It seems likely to break relatively easily with a bad swing. Also very late for a mace type of weapon, would the Qing dynasty have had much of a use for a weapon like this? I don't think any of their foes or peasant rebels wore much armour. Maybe that's the point and it's non-lethal, used for suppression?
Maybe it's a practice/training weapon? Teaches you how to swing a sword more effectively or something?