sakabato 

A variation of the standard Japanese katana in which the edge is crafted on the inside of the blade curve, whereas the flat side is placed on the outside of the curve. This blade, known as a "reverse-blade sword," is used in the same manner as a katana, but the user is not required to kill when wielding the sakabato. Strikes are made with the flat side of the blade, or with the hilt. Sakabato began as fictional weapons, originating in the manga Rurouni Kenshin, in which the main character, Himura Kenshin, wields a sakabato to uphold his vow never to kill, yet still protect his friends with his sword.

Now, Himura Kenshin is rurouni, a wanderer, and carries a reverse-edged sakabato blade, vowing to never kill another soul.

sakabato by Andorin Kato July 9, 2006

Sakabato 

A katana with a 'reverse' blade; meaning the traditional shape edge is dull and hard, and the flat back has the shape edges. This way, the sword delivers bliunt damage instead of cutting damage, ut the way it is crafted it is still VERY lethal by causing high, concentrated damage onto one spot.

The kind of sword used by Himura Kenshin in the manga known as Rurouni Kenshin.

And yes, I understand is makes NO FUCKIGN SENSE AT ALL, but you can eventually get the concept of it.

(BTW, thnx to The Dork Knight at the Anime and manga Social board from GameFAQS.com for explaining it to be originally)

Sakabato by RandyL October 16, 2003

sakabatou 

A reverse-blade sword. The sharpened (edge) and unsharpened (back) sides of the blade are transposed, allowing the user to perform traditional sword-wielding techniques with non-lethal results.

Since the opponent was struck with a Sakabatou sword, he was not cut, but instead was stunned.

sakabatou by soulDistortion October 29, 2003

sakabatou 

A sakabatou is the sword of a pacifist samurai. As killing opponents with the point of the sword was considered dishonorable, a sakabatou if used normally would only inflict blunt force trauma which would not be fatal.

Generally, the use of a sakabatou meant that the samurai had dishonored himself and had taken a vow to regain his honor.

Kenshin drew his sakabatou.

sakabatou by Petrodon April 14, 2004

sakabatou 

AKA sakabato. A fictional type of reverse-edged Japanese sword that has been made popular by Himura Kenshin (Eng: Kenshin Himura) in Ruroni Kenshin Meiji Kenkaku Romantan manga/anime (US, manga: Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story; anime: Samurai X). Generally, curvy swords are sharp on the part where the blade curves outward while the part that the blade curves inward is blunt. A sakabatou is sharp on the blade that curves inward instead, thus making it a pacifist or not deadly sword.

As the ninja left an opening, the samurai struck the ninja's stomach with his sakabatou; only to left the ninja to wonder painfully why he is not dead yet.

sakabatou by Urbanight April 3, 2008

sakabatou 

A sword which has an upside down blade, in the sense that the blunt end of a conventional katana is sharpened as opposed to the front end (the blunt side where the sharp side should typically be).

sakabatou by r6 July 21, 2003

sakabatou 

The weapon of choice used by Rurouni Kenshin protagonist Himura Kenshin after becoming a rurouni.

Literally meaning "reverse-edged sword," the sakabatou is just that. Instead of the blade being on the curved edged, the blade is actually where the blunt edge would be, with the blunt edge being on the curve. Thus, when used just like any normal katana, the sakabatou can't cut or kill: the perfect weapon for Kenshin since his oath to never kill again.

Though replicas have been reproduced, the sakabatou is purely the brainchild of RK creator Nobuhiro Watsuki, and no sword matching the sakabatou's description has ever been recorded in history.

Kenshin's sakabatou may not be able to kill you, but he can still beat the shit out of you.

sakabatou by gunslingergirlvy_c_e January 10, 2008