Category:Nodachi

nodachi 

Japanese sword
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Instance of	weapon family
Subclass of	Japanese sword
Country of origin	Japan
Different from	ōdachi
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Nodachi (Field Sword), A very long and heavy sword which was used from ancient times by very strong men. The limit of extra length of this kind of sword in comparison with the sword ordinarily used by the same man is 25 per cent, so that if one's ordinary sword was 3 feet long, the nodachi would be 3 feet 9 inches. It is carried over the left shoulder with a narrow belt girdled from the left shoulder to the right side of the waist, so that the hilt will be over the left shoulder and the edge of the blade will be to the left.

The Nodachi is considered as Nihonto and was mostly used by infantry to block cavalry charges, however due to its long size, it was rather difficult to carry and use as an everyday sword, that's why the Samurai eventually abandoned it for more practical swords and weapons, the Nodachi was still used in rituals and to show off military and social power.