Tanto Swords
The Japanese tanto sword is a knife or dagger. Its blade can be single or double edged, with a length of 6 to 12 inches. It was sometimes worn instead of a wakizashi in a daisho. Prior to the 16th century, samurai carried a tachi and a tanto more often than a katana and a wakizashi. Tanto swords were rarely carried by commoners, except for women who kept them in their obi (sash) for self-defense. At Swords.com you will find tanto of different styles, designs and prices. All our items are excellent quality pieces suitable for both display and practical use.
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Kami Tanto - Paul ChenRegular Price: $1,060.00 Special Price: $795.00 Availability: In stock |
Tiger Tanto - Paul ChenRegular Price: $759.00 Special Price: $569.25 Availability: In stock |
Orchid Tanto - Paul ChenRegular Price: $759.00 Special Price: $569.25 Availability: In stock |
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Bushido Tanto - Paul ChenRegular Price: $569.00 Special Price: $426.75 Availability: In stock |
United-Samurai 3000 - TantoRegular Price: $50.00 Special Price: $40.00
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Paul Chen - Practical Series - TantoRegular Price: $120.00 Special Price: $96.00 Availability: In stock |
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Paul Chen - Wind & Thunder - TantoRegular Price: $504.00 Special Price: $403.20 Availability: In stock |
Paul Chen - Practical Plus Series - TantoRegular Price: $214.00 Special Price: $171.20 Availability: In stock |
Paul Chen - Tori TantoRegular Price: $604.00 Special Price: $483.20 Availability: In stock |
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Ryumon - Damascus Dragon Tanto - BlackRegular Price: $74.90 Special Price: $59.92 Availability: In stock |
Ryumon - Damascus Dragon Tanto - RedRegular Price: $74.90 Special Price: $59.92 Availability: In stock |
Reverse Blade Sword Set - BlackRegular Price: $70.90 Special Price: $56.72
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Snake Skin Sword SetRegular Price: $54.90 Special Price: $43.92
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Samurai Sword Set - Black - Dragon GuardRegular Price: $78.90 Special Price: $63.12
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Samurai Swords - Black and Gold - Dragon GuardRegular Price: $68.90 Special Price: $55.12
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Imperial Series - O TantoRegular Price: $499.99 Special Price: $449.99 Availability: In stock |
Dragonfly Series - O TantoRegular Price: $549.99 Special Price: $494.99 Availability: In stock |
Warrior Series - O TantoRegular Price: $374.99 Special Price: $337.49 Availability: In stock |
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Paul Chen - Great Wave Series - TantoRegular Price: $844.00 Special Price: $633.00 Availability: In stock |
Shinwa Black Pearl Samurai 1060 Carbon Sword SetRegular Price: $547.36 Special Price: $519.99
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Japanese Bushido Tiger Samurai Katana Sword SetRegular Price: $79.36 Special Price: $75.39 Availability: In stock |
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3 Pc Yin & Yang Samurai Sword Set w/StandRegular Price: $79.12 Special Price: $75.16 Availability: In stock |
3pc Ocean Blue Katana SetRegular Price: $65.08 Special Price: $61.83
Temporarily Out of Stock
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3 Pc Red/Black Scorpion Samurai Sword Set w/StandRegular Price: $53.20 Special Price: $50.54 Availability: In stock |
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The Japanese tanto sword first emerged during the Heian period. These early blades had no aesthetic quality and were solely intended as weapons. In the early Kamakura period, more artistic tanto swords were produced. It was also during this era that the greatest tanto maker, Yoshimitsu, began his craft. The hira style, wherein the blade had no ridgeline and back ridge, was one of the most popular at the beginning of the period due to its simplicity. In the middle of the Kamakura period, the kanmuri-otoshi style, where the back ridge was beveled like a halberd, became widespread in Kyoto and Yamato. Tanto manufacture reached its peak during the Muromachi period, when constant battles resulted in the mass production of lower quality blades.
A Japanese tanto sword is usually forged in hira-zukuri style. This gives the blade no ridgeline and makes it flat. Some tanto called yoroidoshi have thick cross sections for penetrating armors. Tanto swords are mainly stabbing weapons, and the edge can also be used for cutting. Today, tanto with dull wooden or plastic blades are used to practice some martial arts, and those with unsharpened metal blades are employed in advanced demonstrations or training. Martial arts that teach tanto techniques include aikido, jujutsu, aikijutsu, modern arnis, and shorinji kempo.