Tanto
A tantō 短刀 or Tanto in English, is a Japanese short sword with a blade length of less than 1 foot or a 1 shaku, making it shorter than either a Wakizashi or Katana. A tanto can also be correctly described as a dagger. The Tanto was designed primarily as a stabbing weapon, but the edge could also be used for slashing, seeing as they were usually razor sharp. The most common Tanto design was a single edged blade, though double edged tantō do exist.
Tanto are most famous for their use during the act of seppuku, more commonly known as "hara-kiri" (in the western hemisphere), where the person committing seppuku used the Tanto to slice open their own stomach during the ritual suicide. Historically, they were often worn along side of a tachi or katana, though they were mostly used in a ceremonial fashion rather than as a main weapon. Still, this did not diminish the effectiveness of a tanto during battle, where they were used for close up battle or as a last resort if the warrior had been disarmed of his main swords.
The production of tanto declined in the Shinto period, "new sword" period. Yet they regained popularity in the Shin-Shinto period, or "new-new sword" period and the production of tanto increased again. Tanto were gradually phased out in favor of the Wakizashi, which was better for using as a backup or off hand weapon due to its extra length. Tanto 短刀 tantō are now more often than not carried by women and are easily concealed in ones robes due to their length, which ranges between 15 and 30 cm or (6-12 inches).
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18 DARK TANTO NINJA SHARP FULL TANG BLADE JAPANESE MACHETE SWORD |  |
0 Bid | US $.95 | 25m |
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28 18 2 TANTO NINJA SHARP FULL TANG DAGGER JAPANESE MACHETE SWORD BLACK | |
1 Bid | US $14.99 | 25m |
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18 TANTO NINJA SHARP FULL TANG JAPANESE MACHETE SWORD | |
6 Bids | US $8.00 | 49m |
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Japanese 1055 carcon steel samurai handmade warrior sword katanaTanto 452 | |
0 Bid | US $105.99 | 53m |
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28 NINJA FULL TANG JAPANESE AXE MACHETE SWORD KNIFE BLADE CHROME SILVER W BAG | |
0 Bid | US $4.95 | 56m |
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4pc Japanese Samurai Ninja Katana Sword Set Stand RED | |
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US $44.95 | 57m |
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18 inch TANTO NINJA SHARP FULL TANG HUNTING MACHETE SWORD | |
0 Bid | US $.95 | 1h 2m |
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28 TANTO NINJA SHARP FULL TANG BLACK JAPANESE MACHETE SWORD | |
0 Bid | US $6.98 | 1h 13m |
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Set of 3 Tiger Katana Wakizashi Tanto Swords Paul Chen Hanwei folded steel | |
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US $1,999.00 | 1h 35m |
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18 TANTO NINJA SHARP BLADE FULL TANG SAW JAPANESE MACHETE SWORD | |
0 Bid | US $.97 | 1h 40m |
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28 18 2 NEW TANTO NINJA SHEATH SHARP FULL TANG JAPANESE MACHETE SWORD BLACK | |
0 Bid | US $14.97 | 1h 53m |
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18 TANTO NINJA SHARP FULL TANG W SHEATH JAPANESE STYLE MACHETE SWORD | |
0 Bid | US $.98 | 2h 19m |
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28 NINJA LONG FULL TANG JAPANESE MACHETE SWORD KNIFE BLADE CHROME SILVER W BAG | |
0 Bid | US $4.96 | 2h 25m |
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NEW 2 Pc Viper Twin Tanto Samurai Sword Set w Sheath | |
0 Bid | US $24.99 | 5h 9m |
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Bushido Samurai Katana Wakizashi Tanto Sword 2 Tier Table Display Stand Rack | |
0 Bid | US $.01 | 5h 35m |
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4pc Black Ying Yang Katana Sword Set with Stand | |
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US $33.95 | 6h 56m |
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Fully Hand Forged Japanese Samurai Tanto SWORD TU01 | |
0 Bid | US $55.99 | 6h 56m |
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Japanese folded steel Tanto katana samurai sword practical small knife Ae101 | |
0 Bid | US $59.99 | 9h 8m |
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Lord of the Rings Fighting Knives of Legolas Sharp | |
0 Bid | US $75.40 | 11h 25m |
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Handmade Japanese Folded Steel Sword Tiger Katana | |
0 Bid | US $150.81 | 11h 25m |
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Lord of the Rings Elven Knife of Strider with Scabbard | |
1 Bid | US $21.54 | 11h 26m |
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Battle Ready Handmade Japanese Folded Steel Sword 2116 | |
0 Bid | US $107.72 | 11h 26m |
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406 Razor Sharp Japanese Sword Cherry Tsuba 2100 | |
0 Bid | US $43.08 | 11h 26m |
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354 Fantasy Demon Eagle Skull Sword | |
1 Bid | US $21.54 | 11h 26m |
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504 Razor Sharp Battle Ready Striders Ranger Sword | |
1 Bid | US $75.40 | 11h 26m |
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Fully Hand Forged Japanese Samurai Tanto Sword TU02 | |
0 Bid | US $60.32 | 12h 33m |
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February 8th, 2009 in
Swords from Asia
