The wakizashi is a short sword used by the samurai class of Japan. But unlike the katana which was to be carried only by the samurai, the wakizashi was also carried by merchants and some civilians for protection. Its blade length ranges from 12 to 24 inches. Samurai usually wear a pair of swords, oftentimes a katana and a wakizashi and this pair was called a daisho. The wakizashi was considered a side arm and a back-up sword  and the samurai could wear it even when inside castles or royal residences compared to the katana that they had to leave behind. The wakizashi is useful in fighting indoors or in confined spaces. It was also used by the samurai to commit sepuku or ritual suicide.

Ryan1202 is a wakizashi with a blade made of folded steel. The blade is specially-folded during forging to create a beautiful, feathery hada. The tsuba, fuchi and kashira are made of iron with an antiqued finish. The tsuka has a hardwood core with rayskin panels and brown, synthetic silk ito. The saya is made of rosewood, a brown-colored hardwood with beautiful grain pattern. The koiguchi, kurikata and kojiri are made of polished, black buffalo horn.