What is the standard length and weight range of a wakizashi in this collection?
Updated Feb 2026
Wakizashi in this collection are companion swords with a blade length typically between 40 and 60 centimeters, producing an overall length in saya of approximately 60 to 80 centimeters depending on the specific model's blade length and handle dimensions. This places them clearly in the wakizashi range - longer than a tanto at 30 to 40 centimeters blade length and shorter than a katana at 60 to 75 centimeters blade length. The weight of a wakizashi in saya is typically 600 grams to 1.1 kilograms, lighter than a full-length katana which usually runs 1.0 to 1.5 kilograms in saya. The shorter length and lower weight change the character of the sword in the hand: a wakizashi is more maneuverable and the balance point sits closer to the handle, giving it a quick, precise character compared to the longer reach and different balance of a katana. For display purposes, the wakizashi's shorter profile relative to the katana is part of what makes the daisho display visually informative - the size relationship between the two swords communicates something about the range of blade types in the Japanese tradition.