The naginata is Japan's most iconic polearm: a curved, single-edged blade mounted on a long hardwood shaft, carried for centuries by samurai, warrior monks, and the onna-musha who defended samurai households. This hand-forged naginata measures 71 inches overall, pairing an 18-inch blade of 1095 high-carbon steel with a 53-inch hardwood shaft. The blade is forged, heat treated, and hand sharpened by master smiths with a hammered forge finish, then seated with a full tang and reinforced collar fittings for genuine battle-ready construction. Most orders ship promptly from our Illinois warehouse, and custom engraving is completed in-house before your naginata leaves our facility.
Specifications
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Overall length: 71 inches
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Blade length: 18 inches
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Handle length: 53 inches
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Blade steel: 1095 high-carbon, hammered forge finish
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Shaft: Hardwood with brass-accented fittings and butt cap
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Construction: Full tang, reinforced collar fittings, battle-ready
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Engraving: Optional, completed in-house at our Illinois workshop
The 1095 High-Carbon Steel Blade
The blade on this naginata is forged from 1095 high-carbon steel, the classic workhorse of traditional blademaking. With roughly 0.95 percent carbon content, 1095 takes an exceptionally keen edge and holds it well, which is why it has remained a favorite of smiths for generations of functional swords and polearms.
Our smiths forge the blade to shape, heat treat it for the right balance of hardness and resilience, and hand sharpen the edge. This blade carries a hammered forge finish along the upper face, preserving the texture of the smith's work while the edge is ground and polished sharp. It is an honest, traditional look that pairs naturally with the warm hardwood shaft and brass fittings. Each blade passes our four quality control checkpoints before it is mounted and shipped.
History of the Naginata
The naginata emerged in Japan during the Heian period (794 to 1185), when warriors needed a weapon that combined the reach of a spear with the sweeping geometry of a curved sword. It became the signature arm of the sohei, the warrior monks of Japan's great temple complexes, whose naginata were feared across the battlefields of the Genpei War.
Through the Kamakura and Muromachi periods the naginata held its place as a premier battlefield polearm, controlling space in wide arcs where the straight-bladed yari could only thrust. By the Edo period it had taken on a second identity as the weapon of the samurai household, closely associated with onna-musha, the women of warrior families. A finely mounted naginata was a traditional part of a samurai bride's dowry, and at 71 inches with an 18-inch blade, this model sits close to the trimmer ko-naginata pattern that tradition favored, a size that displays beautifully indoors.
Anatomy of a Naginata
A traditional naginata is built from a handful of distinct components, each with its own name and purpose:
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Blade (naginata-mi): The curved, single-edged cutting blade, 18 inches on this model, forged and sharpened like a sword blade.
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Tang (nakago): The extension of the blade that seats deep into the shaft. A long, properly fitted nakago is what separates a genuine naginata from a decorative one.
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Shaft (ebu): The long hardwood pole, traditionally oval in cross-section rather than round, which distinguishes it from a simple spear haft.
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Collar (habaki and sendan-maki): The fittings and binding that reinforce the junction where blade meets shaft, one of the most stressed points on any polearm. This model uses blackened fittings with brass accents at the junction.
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Butt cap (ishizuki): The metal fitting at the base of the shaft, finished in brass on this model, which protects the wood and balances the weapon's profile.
Craftsmanship and Quality
Every Battling Blades naginata is hand forged by master smiths through our direct workshop relationships, not mass produced. The 1095 blade is forged, heat treated, and sharpened by hand, then mounted with a full tang and reinforced fittings. This is battle-ready construction: a real forged weapon built to the same standard as our swords, not a wall-hanger casting. Custom engraving and etching are completed at our own facility in Illinois, so personalized orders never leave our quality control chain before shipping.
A Centerpiece for Any Collection
At just under six feet, this naginata brings commanding presence at a size that fits more display spaces than full battlefield polearms. It anchors a Japanese arms collection alongside a katana and yari, stands alone as a display centerpiece, and makes a striking heritage gift, with the hammered 1095 blade and brass fittings giving it a distinctly traditional character.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a naginata?
A naginata is a traditional Japanese polearm consisting of a curved, single-edged blade mounted on a long wooden shaft. It was used by samurai, warrior monks (sohei), and onna-musha from the Heian period onward, valued for its reach and sweeping blade geometry.
Is this naginata battle-ready?
Yes. This naginata features a hand-forged 1095 high-carbon blade with a full tang, properly seated into a hardwood shaft with reinforced collar fittings. It is built to the same quality standard as our swords, with heat treatment and hand sharpening at every step. It is a genuine forged weapon, not a decorative casting.
What is 1095 steel?
1095 is a high-carbon steel containing roughly 0.95 percent carbon. It is one of the most trusted steels in traditional blademaking because it takes a very sharp edge, holds that edge well, and responds beautifully to heat treatment. It is the classic choice for functional swords and polearms.
Is 1095 steel strong?
Yes. Properly heat treated 1095 delivers an excellent balance of edge hardness and toughness, which is why it has served as a standard for functional blades for generations. Combined with a full tang and reinforced fittings, it makes for a resilient, battle-ready polearm.
How long is this naginata?
This model measures 71 inches overall, with an 18-inch blade and a 53-inch hardwood shaft. Historical naginata typically ranged from about 5 to 7 feet, and this piece sits near the trimmer ko-naginata end of that range, which makes it especially well suited to indoor display.
How quickly does it ship?
Most naginata are in stock and ship promptly from our warehouse in Illinois. If you add custom engraving, we complete it in-house, which adds minimal time to your order.
How do I care for a 1095 steel blade?
Keep the blade lightly oiled and store it in a dry environment. 1095 is a high-carbon steel and not stainless, so a thin coat of mineral oil after handling prevents rust and preserves both the edge and the hammered finish.
What's the difference between a naginata and a yari?
Both are Japanese polearms, but a yari has a straight, spear-style blade designed for thrusting, while a naginata has a curved, sword-like blade suited to sweeping arcs. Collectors often display the two together as complementary pieces.
What's the difference between a naginata and a katana?
The blades share similar curved, single-edged geometry, but the naginata mounts its blade on a long shaft while the katana is a handheld sword. The naginata's added reach made it a battlefield weapon, while the katana became the samurai's signature sidearm. Many collectors pair the two as the centerpiece of a Japanese arms display.
What is the difference between a ko-naginata and an o-naginata?
The ko-naginata is the smaller pattern, with a shorter blade and lighter shaft, historically associated with onna-musha, the women of samurai households. The o-naginata is the larger battlefield version favored by warrior monks and infantry, with a longer, heavier blade. At 71 inches, this model sits close to the ko-naginata tradition.
