Tantō

The Tantō knife is a single-edged combat knife used by the samurai and is worn as part of the standard equipment together with the tachi, the long sword in saber form. Their production is very similar to that of a katana or wakizashi. The dagger was traditionally worn under a kind of kimono belt, the obi. Different forms of the Tantō dagger can be identified via the stitch blade. If the stitch blade (tsuba) is missing, the knife can be defined as aikuchi. For practice purposes, there are also practice tantōs, which are traditionally made of red oak.  

Tantōs also have a hand-forged blade with an angel (nakago) fixed by bamboo pins (mekugi). The handle (tsuka) is also made of ray skin and is wrapped in silk. A sheath (saya) made of lacquered wood including a cord (sageo) belongs to the tantō.