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Blade Material
The biggest difference between real military swords and decorative swords is the material used to construct the blade. With the exception of ancient blades, which may be composed of other materials such as bronze or iron, military and combat-ready swords are made of well-tempered steel. Different quality iron and smelting processes have led to variations in both smithing techniques and blade styles, but steel was and still is universally used. Modern replicas and swords designed purely for decoration are made of stainless steel or other materials such as fiberglass, which results in a drastically weaker blade.
Balance
Stainless steel is very brittle and the blades constructed of the material are often made thicker to help compensate for this. The end result is that decorative swords have much heavier blades than authentic military swords. This skews the balance of the weapon making it more difficult to wield properly. The weight of a proper military sword may still be heavy but the weight is usually correctly balanced so the blade can be skillfully maneuvered with technique and extra power added to the strikes.
Tang
The tang is the part of the sword blade that extends down into the hilt. There are several different styles of tangs that are used by military swords but each style is crafted out of the same piece of steel as the rest of the blade. This helps the blade absorb energy by spreading it away from the structural weak point where the hilt meets the blade. Decorative swords are not designed to resist impact and have tangs that are too short or are comprised of two different pieces of metal welded together. Without a functional tang, the blade is very susceptible to breaking off at the hilt.
Hilt
The hilt in a decorative sword is designed almost entirely for aesthetics with little thought to durability or functionality. Decorative sword hilts are typically constructed of plastics or other cheaply produced materials. Military-ready hilts or hafts are made of strong metals or woods and are chiefly designed to provide a sure, durable grip. A decorative sword hilt may have a small amount of space around the blade, allowing it to move around inside the hilt and creating a rattle or ringing noise when the blade is tapped. Real military sword hilts are perfectly snug against the blade, making for a stronger and easier to handle weapon.