Ninja Swords
The ninjato is the specialized sword that was developed in ninjutsu to aid in speed and stealth. As compared to finely crafted katana of the samurai, real ninja swords, like most ninja weapons were usually made cheaply and quickly out of whatever materials were on hand. Ninjato were usually longer and straighter then katana, though they were often carried in katana saya, or scabbard, for both concealment, and so that it could be drawn and wielded faster than an opponent expected. Modern ninja swords also usually have a square tsuba, or hand guard, although historically that was not necessarily the rule.