Ninja Swords

The ninja sword is one of the most desired weapons of all time because of its uncanny ability to captivate one’s imagination – may it be for combat or simply for adding a sense of mystery when displayed as a wall ornament. The lineage of these swords roots back to centuries past wherein the ninjas or shinobis used this unique weapon in warfare.

It was the weapon of choice for the Japanese Special Forces that served under the ruling king. Being the saboteurs and assassins that they were, ninjas worked with utmost stealth. This meant that long and heavy swords had no use for them; they had to opt for a crafty weapon that allowed quickness in their movements and gave them the opportunity to trounce the opponent with the longer sword.

Ninja swords went by many names – ninjato, ninjaken, and shinobigatana were just some of them; but they all served the single purpose of providing the ninja with the unbounded advantage in close combat. However, it is also important to note that the term ‘ninjato’ actually roots from ninja fiction from the west and not from the country itself. Although today it is one of the most common names of the ninja sword, it actually doesn’t appear in any Japanese historical records.

As mentioned before, the shinobi sword is a weapon that exudes a purposeful practicality and subtle elegance. It perfectly epitomizes the grace and strength of the ninja warriors – two characteristics that were held in the highest esteem.

The Ninjato’s Design

In terms of its design and construction, the ninjato came in a range of sizes and shapes. They are often characterized as being a shorter version of the more conventional katana sword of the samurais. Ninjatos are usually straight but still have a slight curve on the blade itself. Some historians claim that unlike the samurai, the ninjato was not intended to be a stabbing weapon, but only for the purposes of cutting. The debate on whether or not the ninjato had a kissaki or a sword tip still rumbles on.

History states that the shinobi sword that ninjas carried was a variation of the wakizashi short sword which had a handle and fitted into a saya or scabbard that were both similar to that of the katana. Some experts believe that this was done to deceive the opponent into believing that the ninja swords were longer than they actually were. This allowed the ninja to draw the weapon and strike faster than expected. It could also help conceal their identity as a ninja as most people saw the weapon as nothing more than an ordinary sword. Some ninjas even used the extra space in the scabbard to conceal equipments such as blinding powders or shurikens.

The Ninjato Pitted Against the Samurai Sword

Aside from the details already mentioned, there are a lot of other differences between the ninjato and the Japanese samurai sword. Both still share immense popularity today, perhaps even more so than they had in the past. As mentioned earlier the reason behind this amassed fame is probably because of their ability to capture the fascination and imagination of both collectors and spectators alike. Both the ninjato and the samurai were used as weapons in combat, but each had an entirely different representation of the culture and philosophy of those who held it.

For starters, the Samurais were the cream of the crop when it came to the ancient warriors of feudal Japan. Samurais were highly respected in the community and they also held close ties with royalty. These warriors represented a wide array of values including pride, duty, respect, loyalty, honor, and religious virtues.

On the other hand, ninjas were mostly feared rather than revered. While the Samurais considered their weapons as a symbol of beauty and intricacy and had them proudly displayed, the ninja’s approach was entirely practical. This meant that ninja swords were designed merely for the purposes of whatever mission was assigned to the shinobi and nothing else.

They were much cheaper and did not require the same care in crafting as did the Samurai. Instead of treating their swords like esteemed valuables, the ninjas saw them only as practical and disposable objects. Most ninjatos found in modern collections today have definitely been crafted more carefully than they were centuries ago.

If at first glance the two weapons look alike, it is because the ninjato was purposely designed to mimic the appearance of the samurai. Aside from the reasons pointed out above, ninjatos were also constructed this way to suit the actual function of the ninja warrior in battle. Ninjas needed a much shorter sword that was easier to carry around because they often found themselves in awkward places that required skilled bodily maneuvering such as wild vegetation, sides of building, rock walls, or ceiling rafters – wherever their stealthy mission would require of them. A blade that was as long as the samurai just did not fit the specific purposes of the ancient ninja.