The murder weapon in my WIP is about 8" long and very sharp. I prefer something with teeth on the top edge, closer to the handle, curved (resembles something of a filet knife).
Earlier in the ms, the killer purchases this dagger (to add to his collection) from a Guns and Knife Show for around $1000.
All ideas are greatly appreciated.
The Japanese tanto can be anywhere from 15 to 30 cm, which, in Japanese, would be one shaku. Most tanto are curved. The sori, curvature, is generally much less than a katana, wakizashi, and especially a tachi, but most had curves to accentuate slashing. Primarily, it was a stabbing dagger in combat, but its slight curve not only gives it added strength due to the martensite composition compared to the lower carbon spine (for durability and a very sharp edge) but also allowed it to cut and slash.
They were not, however, serrated in any which way or form. That would ruin the concept of a curve, which would slow the slash down and make the wound far less deep (although more wide, instead).
A handmade one could go for $10,000 if antique, $4,000 if not and also made in Japan. Made in other countries, not with traditional tamahagane, it can range anywhere from $500 to $1,500. The tanto I use in practice is $450, made from Swedish powdered steel, with some cost-cutting measures, such as reducing the samegawa to inserts instead of full wrapping.
