The blades became thinner between the ura and the omote, and wider between the ha and mune. Gunomi-midare and suguha are found to have taken its place.ĭuring the era of the Northern and Southern Courts, the tantō were forged to be up to forty centimeters as opposed to the normal one shaku (about thirty centimeters) length. The hamon (line of temper) is similar to that of the tachi, except for the absence of choji-midare, which is nioi and utsuri. The introduction of the Hachiman faith became visible in the carvings in the hilts around this time. Because of the style introduced by the tachi in the late Kamakura period, tantō began to be forged longer and wider. Near the middle of the Kamakura period, more tantō artisans were seen, increasing the abundance of the weapon, and the kanmuri-otoshi style became prevalent in the cities of Kyoto and Yamato.
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With the beginning of the Kamakura period, tantō were forged to be more aesthetically pleasing, and hira and uchi-sori tantō becoming the most popular styles. The tantō was invented partway through the Heian period.
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Tantō by Hyūga Masamune, 24.8cm, Unsigned Masamune, Formerly in the possession of Ishida Mitsunari, who gave it to his brother-in-law the tantō was stolen during the Battle of Sekigahara by Mizuno Katsushige, governor of Hyūga Province, Kamakura period, Mitsui Memorial Museum, Tokyo.
![way of the samurai 1 combat way of the samurai 1 combat](https://i.pinimg.com/236x/ef/1d/9a/ef1d9ac8001e83bc20b5b06fa6a872d5--fit-club-marshal-arts.jpg)
The tantō was designed primarily as a stabbing weapon, but the edge can be used for slashing as well. The blade is single or double edged with a length between 15 and 30 cm (1 Japanese shaku). The tantō is a dagger, but is used as a knife.