For example, the Shinkage-ryu school fixes the length at about 100 cm, or for kodachi (small sword) at about 53 cm, coating the leather sleeve that covers the sword with red lacquer to protect the surface from wear and tear; the seam of the sleeve is used to represent the sword's blade.
新陰流では、革に赤漆を施して表面の劣化を防ぎ、全長を三尺三寸（小太刀一尺七寸五分）と定め、縫い目を以って刃と見立てる。