When is a knife no longer considered a knife in terms of blade length?

[parbajtor]

Tanto's are considered to be knives/daggers. Wakizashi's are short swords, usually ranging from about 14" - 20" blade length. There is a degree of overlap depending on period of manufacture and you get additional classifications of "O" (long) and "Ko" (short).

While the japanese words for sword are "to" and "ken" you'd hardly describe a shuriken as a "throwing sword"

 

[gine]

In my mind over 12 inches is a sword or machete.

 

[XiaolongJackson]

When a blade is this tiny, it's safe to stop calling it a knife.

Ever heard of a wood carving knife?

Tanto's are considered to be knives/daggers.

Daggers are knives with double edged blades that are symmetrical width-wise and taper drastically to a fine tip, which you'll notice is not characteristic of tantos, which are generally straightback blades and single edged. Also, they're not.

 

[XQ42A]

Thanks for answering my question. Where i live there isn't a limit on how long your knife can be. So I'm looking for a knife that completely resembles a sword but is still a knife. lol.

 

[Dorito Monk]

Ever heard of a wood carving knife?

Yes. Why do you ask - do these look like wood carving knives to you?

Study carefully...Knowing the difference could one day save your life. :thumbup:

I think when the blade is so small that it becomes impossible to cut through enough layers of skin to make yourself bleed, you can safely stop calling it a 'knife' and call it a 'safety cutter'.

 

[Dr Heelhook]

I've heard tantos being called short swords too, by Japanese people in fact. They are also referred to as daggers sometimes, despite the fact that they're not double edged, because of the mere fact that they are knives made for fighting/stabbing.

I think it's pretty hard to draw clear lines between all he definitions here.

 

[stabman]

I'll jump in with the arbitrary rule of 12 inches of blade length.
Above that it's a sword or machete.
Feel free to disregard this arbitrary decision of mine though.

 

[Shawn_Jewell]

12 inches sounds about right

 

[XiaolongJackson]

Yes. Why do you ask - do these look like wood carving knives to you?

Study carefully...Knowing the difference could one day save your life. :thumbup:

I think when the blade is so small that it becomes impossible to cut through enough layers of skin to make yourself bleed, you can safely stop calling it a 'knife' and call it a 'safety cutter'.

Ah. I thought that entire nib was the blade. You're right. That's about as much a knife as a straight pin is.