You can find many authentic Japanese swords on the market, though some of them are not. These unauthentic Japanese swords are made of steel and can be sharp, but they may not be as functional as authentic Japanese swords. Remember that you can still purchase them to display in your home. The only problem is that some people may believe that they are collecting authentic Japanese swords yet they are not.
There are several types of Japanese swords out there, making it hard to know all of them. This is the reason why it makes sense to know these swords so that you can determine whether or not you are getting the best deal. This article discusses what to look out for when buying a Japanese sword.
The katana sword
The katana is considered to be one of the most famous Japanese swords. There is a good chance that you may have come across a katana because it stands out among the Japanese swords. This sword has a prominent appearance that is too hard not to notice it.
The katana is the sword that is usually called the samurai sword. You should note that the word katana refers to the sword in English. The katana was part of the weapons every samurai warrior in feudal Japan used. This sword is easy to recognize because it has a slightly curved and single-edged blade. The katana sword has a long grip to allow you to use both hands. The hands of the samurai were protected by either a squared or circular guard.
The katana is popular for its superior sharpness and cutting edge, enabling it to chop off the whole limbs of an enemy. The total length of the katana sword is between 39.4 and 43.3 inches or 100 and 110 cm and weighs at least between 900 and 1400 grams or 2 and 3.1 pounds.
The Tachi or big sword
Another type of Japanese sword is called the Tachi. This sword has a slightly longer blade and is curvier than the katana sword. Because of this, the Tachi sword is popularly called the big sword.
You should note that the extra curvature of this sword improves its ability to cut when drawing the blade. This art was usually used on a regular katana sword. But because of its curvature, the Tachi didn’t provide a lot of advantage to the samurai warriors.
In most cases, the samurai used the Tachi on horseback to fight infantry units. The length of this sword is between 120 and 130 cm or 47.2 and 51.2 inches. Besides, you should note that the samurai used to wear it with its cutting edge facing downwards.
The odachi or large sword
The odachi is another interesting Japanese sword. The odachi was also called the nodachi to mean the same sword. These are big swords and their appearance could cause fear among enemy lines. The odachi can measure up to 150 cm or 59 inches, making it the longest Japanese sword.
Therefore, the odachi was usually used to counter mounted enemies. In other words, it was a weapon that was used to overpower cavalry forces. Unfortunately, its massive size means that it also had its disadvantages. Its size made it a useless weapon for close-quarter or inside-building fights. The odachi was often utilized in the late 14th century. The samurai warriors used to wear it on their backs because of its huge size.
The tanto or short sword
One of the smallest Japanese swords is the tanto. The tanto is considered to be more of a dagger than a sword. The main purpose of this sword is for stabbing an enemy. The length of the tanto can be between 15 and 30 cm or 5.9 and 11.8 inches.
The average entire length of a tanto can be at least 40 cm or 15.8 inches. Unlike other Japanese swords, the tanto has a straight blade. Also, the tanto can be double or single-edged.
The wakizashi sword
The name wakizashi means a side-inserted sword. Unlike the katana sword, the wazikashi is slightly smaller. In most cases, the average length of this sword can be between 80 and 90 cm or 31.5 and 35.4 inches. The samurai were not the only people who could wear the wazikashi. Instead, every person could choose to wear this sword.
The wakizashi was first used in the early 17th century. The name wakizashi came about because it was usually used alongside the katana sword. The katana was a suitable sword to pair with the wakizashi. This is because the samurai has both the advantages of a short sword and a long sword. Therefore, dual-wielding was used to achieve the right fighting results.
In most cases, the wakizashi was called an honor blade as it was utilized as a backup weapon to slay defeated opponents or to commit a ritual suicide known as seppuku. You should also note that it was rude to enter another person’s home with a katana, but they could wear the wakizashi. Samurai warriors carried their wakizashi throughout the day. There were even some samurai warriors who placed the sword under their pillows.
In conclusion, it’s worth noting that authentic Japanese swords can be pricey. Therefore, it makes sense to purchase them from reputable sellers to make sure that you are getting the right sword. A good Japanese sword supplier can offer you an unconditional guarantee. This means that the supplier supports the quality of your purchase. It’s also a good idea to ask your supplier about the warranty that covers manufacturing defects. In some cases, the buyers may discover that the sword they bought was not what they expected. Therefore, a good Japanese sword supplier can have a short-term no questions asked policy once this arises. This allows you to be comfortable with your purchase or you can return the sword in its original condition to get a refund. If you are looking for authentic Japanese swords, then you need to visit the samuraiswords.store. This store keeps a variety of Japanese swords that can meet your needs.