The ability to handle edged weapons has always been valued among any people. The craftsmanship of their creation was valued no less. But, perhaps, only in Japan, the blades were made in compliance with religious rituals. The tanto knife, which is a samurai weapon, was considered a short sword and was created by masters in compliance with all traditions and postulates of faith. This blade had a strictly defined shape; various drawings were applied to it in the process of creation. It was believed that they are the embodiment of the prayers of the masters. Because of this, the Japanese tanto knife, like kattanu, was called the receptacle of "kami" (divine). From the blacksmith, in its manufacture, an honest performance of his duties and observance of religiosity were required.
History of creation and purpose
According to the understanding of schools, katana, tanto and wakizashi are the same blade, only of different lengths. That is, its European name "knife" or "dagger" is incorrect. The tanto knife first appeared in the Heian era. During the Kamakura period, these short swords were further developed, their production was of very high quality, and decoration appeared on them. Subsequently, their popularity declined so much that they were no longer ordered to masters at all. After the overthrow of the Tokugawa shogunate, the Meiji emperors revived the ancient art of making tanto.
Traditionally, the Japanese tanto knife was used by samurai to finish off their enemies or perform ritual suicide. However, doctors and merchants were also allowed to wear it. They could only use them to protect their lives or property. It should be said that the traditions prescribed a specific purpose for each weapon, each sword or knife could only perform certain actions.
What is a tanto knife
The name consists of two words "tan" and "to", which means "short sword". The knife is a one-sided blade with a length of 25 to 40 centimeters. Sometimes it's double-edged. Manufactured without stiffeners. Instances with the presence of such were called moroha - zukuri, trihedral blades - eroidoshi.
Traditionally, the tanto knife was made from a detachable handle that was attached to the shank. For fastening, a mekugi hairpin was used. Also, the knife had a round removable guard - tsuba. These knives are characterized by the presence of a line separating the metal - jamon. Also, this knife made of wood was used for training in martial arts.
Can I make my own tanto?
Many people know how to make cold weapons on their own. Often it turns out to be much better than those samples that are produced in factories. It is unlikely that it will be possible to make a tanto knife with your own hands, to recreate the original. First of all, if only for the reason that it is necessary to have blacksmithing skills. Moreover, the Japanese craftsmen who made swords and other edged weapons passed the secrets from generation to generation without revealing them to others under any circumstances. Hence the conclusion - to achieve the same quality of the metal will not work. Even today, only about 300 licensed craftsmen have the right to make a Japanese tanto knife in their homeland.
If you really want to have such a blade, there are two ways out. The first is to make a tanto knife with your own hands from wood. With the right sharpening and selected material, this is a very formidable weapon, although it does not belong to the cold class. If you have any doubts about this, you should read David Morrell's book The Fifth Profession. The battle is well described there. The second way out is to buy a tanto-style knife. There are plenty of manufacturers of such blades today, which one to choose depends on the financial capabilities of the buyer.
The meaning of tanto for Japan
These blades, like any edged weapon created in Japan, are considered a national treasure. Each knife made by a master with a license is subject to mandatory certification. In the case of finding ancient tanto, they are studied and also certified. But those knives that are made of serial steel during the Second World War must be destroyed. That is, only handmade tantos can be recognized as the heritage of the nation. In the imperial family, the knife is used for the wedding ceremony.
Drawings of knives 10 options (st3)
Neil Roberts-Warrior knife drawing. A serious knife, this can be made for hunting or tourism.
Drawing knife Cold steel tanto. An interesting knife, very reminiscent of a Japanese katana, perfect for the kitchen.
Drawing of a Browning Xtreme knife. An interesting knife, probably more used as a small hatchet.
Drawing knife Mat-tanto. Nothing like a knife, you can do it for the kitchen.
Drawing knife Menem-M9. Cool knife, but also good, like a small but dangerous.
Drawing of a Gerber-Yari knife. The blade of the knife seems to be okay, but the handle is not very good.
Knife drawing by Chris Reeve-Shadow III. The knife seems to be combat, but not impressed.
Knife drawing by Chris Reeve-Ubejane skinner. A knife is like a tooth, in skillful hands it can turn into a formidable weapon.
Knife drawing by Chris Reeve-Nkonka. And what a cute little knife, it seems simple, but serious.
Drawing knife Hill knives. A good machete knife, I made it and immediately cut down thickets in my grandmother's garden, although it can come in handy on a hike.
Differences in them - in form and purpose.
What are Tanto combat knives
The original tanto (短刀= tan "short" + too "sword") is a traditional Japanese short knife available to civilians (as opposed to a long katana). National Treasure of Japan. Tanto combat knives are considered edged weapons in all countries. In a safe form (made of plastic, wood, rubber, etc.) it is used in oriental martial arts.
Traditional samurai set - tanto, wakizashi and katana In the European tanto classification:
- in size - a dagger;
- for sharpening - a knife.
In the classical sense, Tanto knives are exactly a sword.
Tanto knife in Japanese is hamono (刃 "blade, blade" + 物 "product, thing"). Despite the fact that both "hamono" and "tanto" have two hieroglyphs, the first is perceived as one word "knife", the second - as a phrase with the keyword "sword".
The second meaning of tanto is a special blade shape for modern knives:
- combat;
- tactical;
- folding, etc.
The thick tip of the tanto is the key to the durability of the knife even with inappropriate use This form has little in common with the classic tanto, but is popular and widely used due to its strength.
Description of the Japanese sword Tanto
Classic tanto should be done like this:
| Parameter | Meaning | Japanese designation |
| Blade shape | slightly curved tip |
 The correct shape of the tanto blade is flat with a slight curvature. |
| flat | ||
| sharpening | unilateral | |
| Blade length | no more than 30.3 cm, otherwise it will turn out wakizashi |
A standard school 30 cm ruler is just 1 exemplary Japanese shaku |
| total length | 35-50 cm | |
| Material | Japanese Sponge Iron Ingot Steel |
 Tanto is made from "diamond steel" - tamahagane |
| Handle | Removable | |
| Bamboo pin |
 If you make mekugi from metal or horn, the sword will be decorative, not combat |
|
| Garda* | Round |
 By tsuba, you can recognize the owner of the blade. The samurai code forbade them jewelry, so they decorated the tsuba. Simple "guards" - the lot of commoners |
*Tsuba was never used by the Japanese to block weapons - only to stop the brush during a stabbing blow.
Parameters of a short knife Tanto
Modern tanto knives differ from the canon in almost all respects:
| Parameter | Traditional tanto sword
|
Modern tanto knife
This kind of American tanto resembles a kitchen knife, but costs 10 times more. |
| Blade shape | slightly curved tip | Straight bevel under 45 o |
| flat | With stiffener | |
| Type of sharpening | unilateral | Single sided or double sided |
| blade length | 17-30.3 cm | 10-30 cm |
| total length | 35-50 cm | 22-50 cm |
| thickness | 5-7 mm | 2,5-7 |
| material | sponge iron steel | A variety of steels, including Damascus |
| Handle | Removable | fixed |
| Attaching the handle to the shank | Bamboo pin | No bamboo studs at all |
| Garda* | Round | Flat, round or none |
The sketch is so detailed that at least take it and make a real Tanto sword yourself
The American tanto took over the sharpening from the katana and added chopped forms. In pursuit of a spectacular appearance, modern knives have acquired serious drawbacks:
However, the point strength of modern tantoids is very high, so sticking them into something hard is much safer - and it will turn out much better than other knives.
Tanto blades in Japanese culture
Tanto blades historically are not a knife, but a sword, therefore, they were most often worn in a sheath:
- for warriors - behind the belt, on the right;
- for women - in a sleeve, a fan or behind an obi belt.
Samurai before the 14th century armed with a pair of swords - daisho ("big-small"):
- Daito ("big tanto sword") - the main one, more than 66 cm.
- Shoto ("small sword") - additional, 33-66 cm.
Sometimes the Japanese tanto sword was used instead of the seto.
A couple of things that distinguished the samurai from ordinary people - a large and small sword. Guess what tanto came from In the 14th century the weapons of the samurai have changed:
- instead of daito - tati, then - katana;
- instead of seto - wakizashi, sometimes - tanto.
The difference between tati and katana is that the first was worn on a leash to the belt, and the second was thrust into the belt Over time, tanto entered the military recruitment on an ongoing basis, the third item. It was regarded precisely as a military weapon, and therefore was used accordingly:
- to finish off the enemy;
- for battle in a cramped room;
- for cutting off heads;
- for suicide (male warriors, women, children);
- for self-defense (merchants, artisans, monks and other travelers).
Now tanto is a cultural heritage.
The only permitted uses:
- wedding ceremonies of the imperial family;
- oriental martial arts.
Types of tanto
In addition to the tanto itself, the short sword at different times had dozens of varieties:
| Title and photo | Difference and purpose |
 The tanto fan has a well-camouflaged scabbard |
Sheath for tanto in the form of a folded fan. Concealed carry:
|
 The most despised tanto by samurai is firearms. |
When sheathed, it looks like a normal tanto. Outside the scabbard is a single-shot pistol. In the 17-18 centuries - as a weapon of self-defense;
|
 Like a spear - but no, yari-tanto |
The blade is exactly like a yari spear:
For armor penetration. It could be worn on a shaft like a spear. Like a second hand weapon |
 Perhaps the hasiwari is the prototype of the Japanese sai weapon. |
|
 Tanto saw not only cuts, but also saws |
On the concave part - saw teeth. Supposedly the ninja made holes in the walls to get into the house. |
 This is what yoroi doshi tanto looked like |
|
 Aikuti ("fitted mouth") was not considered a sword |
Without a guard, without a handle braid, various sizes of tanto, more often short ones. "Civilian version", for finishing off the enemy, (you cannot finish off the lying one with a sword, a. aikutti, unlike tanto, was not considered a sword) |
 Kubikiri literally means "head cutter" |
More curved, sometimes without a point (or with a weakly pronounced one), the cutting edge is on the inside or on both sides.
|
 Tanto-kens were forged especially for monasteries |
Double-edged blade like a dagger two parallel cutting edges.
|
 Hamidashi feature in the handle, more precisely, in the guard-tsuba of modest size |
The specific form of the guard-tsuba is very small, barely protruding beyond the edge.
|
 Kusungobu - a shortened version of the tanto for hara-kiri |
Ritual, the size of the tanto knife is 29.7 cm. Seppuku or hara-kiri |
 Too crowded for wakizashi? Use the kaiken! |
|
 A kind of tanto with additional sharpening on the concave part |
Double-edged, curved tanto blade for close combat |
 Unokubi is a refined Japanese tanto in the literal sense, as it becomes thinner along the entire length of the percussive part and only the tip and base remain thick |
The back of the blade becomes thinner in the middle, but thickens again towards the tip. End difference:
Perhaps the stronger tip was used for stabbing. Plus, such a weapon is lighter than usual, monolithically thick along the entire length |
 A short Japanese tanto knife with a stiffener is already more like an American tanto |
Stiffener (approximately in the middle) |
Rarer performances of tanto (as well as wakizashi, katana and naginata) are shown in the figure below.
Photo tanto. Different geometries of Japanese bladesHistory of the tanto sword
In Japan, tanto has a long history - up to the present day:
| Production eras | Period | Event |
| Koto, "old swords" | Heian (794 - 1185) | The emergence of tanto. Rough, not artistic |
| war genpei (War of Minamoto and Tairo) |
Tanto was included in the armament of the war:
|
|
| Kamakura | High quality, very artistic, mostly for samurai. The most famous tanto master is Yoshimitsu |
|
| Muromachi | peak production | |
| Mamoyama (1573-1599) | ||
| Shinto, "new swords" | Edo (1600-1868) | At first, production decreased, but Japanese daggers became popular. Then production increased, but the quality dropped. Gradually began to go out of use, turning into a tribute to tradition |
| Shin-Shinto, "new new swords") | ||
| Meiji dynasty (1868-1912) | The second birth is among aristocrats, ninjas and yakuza. Weapons are manufactured industrially |
|
| Gendai, "modern" (1876 - 1945) | Edict of Haytori (1876) | Samurai eliminated The carrying of weapons is prohibited. Tanto is falling into disuse |
| 1940-1945 | Mass production of steel tanta for military purposes | |
| Shinshaku, "The Newest" (after 1945 ) | 1950 - law "On cultural heritage" | Tanto entered the list of traditional weapons that need to be protected and preserved. Exception: steel tantos of the Second World War, forged in haste. They are not considered cultural value and are destroyed so as not to dishonor the national treasure. |
| 1954 | It is allowed to manufacture weapons according to ancient technologies - but only to licensed blacksmiths. Currently, out of 650+ such manufacturers, about half are working |
After the 1950s, nothing interesting about tanto happened in Japan. But thirty years later, the tanto was reincarnated - in America, in the form of a combat knife.
Manufacturing history
In the USA, there was just a mass passion for Japanese martial arts, and knife masters took advantage of this.
| Year | Event | Advertising | Image |
| 1978 | American Chinese Bob Lam creates a knife that looks like a miniature samurai sword, with the Japanese name - tanto. |  |
|
| 1979 | Individual blacksmiths picked up the style. Due to the high demand, the production of tanto has been put on stream. | Increase in tanto models on the market. | |
| 1980 | Phil Hutsfield promotes a simplified version of the tanto - with a rough chisel sharpening and a simple handle (sometimes the shank was simply wrapped with long laces soaked in epoxy). | Master swordsman Obata Toshiro cuts rice straw mats (tatami omote). Navy SEALs order tantos from Phil Hutsfield (and get them for half price). |
 |
| 1981 | Ernest Emerson designs and mass-produces folding tantos. | Again, for the SEALs. On the knife - a lot of trendy attributes, including a retainer and a clip. |
 |
| 1982 | Lynn Thompson of Cold Steel is mass-producing tantos, both regular and folding. | Punches several times in a row a car door, aircraft skin, metal barrels. Experiencing lethality on a Mexican pig farm. Forms a myth about special strength and penetration. |
 |
With which you have to work, you can listen to the manufacture of a knife - tanto.
It should be said right away that the length of the knife ranges from 24 to 26 cm. Therefore, you must prepare a block of wood measuring 260x40x20 mm. The thickness of the bar can be from 16mm.
On such a length of wood, warping of the tree does not affect. This remark is true if you have chosen a dry tree. Moist can dry out.
On this bar, on the side, draw a sketch of the future knife according to the template.
In this file you will find a full-size sketch of the knife 1:1 , which can be printed and used as a template when making tanto. It looks like this:
Then apply a center line from above, which you draw along all four sides. From it you make all subsequent marks. This allows you to make symmetrical lines regardless of the original curvature of the wood block.
Pay attention to the proportions of the blade and handle!
With a knife length of 26 cm, the length of the handle is 11 cm.
With a knife length of 25 cm, the length of the handle is 10.5 cm.
With a knife length of 24 cm, the length of the handle is 10 cm.
But of course you can choose "your" size.
On the side, make small lines of marks with a pencil:
From the very edge of the knife - 7mm. and from this mark - 10mm.
Make these marks along the entire length of the knife at a distance of approximately 20 - 30mm.
From the end of the handle, from the outer edges, make marks of 7mm.
From the line of the beginning of the handle make marks:
1. - from the top edge - 7 and 10 mm.
2. - from the bottom edge - 7mm.
On top, apply the following markup:
Near the tip, from the main center line, on both sides of it, make marks of 4.5mm.
From the start line of the handle, on both sides of the center line, mark 5.5mm.
Near the end of the knife, on both sides of the center line, mark 5mm.
Do the same below:
Near the tip, from the center line, make two marks:
1. - 1mm.
2. - 4mm.
From the line of the beginning of the handle, on both sides of the center line, also make two marks
1. - 2.5 - 3mm.
2. - 5.5mm.
Near the end of the knife, on both sides of the center line, mark 5mm.
This is where the initial markup ends and figured cutting begins.)
But seriously, you should take a sharp cutter or knife and cut off excess wood along the marking lines.
Start cutting carefully, following the direction of the fibers. Depending on this, cut strictly in the direction of the fibers.
You should end up with something like this:
Point side view:
Now we need to form the blade of the knife.
To do this, you need to make the following markings on the side of the knife:
From the edge of the future blade at 7 mm, at some distance between each other, make marks with a pencil, which you connect in one line.
Point side view:
Now we form the very edge of the knife:
On the side, we draw a line from the edge of the knife at 20 mm.
From the end of the tip we apply parallel lines of 3.5 mm. from the center line.
The next step is the final formation of the knife edge. To do this, on the resulting workpiece, from the edge of the point, apply a line parallel to the line of the point with a width of 8 mm. From this line towards the center end line, you need to cut off the excess wood.
It should turn out like this:
As a result, you should get a knife of the following form:
The knife is almost ready. It remains only to process the sharp edges of the knife.
To do this, fixing the knife with a clamp to the table (or with a vice, but always through a gasket - a piece of hardboard or thick cardboard), process the edges with a file - with light movements !!!
DO NOT TOUCH the top of the blade!
Process only the handle - to give it a rounded shape and the blade - to remove protruding edges. After that, polish the knife with sandpaper.
Everything! This completes the knife making!
Only the final processing remains: polishing, staining, protective coating, etc.
Tanto attachment method for processing
Next, you need to make accessories. Started by soldering habaki. I did not take a picture of this process, because it was like in Murphology - most of the operations require three hands! Habaki consists of 3 parts, soldered with copper-silver solder. Material - copper 3,5mm. Seppa - copper 1.5mm, tsuba - copper 5mm. Filework is cut on the tsuba with the help of needle files. All this was polished on a soft brushing brush to give a certain texture to copper. Next, the composition for bluing metal "Clover" was taken and the copper was patinated with it to black, and then the excess coating was removed with felt. All landing cuts of parts were meticulously adjusted, without backlash and slack, with a needle file to fit the blade shank.
To make it clear - what where and how.
The material for the manufacture of the handle (tsuka) and scabbard (saya) was limewood. I drank it in the handle to fit it under the shank - that’s another ebly with dancing and gaps, I still ... weakened, but this can be solved: epoxy plasticine and a shank lubricated with lithol saved the situation - the handle no longer played back when assembling the knife together. Actually, according to the canons of manufacturing, both the hilt and the scabbard are assembled from two halves, then glued together, but the limewood has a tricky texture and I didn’t want to spoil it by sawing the bar. Here with the scabbard - no options, there you can’t choose a hole “blindly” under the wedge, therefore they were glued together from two dies with a selection of space for the blade and habaki, due to which the knife is kept in the sheath. The wood is sanded to 2000 grit, polished with carnauba wax and coated with shellac. Mekugi (stick holding the entire structure in the handle) - made of bamboo.
