was quite heavy, and a bit smaller and more compact than the Hanwei, to me the CS dadao didn't handle as well. I think the Hanwei Dadao is closer to the actiual historical version, and the CS one is an even heavier beefed up version made to chop through anything - with a loss in handling as a tradeoff.

ZombieTools makes really durable/tactical blades, but knowing them, that dadao probably costs over $400?

Whats to update? Its for sale...

Mine bent at the blade/tang junction today from just a moderately powerful downward chop with the upper 6" or so into my backyard. Dirt and grass -- nothing more. Whatever heat-treatment they gave it is crap. Unless that's typical of the model. Anyway, the condor one better work, because hanwei isn't getting my cash again.