Japanese civilization has been marked by a series
of complex historical events, with quite distinct eras that seethed with wars
between the various clans. Soldiers thus constituted a major sector of the
population, which was why their weapons received special attention, undergoing
constant improvements as the years went by. The first weapon usually mentioned
is undoubtedly the sabre. Two thousand years ago this sabre had a straight
blade with a single cutting edge, as well as an oval guard and a large hollow
pommel, the Kabutsuchi No Tachi. Six hundred years later Chinese influence made
it felt with the appearance of the Chokuto, from which four variants would be
developed.
During the Asuka and Nara periods, that is to say
until 793B.C., there was a movement toward great diversity and rich decoration,
but it was above all between 794 and 1185 (Heian period) that the most
significant development occurred, with the blade becoming progressively curved.
Epochs succeeded each other, with each one
standing out due to particular modifications made to the various bladed
weapons. In 1876 an edict forbade the carrying of sabres by civilians.
Bladesmiths were thus obliged to reconvert, most of the time into tool
production. Without the efforts of certain individuals, the ancestral knowledge
of these “living national treasures” might well have disappeared forever.
The grading of Sabres depends on a multitude of
factors, including the type of mounting (jindachi, zukuri, buke sukuri and
shiri zayal), the period of manufacture (koto, shinto, and shin shinto) or even
the shape of the blade, as well as its length. If longer than 60 centimeters
then it is a daito (tachi and katana); between 30 and 60 centimeters it is a
shoto (essentially the short sabre called a wakisashi); shorter than 30
centimeters is a Tanto. There is thus no one Tanto, but a wide variety, since
it is a generic term roughly translated by “dagger.” Tantos include the
kwaiden, which is a little dagger without a guard that is usually slipped into
the folds of a kimono, as well as the aikuchi, more finely worked than the
former, or the hamidachi, which has a small tsuba (guard). There is a veritable
multitude of other knives in Japanese ancestral tradition, like those slipped
into the side of sword sheaths, notably wari bashi, kogai, umabari and
kogatana.
Although it is undoubtedly a knife, the tanto
belongs to the sabre family, in that it is designed, assembled and placed in a
sheath like other swords. It has also undergone the same modifications over the
centuries in terms of forging techniques, the shape and design of the blade,
and the shape of the point. Initially straight, then curved according to
intended use, a tanto blade has always been a fearsome thing, as can be seen
from the yoroi doshi, which was an armor piercer, and the “left hand,” employed
by those who practiced two-sabre combat.
The received idea is that the kissaki, the point
of the tanto, must always have that unique beveled profile. In fact, there are
ten-odd different profiles, each one corresponding to a particular use,
requirement, and epoch or forging tradition. Needless to say they are all
listed, graded and coded.
Although it is far from being the everyday knife
of all Japanese, the tanto is changed with history and tradition, becoming as
legendary as those valiant samurai who carried it with them always.
The
Modern Tanto
In the knife world, it is essential to search
continuously for new shapes to please a demanding clientele. Since imagination
sometimes runs dry, many have sought their inspiration elsewhere. A traditional
knife is often an excellent source from which to work. Various epochs are
regularly trawled, as well as foreign countries both near and far. While Japan
is a country reputed for its cutlery tradition, it is quite surprising that the
original shapes of its blades were totally ignored by Western craftsmen.
This is what led Lynn C. Thompson, an American
bladesmith and serious martial arts practitioner, to commence an adventure that
led to an explosion of planetary “tantomania” in 1981. For the range of modern
tantos that he launched on to the market under the “Cold Steel” brand which was
an instant success. With a slightly curved blade, beveled handle, metal pommel
and leather or heat-molded Kydex sheath, the resemblance was perfect.
A good example of a Cold Steel Knife
Publicity material related that the quality of
the steel and its tempering made this blade indestructible, just like the
tantos and katanas of the samurai.
In the United State, Europe and even Japan,
retailers were constantly running out of stock for two years running. This
tanto vogue did not go unnoticed by other knifemakers, who all set to making
their own modern tanto. The most talented were Bob Lunn, Timberline, Doyal
Nolen, Bill Pease, Warren Osborne, Phil Hartsfield, Don Fogg, Michael Bell, and
Don Polizien. The tanto fashion has somewhat eased off now, but he genre is far
from being abandoned and some even make it their specialty.
