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A Tanto ("short sword") is a common japanese single or, occasionally, double edged knife or dagger with a blade length between 15 and 30 cm (6-12 inches).-
The tanto differs from the others as it was designed primarily as a stabbing instrument, but the edge can be used to slash as well.- Tanto first began to appear in the Heian period, however these blades lacked any artistic quality and were purely weapons. In the early Kamakura period high-quality artful tanto began to appear, and the famous Yoshimitsu (the greatest tanto maker in Japanese history) began his forging.-
Tanto production increased greatly around the Muromachi period and then dropped off in the Shinto period ("new sword" period), consequently Shinto period tanto are quite rare. They regained popularity in the Shin-Shinto Period ("new-new sword" period) and production increased.-
Tanto are generally forged in hira-zukuri, meaning that their sides have no ridge line and are nearly flat, unlike the shinogi-zukuri structure of a katana. Some tanto have particularly thick cross-sections for armor-piercing duty, and are called 'yoroidoshi'. Tanto were mostly carried by samurai; commoners did not generally carry them. Women sometimes carried a small tanto called a kaiken in their obi for self defense. It was sometimes worn as the shoto in place of a wakizashi in a daisho, especially on the battlefield. Before the 16th century it was common for a samurai to carry a tachi and a tanto as opposed to a katana and a wakizashi.-
The tanto differs from the others as it was designed primarily as a stabbing instrument, but the edge can be used to slash as well.- Tanto first began to appear in the Heian period, however these blades lacked any artistic quality and were purely weapons. In the early Kamakura period high-quality artful tanto began to appear, and the famous Yoshimitsu (the greatest tanto maker in Japanese history) began his forging.-
Tanto production increased greatly around the Muromachi period and then dropped off in the Shinto period ("new sword" period), consequently Shinto period tanto are quite rare. They regained popularity in the Shin-Shinto Period ("new-new sword" period) and production increased.-
Tanto are generally forged in hira-zukuri, meaning that their sides have no ridge line and are nearly flat, unlike the shinogi-zukuri structure of a katana. Some tanto have particularly thick cross-sections for armor-piercing duty, and are called 'yoroidoshi'. Tanto were mostly carried by samurai; commoners did not generally carry them. Women sometimes carried a small tanto called a kaiken in their obi for self defense. It was sometimes worn as the shoto in place of a wakizashi in a daisho, especially on the battlefield. Before the 16th century it was common for a samurai to carry a tachi and a tanto as opposed to a katana and a wakizashi.-
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