Tantō

A tanto is a traditionally made Japanese knife that was worn by the samurai class of feudal Japan. It dates to the Heian period, when it was mainly used as a weapon, and its design evolved over the years to become more ornate. Tanto were used in traditional martial arts and in the seppuku suicide ritual. The term has seen a resurgence in the West since the 1980s, referring to a point style of modern tactical knives designed for piercing or stabbing, though this style is not present on any traditional tanto.