Why does the ninja sword look so much different than the samurai sword?
(UY Vol 2, #14) The Ninja sword was completely different than the Samurai’s blade both in its meaning and in appearance. The katana was an almost mystical symbol of the samurai’s class whereas the shinobikatana was merely another tool used by the ninja. The samurai’s sword was crafted by master swordsmiths but the ninja’s sword was of very poor quality, little more than a length of sharpened iron. It was a straight blade, shorter than the samurai sword and with an oversized tsuba or handguard. The scabbard was about three inches longer than the blade to accommodate a hidden compartment in which powders or poisons could be stored. The ninja carried his sword across his back and the shorter, straight blade made drawing it in confined areas such as low-ceilinged Japanese homes easier than a samurai-type sword.
