Types of Japanese Swords

Swords Denoted by Length

• The tachi is a curved sword that usually measures more than 2 shaku (or feet) in length. Historically, they were worn suspended from two cords with the edge facing down.

  Perhaps the most well-known sword of Japan, the katana is similar in length to the Tachi, but not as curved. It is worn on the belt with the edge facing upwards.

  The wakizashi is a smaller, one-handed sword that is one to two feet long. It was often paired and wielded together with a katana as an auxilliary or off-hand sword for samurai on the battlefield. It was also used by commoners, who were prohibited by law from owning weapons measuring any longer Like the katana, it is also worn with the edge facing upwards.

  The tanto is an even smaller sword, measuring less than a foot in length. The shape, blade cross-section, and curve can vary greatly from one tanto blade to another. Some feature a tsubo, or hand guard. They are usually hira-zukuri, meaning they have no ridge line. They were known to be used by merchants and women for personal defense.

Types of Mountings

• Ken-type mountings are used in the oldest swords in the Japanese tradition. They have long, straight, blades either with one or (more often) two edges.

  Longer swords from what historians refer to as the Old Sword period mounted with two rings on the scabbard are called Jindachi-zukuri mountings. They were typically four to five feet in length, and were made to be worn suspended from the hip by cords.

  Buke-zukuri are a class of swords from the New Period that had no rings on the scabbard, but were instead inserted beneath the swordsman's sash. Swords using this mounting measured from 42 to 54 inches. The handles are bound with narrow tape or leather thongs, and feature utility pockets near the mouth of the scabbard in which soldiers carried knives or eating utensils.

Military (Gunto) Swords

• Kyu-gunto-mounted swords, or proto-army swords, are housed in a chrome-plated scabbard, with a handle wrapped in shark skin, then bound with golden wire.

  The mountings of shin-gunto (neo-army swords) resemble the jindachi-zukuri, with the key differences being the brownish coloring and leather covering of the scabbard. The handles, like the buke-zukuri, are bound with cord or leather, but also feature ornaments and designs on the pommels.

  The kai-gunto are a family of swords encompassing three different types of swords used by naval officers. The first is a shorter weapon measuring approximately 15 inches in length. The second is a longer weapon that is mounted with two rings like the jindachi-zukuri, but has a darker scabbard. Lastly, longer, more narrow bladed weapons like police sabers are included under kai-gunto.

  Shikome-zue-mounted swords are swords within canes, mostly produced after the Meiji Restoration.