Bamboo peg vs hollow copper rivet

I think it is designed this way so to attach the tassel

For traditional Chinese construction, the tubular rivet goes through the tang, AND the end of the tang goes through the pommel and is peened. Maybe 20-25% were just peened, with no rivet, judging by how common holes are in tangs of bare blades (most have them, but not all). Some swords have a hole through the grip and the tang, but no rivet; it's just a lanyard hole. These might be remounts. This is also common on the little 16" blade jian; many of these are decorative rather than functional. A few have a large hole for a tubular rivet, and a smaller hole for a solid pin. (Then there are swords with different constructions, like full-width tangs and grips slabs held on by lots of pins, etc.)

With good modern threaded construction, if you have a rivet, it goes through the tang, and there will be a large washer and nut at the end of the grip, then the pommel, and then a small nut to hold the pommel on. (Bad modern threaded construction is just the one tiny nut at the end, holding everything, not just the pommel. Not good!)

Unless the hollow copper rivet has very thin walls, it should be stronger than a bamboo pin. A bamboo pin will be more likely to break.

However, a bamboo pin is more flexible and will act as a shock absorber. You are more likely to get a cracked grip if your rivet/peg is stiffer. With Japanese tsuka, this matters more than with Chinese swords where the tang is peened (or at least goes through the pommel and is secured by a nut).

A copper should protect better against catastrophic failure, like having the tang break at the peen, or where it is threaded (for a modern style sword), or having the pommel crack at the peen. The rivet should stop the blade from parting company with the grip.

A bamboo pin will still provide some protection if such a thing was to happen, but not as much protection as a copper rivet.

A copper rivet is more likely to result in a cracked grip, and a bamboo pin less likely. "More likely" is still unlikely, and a properly fitted grip will make it quite Note that a cracked grip is not catastrophic - the grip should be held together by the pommel and ferrule, and by cord wrapping if present. Either a copper rivet or bamboo pin will help keep the blade from twisting in the cracked grip. A hollow copper rivet, especially if secured with a washer on each side as is common, will help hold the grip together even if cracked, and will not fall out because of loosening due to a cracked grip.

I'd vote for copper for structural integrity for a Chinese sword over bamboo, but I don't think the improvement is a big deal. Bamboo is certainly adequate, too. Huanuo uses both tubular rivets and bamboo pins; neither are noted for failing often.

I have the jade lion sword from Cold Steel and at first I was trying to get the sword apart but failed a few times, can't figure out how it works. Later I found out that using a vice grip will work to unscrew that nut cap off, so I did it and took the pommel off. Tthen unscrew that nut and washer too, but I don't know about the peg in the tang, so I kept trying to hammer the handle off and failed... so I gave up..

Well what the hell is wrong? I don't know! But after a week later, I found out a peg in the tang!!! ARGH!!!! dang, that thing is VERY STRONG because it didn't break even I was using a rubber hammer to work the handle out... glad I didn't break anything!

Proven that the bamboo peg is not weak, it can even withstand the hammer's tapping and still hold strong.

I guess it also have to do with how strong and how fit your bamboo peg is... if the bamboo peg is fitted perfectly, then it is for sure stronger than one that is fitted unevenly.

That's my experience!