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The Three Main Samurai Blades

The Three Main Samurai Blades

By Conor Compton

Most people aren't aware that what are today characterized as 'samurai swords' have their roots in Japanese cavalry swords called Tachi, which were designed to be longer, with more of a curve and to be usable with one hand whist on horseback. This is but one example of how so-called 'samurai swords' have changed and evolved over the years. There have been many more. For instance, people tend to think of a samurai sword as the long curved blade that Uma Thurman wielded in the legendary Kill Bill series. That's true - it is. It's called a katana, and is actually just one of the 3 main blades which gradually evolved into the standard bladed weaponry carried by samurai. Let's see what blades the samurai did carry, and the purpose of each.

Katana

As covered in the opening paragraph, this is the long sword most commonly known as a samurai sword. It is the main weapon of the samurai, the most expensive, and the most sought-after. Given its length, this sword would be used in situations which allowed more space for maneuver.

Wakizashi

Several inches smaller than the Katana was the Wakizashi. People may wonder why a samurai would want to carry a second, similar blade but of shorter length, when the samurai had the longer reaching Katana. The answer is simply a case of versatility: Wakizashi offered a weapon not too dissimilar to the functions of the Katana, but with its shorter length was more nimble for use in confined spaces such as indoors.

Samurai would sometimes simultaneously wield the Katana and Wakizashi.

Tanto

These are what most people would simply call a dagger; a miniature sword usually no more than a dozen inches in length. Before Wakizashi came about, Tanto were often worn as the smaller blade to the Tachi. Again, they offer greater options for the samurai in battle. Owing to their very short length and robust purposely robust design, these blades were ideal for piercing the heaviest armor with a heavy thrust - something more difficult with a Katana and Wakizashi.