Short side swords were always kept on hand and were not left at home or when on a visit.
Originally, TANTO was used. The blades were up to 30 cm long. The sets were small, compact, and comfortable. They were commonly worn with both armor and civilian kimonos.
Later, wakizashi began to be used, with lengths ranging from 30 to 60 cm. These already had a set resembling a long sword, with longer handles and larger guards. They were also carried separately without a long sword, for example by servants, pikemen, arquebusiers, etc.
In times of peace, they were supplied in identical sets with longer swords and formed a daisho. The lengths settled at 62-69 cm for the katana and approximately 45 cm for the wakizashi.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, wakizashi also became popular among merchants and craftsmen, who were not allowed to carry long swords. To bypass this regulation, they had longer sets resembling katanas made for wakizashi blades. However, these works were never worn by samurai. Often of poor quality, the blades are beautifully decorated with precious metals and stones. Their main purpose is to draw attention to the wealth of the owner. Such a crafted “object” is no longer a weapon, but rather a beautiful piece of jewelry.