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Top 5 Historical Ninja Swords and Their Popularity!

Ninja Swords

By Zara SophiaPublished 12 days ago 5 min read
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Top 5 Historical Ninja Swords and Their Popularity!
Photo by Krys Amon on Unsplash

Ninja swords have a unique shape. The blade is usually straight with a chisel point and the handle is wrapped twice around the tang to provide extra length and strength. They are typically two-edged, although some models do have three cutting edges.

The hilt of the sword includes a grip for each hand, which can be wrapped around one or both tangs of the blade, and decorated with metal rings or plates that act as finger rings. A handguard protects the hands from an opponent’s sharp attack during combat therefore making them perfect for close-quarters fighting if there isn’t enough room to perform multiple strikes on your attacker in order to get your weapon in position for impact.

The Historical Ninja Swords:

There are various types of ninja swords, and different styles include katana, wakizashi, and more! Let's take a detailed look at them:

1. Katana:

By Some Tale on Unsplash

One of the most well-known types of ninja swords consists of a long sword blade that can be pointed down, and used to cut enemies in half. The blade is mostly two-handed. A katana is a traditional Japanese sword. It is one of the three main weapons systems of samurai armor and was used in feudal Japan chiefly by the samurai warrior class.

The word "katana" can refer to either the long-bladed sword with a curved blade, or to the general type of swordsmanship used with it, and both meanings are important in understanding how this weapon shaped what we know about medieval Japan today. There are various schools teaching different methods on how to use a katana for defense or attack, but all fall into one of two categories: Kenjutsu or Battoujutsu.

2. Wakizashi:

A shorter sword that can be held with one hand or two hands depending on preference, and often has a curved blade made up of multiple parts so it can be swung quicker when fighting multiple opponents.

Wakizashi is a type of Japanese sword with curved blades. They range in length from just over 60 cm to about 70.5 cm and have a small handguard to protect the user’s forearms. Wakizashi is worn on the obi (sash) around the waist or over one shoulder and was primarily carried by samurai in battle when not riding horseback.

3. Tanto:

A type of ninja sword with a short, wide point and trident-like shape. It is designed for stabbing rather than slashing enemies but has more range due to the width at its tip which allows for more control over where it goes into the enemy's body and keeps them from getting away quickly.

It can be used by either one or two hands. This sword is a type of Japanese sword, which is traditionally between 4 and 6 feet in length and is often identified with the character for "ten" (tatsumi) or "hand" (te). The blade ranges from about 3 inches to 12 inches in width, with an average of 4 to 6 inches.

The tanto generally has a circular or square guard with straight edges. Tanto swords are often wielded using the Sokoto-gama, a single-hand grip on the hilt. These swords are also known as tantō because of their distinctive triangular cross-section blade at its point.

4. Yari:

A long spear-like sword with a big, sharp point at the end and a narrow blade that allows them for precise attacks from far away. A Japanese long sword with a curved blade that is carried in an ornate saya. In feudal Japan, the samurai were often required to be prepared to fight at all times. One of the reasons for this was because of battle readiness against the many insurgencies that constantly threatened their territory.

This meant a samurai had to have a sword with him at all times and it also had to be an impressive weapon, as a display of his prowess and power. The great problem with swords though in feudal Japan is that many people were forbidden from having them due to social status laws which prohibited sword ownership to peasants (those outside of the samurai caste).

5. Naginata:

A similar type of sword to the katana but has a big, long blade with two parts instead of one which allows it to be used in multiple ways when fighting against an opponent in battle and is ideal for long-range attacks as well as short ones.

Naginatas were developed in the Heian period (794-1185) and are an ancient weapon with a great deal of history. They were first used as military weapons for close range, but they have since been used for ceremonial purposes. The naginata is an extremely versatile weapon.

There are many styles and variations of the naginata, originating from various regions of Japan. The most well-known style is the "kenjutsu style," which is a fusion between sword techniques and martial arts. The Naginata has also been referred to as a “spear on steroids” because it can be used to thrust or slash at long distances, making it very deadly and potent in combat situations.

The Popularity of Ninja Swords!

The popularity of ninja swords in pop culture is most likely due to the story of Toshitsune (1760-1829), who was a son of eastern Japan's feudal lord Tadayoshi, known for his bravery, and died at the age of 18. He was originally killed by one of his father's enemies and was brought back as a vengeful specter known as an Onryo.

His weapon became a ninja sword and he continued to terrorize Japan. These swords are often seen in Japanese manga and have been used by many popular fictional characters like Naruto Uzumaki from "Naruto". This may be due in part to their sleek slender appearance.

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About the Creator

Zara Sophia

A Writer/blogger by day, a knife enthusiast and survivalist by night. I've reviewed a lot of products and have helped people make the right purchase.

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