It is best to gather information before buying a samurai sword
Before buying a samurai sword, it can't hurt to acquire a certain amount of basic knowledge, as the purchase of such a sword represents a major investment.
For example, we have often been contacted by owners of replicas from China who believe that they really are genuine swords from Japan.
For very rough basic information before buying, we recommend our article on the fact that not every Japanese sword on the internet comes from Japan! and the information from this article. This should already provide a superficial basis for buying a samurai sword. If you would like to delve deeper into the topic, you will find numerous articles in our Contribution area.
Most people understand a samurai sword to be a sword that is actually called a katana. However, there are several different samurai swords.
Which swords are suitable for buying a samurai sword?
Tachi
Tachi are the oldest samurai swords. They have longer blades of up to 1 metre and more. The blades were mounted with the cutting edge pointing downwards. If the tang of such swords is signed, the name of the blacksmith is engraved on the side that faces outwards when the sword is worn on the belt.
This type of signature is also called tachi mei. The signature starts on the opposite side to the katana. The smith's name is also on the outside of the katana. However, as katana are carried with the cutting edge facing upwards, it is on the other side of the blade tang than on the tachi.
Compared to most katana, Tachi mounts are relatively ornate and often decorated with eye-catching golden elements.
If you would like to buy this form of samurai sword, you can find it in our shop.
O-Tachi
O tachi or odachi is a special form of tachi. O means large. Odachi are therefore particularly large tachi. Many of them were so large that they were no longer suitable for fighting, but were rather made for representative purposes.
Ko-Tachi
Ko tachi or kodachi is a special form of tachi. Ko means small. Kodachi are therefore short tachi.
Katana
Katana became the swords of the samurai in Japan after fighting became more indoors and warfare in general changed. The swords have shorter blades than tachi and were worn on the belt with the sharp side of the blade facing upwards.
If there is a signature on the tang, the blacksmith engraves his name on the side that faces outwards when the sword is worn on the belt. This type of signature is called Katana Mei.
Katana are by far the best-known swords from Japan. People who want to buy a samurai sword are usually looking for this sword.
O-Katana and Ko-Katana
Just like tachi, this type of sword comes in particularly large and small versions called o-katana and ko-katana.
Wakizashi
Wakizashi is a shorter version of the katana. This sword could also be carried by civilians in public, which was not permitted for tachi and katana.
Also for antique wakizashi we have a category in our shop. You can also buy this samurai sword from us.
O-Wakizashi and Ko-Wakizashi
There are also larger, more massive wakizashi and smaller ones. As with the other swords, these are called o-wakizashi and ko-wakizashi.
Tanto
Tanto are weapons with a blade the length of a knife. Tanto were made by blacksmiths who also forged real swords. In addition to their length, they also have a slightly different structure to sword blades and there were different designs.
Tanto mounts can be very different. There are also very splendid and elaborately decorated tanto mounts. As it was also widespread among civilians, many tanto were also made for wealthy merchants and were designed to a correspondingly high standard.
O-Tanto
There are also larger, more solid examples of Tanto, these are called O-Tanto.
Naginata
Naginata are basically staff weapons, but they are actually just very massive sword blades mounted on the front of a long shaft. A particularly sturdy and massive blade was used for this.
Naginata are considered one of the most dangerous samurai weapons of all.
Nagamaki
When a naginata blade is mounted with a long handle, this type of sword is called nagamaki.
In our Online shop for swords from Japan you can buy the real samurai sword, as we offer historical (and also new) swords from Japan for sale.
