| Most ninjas were not known to be good | | | | the Mountain sword [Yamagatana] because it was |
| swordsmen. There were a few who could handle | | | | designed for multiple uses like cutting wood (which |
| a sword well in combat, but for most ninja, | | | | was often done by ninja when in disguise as |
| getting into a sword duel was not desirable since | | | | commoners). |
| they preferred the more "elusive" way to | | | | The ninja sword's blade was straight, unlike the |
| assassinate a target. If they were to use a | | | | curved samurai sword, which made it strong |
| sword in combat, you could assume that they | | | | enough so the ninja could use it as a step for |
| would have a small handful of "dirty" tricks up | | | | climbing high places such as mansion walls. They |
| their sleeves (or sheaths) that would give them a | | | | also used their sword to carve wooden devices, |
| great advantage in a sword fight. Samurai | | | | rope, and cloth. The knotted rope [Sageo] which |
| despised ninjas for their lack of honor and | | | | connected the sheath to the sword was nine feet |
| because they never fought fair. Ninjas were | | | | long, which was much longer than the rope used |
| known to have "sneaky" tactics and would often | | | | for other kinds of swords. The long connecting |
| use their knowledge of chemistry to create | | | | rope was thrown up over the wall until it caught |
| blinding powder (hidden in their sheaths) or gun | | | | securely on the top of the wall and used as an |
| powder bombs to disable or disorient their | | | | anchor to then pull themselves up. The sword |
| enemies in close combat. Another little known fact | | | | guard, called the Tsuba, was much stronger and |
| is that the typical ninja would often use a flintlock | | | | wider than the samurai sword so it too could be |
| gun first before drawing a sword if a choice | | | | used as a step for climbing. When they got up to |
| presented itself. | | | | the top of the wall, the long rope attached was |
| There are a few distinctions about the ninja | | | | drawn in the sheath. |
| sword that should be mentioned. The edge of the | | | | Since ninja blended into their surroundings as |
| ninja sword blade was not like that of the samurai | | | | commoners, merchants, monks, and farmers, |
| sword. A samurai sword was double-bladed and | | | | they concealed their weapons when traveling. |
| designed with the strict intention that it would be | | | | Carrying a long curved samurai sword around that |
| used to kill an opponent in combat. Unlike the ninja | | | | was made for combat would not have been easy |
| sword, which was used as a tool more often than | | | | to explain if they were disguised as a monk or |
| for combat, the samurai sword was not suitable | | | | farmer. The shorter and straighter ninja sword |
| for chopping wood, making holes, or scraping | | | | was much easier to conceal in a bundle of wood |
| wood. The authentic ninja sword was similar to a | | | | or looked like a regular "tool" a tradesmen would |
| scythe in that it was single-edged, instead of | | | | use for work. |
| double-edged. Occasionally, this sword was called | | | | |