What was The Early History of Ninja Swords?

Ashlybrine
4 min readOct 6, 2023

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Ninja swords are traditionally bladed weapons that are deliberately designed to look like it has no edge. The katana, one of the most common types of ninjato, was traditionally made without a sharp edge due to the belief that it would enhance stealth and agility. Modern katanas are sharpened but they still are mostly used for display purposes.

Katanas were designed to be a weapon that could go easily into and out of combat. The sword was originally used by the samurai in Japan for war and assassinations. The advantage of the katana is its blade which can be extremely sharp without being very thick, meaning it is very lightweight and fast.

It was also designed so that a person could easily slice into flesh and not injure bone, making it ideal for stealth assassinations but useless against heavy armor. Even though the katana became obsolete as technology developed, ninjas would still use them if they had some for a variety of reasons.

Background of Ninja Swords

There are many weapons that have come out of Japan, but one weapon among them has become a staple in the culture. The Ninja swords have gained fame worldwide for their beautiful designs and various abilities. For thousands of years, these swords were used to strike fear into their enemies, often to the point where they were quickly defeated by their sheer power and formidability.

Early ninjas developed the sword as an extension of hand-to-hand combat. They used this weapon for close-quarters fighting, and it is thought that its origins may have stemmed from sickles and short swords that were used by peasants during the feudal period in Japan. In time, the sickle was replaced with a wooden handle, and the short sword’s blade was elongated to produce a sharp point at the tip. The later process of tempering steel led to better blade qualities, making them capable of being used both off and on foot.

The classic shinobi-zue or “shinobi staff” was a wooden pole weapon that doubled as a walking stick/staff as well as a form of self-defense in battle. Spikes or blades were attached to the end of the staff for use as a weapon. The reason why it was used was due to its portability and easy concealment, and also because it could be used as a walking aid to climb up places without using hands or rope.

It is not thought that the shinobi-zue was mainly used by ninjas, but mainly by peasants who wanted to defend themselves from warring lords/warriors in an effort to climb up and live in villages or stay hidden in forests. However, shinobi are thought to have used this weapon when they were on missions. The “tanto” (“knife”) was also another early type of ninja sword, which is shorter than other swords.

Types of Ninja Swords:

Knowing about the different types of ninja swords can give you an idea of what you want to get. Then all you need is to look for the right one, either online or in a shop. Since many ninjas are spies and assassins, they often use stealth — so their weapons should be quiet. This doesn’t just apply to knives or garrotes, but also swords!

There are four main types of ninjato: the tanto (a small knife), the katana (a long straight-bladed sword), the shirogatana (a curved blade with sharp edges on both sides), and finally, there’s also a yari — which is a spear. Each of these has its own unique design, but they also have other similarities.

Some of the more traditional swords are often made from steel. If you look at the katana, you may already know that it’s a modernized tachi — but it has been modified to make it easier to use. Most samurai swords can be disassembled and reassembled for easy transport. The sheath is usually made from hardwood or leather, while the handle is made from silk or cotton. The guard is another metal piece that usually protects the hand from an opponent while also directing strikes.

Reason of Ninja Sword’s Popularity!

A ninja’s weapon is an extension of the self. The swordsmiths who make these weapons are as much craftsmen as they are warriors, and their tools are of the finest quality. Whether it be their tempering techniques or the selection of metals, every blade is constructed with perfection in mind — for even a single speck of impurity can alter a blade’s balance and affect its durability. The crafting process is not always pretty — downright dangerous at times — but if one pays close attention to detail, it becomes easy to see why ninja swords have been used for centuries.

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Ashlybrine

A professional content writer. Write according to the people's interests and follow the trends to maintain the quality of content.