Samurai Tanto

The Samurai's Shortest Sword/Knife, The Tanto

The Samurai Tanto is the shortest of the swords carries by the later period Samurai. It was primarily used like a knife or stabbing weapon but could also be used for utility work. The tanto would often be found paired with a katana or as a set with a katana and wakizashi. Some samurai would carry all three swords however some would prefer the tanto to the wakizashi and pair it with their katana for indoor fighting as it was in the earlier periods with a tanto and tachi.

Modern Tanto NEW
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APOC Survival Tanto NEW
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Tactical Tanto
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Practical Plus Tanto
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Frenchie Jin Bamboo Tanto
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Tori Tanto
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The Tori Tanto is built on a forged and folded ...

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Dragonfly Koshirae Tanto
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The Dragonfly Tanto is a great companion piece ...

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Samurai Tanto
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The Samurai Tanto is a great companion piece to...

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Bamboo Tanto
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The Bamboo Tanto is a great companion piece to ...

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Raptor Tanto
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By: Paul Chen - Hanwei

While the Tanto of the Raptor series provides a...

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Tiger Tanto
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The Tiger Tanto has a hand-forged and folded AS...

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Baika Tanto
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From the creative mind of Frenchie Jin, CAS pro...

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Great Wave Tanto
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The Great Wave Tanto from Paul Chen of Hanwei d...

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Practical Tanto
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The Practical Tanto gives the martial artist th...

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Forged Samurai Tanto
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The tanto was the shortest blade in the Samurai...

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Shi Shi Tanto
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What is a Samurai Tanto?

The samurai tanto is a small dagger or knife that was primarily used for close-range combat. The hilt, or tsuka, is short and is designed to be held with one hand. The tanto is an integral part of the samurai's arsenal and was used for a variety of tasks, from cutting food to fighting in battle.

It was an effective weapon for thrusting and slashing, and its short length made it ideal for use in tight spaces. The tanto was also used for cutting through samurai yoroi, as it was able to penetrate the gaps in an opponent's armor. The tanto was also a choice tool for covert assassination, as its small size made it easy to conceal and carry.

History of the Samurai Tanto

The samurai tanto has a long and rich history that dates back to the feudal era of Japan. During this time, the tanto was used as a backup weapon to the katana, the primary sword of the samurai. The tanto was designed to be used in close combat, where the katana was less effective. The tanto was also used for ritual suicide, or seppuku, which was considered an honorable way for a samurai to die.