Who carried wakizashis??

[William Eledge]

Last weekend I went to a show & saw a nice handmade blade wakizashi......So.....Aside from the occasional pilot, what Japanese troops were allowed to carry wakizashis??

Thanks, Bill

[Stu W]

Reference material indicates others serving in confined space were eligible to carry them as well. An example being those officers assigned to crew a tank.

Perhaps the physical stature of the wearer also dictated the length of the sword somewhat. Particularly in the case of civilian members of the armed forces who provided their own weapons during home front security duties.

Regards,
Stu

[Brian Robinson]

Seen plenty of family blades taken to war that were wakizashi in standard katana length mounts, and many in wakizashi mounts with some military fittings too. Doesn't look like they were too strict about the swords taken to war judging by the number of them you come across that are not the standard pattern.

Brian