The naginata usually has a 212.1cm long shaft and 30.3cm long blade, and since it was developed from a Japanese style sword by attaching a shaft, it remains some characteristics of a sword like a handguard and an oval-shaped cross-section of a shaft.
薙刀は通常柄の長さは7尺、刃は1尺程度であり、日本刀に柄をつけたものから発達したため、鍔があり、柄の断面も楕円形を呈している。