What are the 3 types of Katana?

There are a few distinct types of Katana, Shinogi-Zukuri, Shobu-Zukuri, and Kissaki-Moroha-Zukuri. The difference between these broad categories of Katana are the type of blade used. Each of these blades is used for different purposes.

What is a small blade called?

The paring knife has a short blade, typically between 2 ½ and 4 inches long, and an edge that looks like a smaller, plainer version of a chef’s knife.

Is a tanto a katana?

The Samurai mainly used a sword known as the Katana in battle. Moreover, it was also a useful sidearm, especially when a Samurai was disarmed or had his katana broken during battle. Tanto. On the other hand, the Tanto is a relatively long dagger and is about 1/3 of a typical Katana length.

What are the different sizes of katanas?

Here is a list of lengths for different types of blades:

• Nodachi, Ōdachi, Jin tachi: 90.9 cm and over (more than three shaku)
• Tachi, Katana: over 60.6 cm (more than two shaku)
• Wakizashi: between 30.3 and 60.6 cm (between one and two shaku)
• Tantō, Aikuchi: under 30.3 cm (under one shaku)

What is a medium sized katana called?

Wakizashi close to the length of a katana are called ō-wakizashi and wakizashi closer to tantō length are called ko-wakizashi. Wakizashi are not necessarily just a smaller version of the katana; they could be forged differently and have a different cross section.

What is a straight katana called?

ninjatō
The ninjatō is typically depicted as being a short sword, often portrayed as having a straight blade (similar to that of a shikomizue) with a square guard. Usually of a length “less than 60 cm”, the rest of the sword is comparatively “thick, heavy and straight”.

What sword is used for seppuku?

tantō
The main weapon used was the samurai’s knife called tantō or the short sword, called wakizashi. A samurai who wants to commit seppuku would take the weapon, open his kimono and stab the blade into his belly. He would make a deep cut from Right to left.

What is a kodachi sword?

A kodachi (小太刀, こだち), literally translating into “small or short tachi (sword)”, is one of the traditionally made Japanese swords (nihontō) used by the samurai class of feudal Japan. Kodachi are mounted in tachi style, but with a length of less than 60 cm.

What is a wide katana called?

Tachi (太刀, “long sword”): A sword that is generally longer and more curved than the later katana, with curvature often centered from the middle or towards the tang, and often including the tang. Tachi were worn suspended, with the edge downward. The tachi was in vogue before the 15th century.

What is a short Japanese sword called?

A tantō (短刀, “short sword”) is one of the traditionally made Japanese swords (nihonto) that were worn by the samurai class of feudal Japan. The tantō dates to the Heian period, when it was mainly used as a weapon but evolved in design over the years to become more ornate.

What is a short katana called?

Wakizashi 脇差 (Japanese short sword) The Japanese short sword is called a Wakizashi 脇差 or Kodachi 小太刀. These swords are used with one hand and were often worn as a companion sword with a katana 刀 (Japanese long sword). A matched set of katana and wakizashi are called a daisho.

What is a short katana?

“Ko Katana” basically means “Short Sword”. The Ko Katana or Chisa Katana is shorter than a standard Katana but longer than a Wakizashi. O Katana basically means large sword, and true to the Name, O Katana are longer than standard Katana. In this section you will also find the Japanese great swords.

What is a small Japanese sword called?

Wakizashi Sword. The wakizashi (name meaning is “side insertion”) is a traditional Japanese sword with a shōtō blade between 30 and 60 centimetres (12 and 24 in), with an average of 50 cm (20 in). It is similar to but shorter than a katana, and usually shorter than the kodachi (“small sword”).