Most of the figures originally held real weapons, which would have increased their realism.
The majority of these weapons were looted shortly after the creation of the army or have rotted away.
 Despite this, over 40,000 bronze items of weaponry have been recovered, including swords, daggers, spears, lances, battle-axes, scimitars, shields, crossbows, and crossbow triggers.
Most of the recovered items are arrowheads, which are usually found in bundles of 100 units.
Studies of these arrowheads suggests that they were produced by self-sufficient, autonomous workshops using a process referred to as cellular production or Toyotism.
Some weapons were coated with a 10–15 micrometer layer of chromium dioxide before burial that was believed to have protected them from any form of decay for the last 2200 years.
However, research in 2019 indicated that the chromium was merely contamination from nearby lacquer, not a means of protecting the weapons.
The slightly alkaline pH and small particle size of the burial soil most likely preserved the weapons.

The swords contain an alloy of copper, tin, and other elements including nickel, magnesium, and cobalt.
Some carry inscriptions that date their manufacture to between 245 and 228 BCE, indicating that they were used before burial.
Most of the figures originally held real weapons, which would have increased their realism. The majority of these weapons were looted shortly after the creation of the army or have rotted away.  Despite this, over 40,000 bronze items of weaponry have been recovered, including swords, daggers, spears, lances, battle-axes, scimitars, shields, crossbows, and crossbow triggers. Most of the recovered items are arrowheads, which are usually found in bundles of 100 units. Studies of these arrowheads suggests that they were produced by self-sufficient, autonomous workshops using a process referred to as cellular production or Toyotism. Some weapons were coated with a 10–15 micrometer layer of chromium dioxide before burial that was believed to have protected them from any form of decay for the last 2200 years. However, research in 2019 indicated that the chromium was merely contamination from nearby lacquer, not a means of protecting the weapons. The slightly alkaline pH and small particle size of the burial soil most likely preserved the weapons.
The swords contain an alloy of copper, tin, and other elements including nickel, magnesium, and cobalt. Some carry inscriptions that date their manufacture to between 245 and 228 BCE, indicating that they were used before burial.
Terracotta Army