Wakizashi

The wakizashi is the samurai's companion sword — the shorter blade worn alongside the katana as the daisho pair. Where the katana stayed at the door, the wakizashi stayed at the samurai's side indoors, which made it the more personal of the two blades.

Every wakizashi here is hand-forged in 1095 high-carbon or pattern-welded Damascus steel. Specifications vary by design, so check each product page for its listed steel, hardness, construction and dimensions. Most designs can be engraved or built to order in our custom builder.

Pairing a daisho? Full-length blades are in our katana collection, and every fitting is named in our katana anatomy diagram. Or browse all of our swords.

Wakizashi FAQ

What is a wakizashi used for?

The wakizashi was the samurai's constant companion — worn indoors where the katana was set aside, used in close quarters, and carried as the second half of the daisho pair that marked samurai status. For modern collectors it's the most displayable Japanese blade: full katana character at companion size.

How long is a wakizashi?

Traditionally between 12 and 24 inches of blade — longer than a tanto, shorter than a katana. Ours follow the classic proportions, with exact lengths on each product page.

Are your wakizashi functional or decorative?

Functional. Each is hand-forged in high-carbon or folded Damascus steel with a full tang and real heat treatment, built to the same standard as our katanas. Display-only pieces are labeled as such.