Ninjas have been a popular subject in pop culture for decades now. They're often depicted as mysterious warriors who use ninjutsu to fight crime, command armies in battle, and even make us look like chumps because they can kill us with a single blow. So then: who were these guys? Were they just mythological characters designed to give TV networks an exciting backstory? Well, that's what I'm going to tell you today: the real deal on ninja weapons and ninja swords!

The word "ninja" first appeared in texts from the late 1800s which described how fighter-monks cloaked in black would use ninja techniques for military espionage and sabotage. They were believed to be a fictional concept, the "shogun's army under the sea," but in reality, they were an actual group of people called the "Shonin." 

They were a group of high-ranking samurai who specialized in espionage and were tasked with spying on and disrupting the enemy's troop movements. Shonin could disguise themselves as anyone they wanted and could blend into any society, but they still needed a way to communicate with each other. To do this, each ninja would take turns writing messages on pieces of paper and passing them to their comrades through tunnels dug between each company.

A Description of Ninja Swords

A ninja sword is a sword that was traditionally used in feudal Japan by the ninja. The term "ninja" refers to the word "shinobi no mono" meaning "those who are skilled in espionage". The word for their swords is katana. Ninja swords were made as weapons, but they also had other functions, like being used as household items instead of stealthy tools or spying devices. 

It is believed that some people could use the blades to channel energy and make them sharper than before due to concentration and skills. The weapons were usually hidden inside walking sticks, umbrellas, plants, etc. and there are many examples of how ninja swords were used. These include using them to slash a rope that held a bridge, slashing machine gun bullets in half, and even piercing through thick wooden gates or barriers.

The weapons were usually paired with the ninja's other stealthy weapon, the shuriken. The shuriken is like a throwing star but could be modified with extra blades or poison. The make of the swords was very similar to the make of normal samurai swords. They have basic shapes and many sharp sides to them. The blades are around three to four inches long and very thin in appearance due to the way they are forged from different metals and layered.


History of Ninjas and Their Swords

The history of ninjas and their swords is just as complicated, varied, and often contradictory as the culture and traditions surrounding them. Regardless of the historical inaccuracies or embellishments that may have been made to present a particular ninja in a more heroic light, these fabled warriors still continue to captivate people around the world today.

The number of stories surrounding these elusive individuals is vastly vast so it would be impossible to list all of them here. As far back as Kagemitsu Hoshino, a Chinese Kung Fu master did in 1596, ninja literature has been noted as being influenced by their sword skills. The first known use of an actual sword on the battlefield occurred during the Japanese War against Korea.

At this time ninjas were already closely associated with warriors of past Japanese histories. During the course of these wars, many weapons were appropriated by warriors from both fighting schools to assist in war acts to defend against the other side's tactics and attacks. It was common practice to exchange weapons during this time.

Ninjas had also been given roles of espionage, sabotage, and assassination which often required a more frontal attack rather than the less risky ambushes that were commonly used by ninjas. Therefore, these new tactics required some changes in weaponry for the ninjas. The changing nature of the ninja and the need for more offensive equipment has created an interesting history associated with ninjas and their ninja swords.

Popular Ninja Swords

Ninja swords are flexible types of blades that have a long tang and typically have one sharp edge and one blunt edge. They can be used as both slashing or stabbing weapons, depending on the type of sword style.

A ninja sword is also known as a shinobi katana, which is an example of this type of weapon whose historically accurate name is unknown. There are various types, usually distinguished by their length, width, shape, and method of attaching the handguard to the blade. Some ninjato were straight with a weight toward the tip and some curved in profile toward the point or backstrap. Here are some famous swords and their characteristics:

1. The sword used by the Dragon Ninja in the manga/anime "Naruto" has a chokuto-style blade, but since the Dragon Ninja is also a shinobi, it's more than likely that this sword also uses wakizashi-style blades. It is a katana sword with a hilt made of gold and silver metal, having two tsuba – one on each side. 


The sword's blade is curved and double-edged with a single groove in the middle. This type of ninja katana can be adorned with gold or silver plates on both sides of the hilt or just on one side, depending on its owner's preferences.

2. The sword used by the Fire Ninja is a chokuto-style blade. This type of sword can be decorated with gold plates or silver plates on both sides of the hilt, depending on its owner's preferences. However, this blade type is famous for its slightly curved and double-edged blade. The Dragon Ninja in "Naruto" uses this type of ninja katana.

3. The sword used by the Wind Ninja resembles a shinobi katana in terms of shape and sheath design. However, it's a katana sword with a sharp blade.

4. The sword used by the Water Ninja is a katana sword, but with a slightly curved blade that's also double-edged.

5. The sword used by the Earth Ninja is a chokuto-style blade which is an example of this type of weapon whose historically accurate name is unknown. Like the Wind Ninja's sword, it resembles the shinobi katana in terms of shape and sheath design without the silver/gold plates on both sides of the hilt.

Characteristics of Ninja Swords

Ninja swords often ended with a gold tsuba that was decorated with an animal motif. These swords were typically forged by finding suitable metal ore such as carbon steel or bronze, then cutting out the shape of the blade before working it over with intense heat to harden it. The blade was then shaped and tempered with a file and stone. The metal was folded several times before quenching the blade in water to harden it. 

The smith would repeat the process several times, alternating between heat and cold, to increase the strength of the blade's steel. The blade was ground down on a large whetstone while oil was applied. The entire sword could be decorated with gold or silver inlays that often included inscriptions or symbols, such as dragons or clouds.

 Another common practice was engraving a dragon on one side, which represented the kami of rain for farmers, and a tiger on the other, representing strength against enemies. The dragon might be turned around to face the other way, which was a symbol of protection from fire. Different types of metal were used for different blades. 

The blade on a sword that signified strength would be made of an iron-based material like Japanese wakizashi or katana, while a lighter blade would be made from steel. The length and width of the blade varied depending on the intended use. Longer blades were often better suited for chopping and thrusting. Lighter blades were easier to use for archery, as they cut through the air more easily and could also be used in quick movements.

The Popularity of Ninja Swords!

Ninja swords are very popular in the fantasy world, due to their historically stealthy and mysterious nature as well as their effectiveness on the battlefield. They became one of the main weapons used by ninjas in fiction after they became popularized in American television shows during the 1960s. The popularity of ninjas in fiction began with the Japanese legend of Momotaro and has continued ever since. 

The concept of using a sword for stealth attacks from behind an enemy is well-known if not commonly implemented, so most people can imagine how such a tactic would be useful to a trained warrior. In reality, swordplay for the ninja would not have been as flashy or powerful as portrayed by modern fiction, nor would it have been used only from behind an enemy. This sword was not a large katana with a curved blade and ornate guard, but rather a straight-edged dagger used for silent strikes and close combat.