Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-5405361-20130408110659/@comment-5551986-20130627123949

Stefan (Shikai - "Rust & Shatter") wrote: I believe the shorter blade's defensive qualities lie in its small size. It's light-weight, very mobile and it has a closed grip to protect the hand. These qualities are excellent for parrying incoming attacks.

With his old Bankai, Ichigo was able to fend off Senbonzakura Kageyoshi's billion blades, using only enhanced speed and Zangetsu, so his current short sword might be used in a similar fashion.

Perhaps it will even turn into a shield with Ichigo's new Bankai? That'd be interesting to see and it would give Ichigo a new look of the traditional sword & shield soldier. He'd go from a hybrid to being a tank, so to speak. :) I don't see it becoming a shield. Bleach and Shinigami follow a Japanese motif. Japanese people when using samurai swords forsake shields and heavy steel armor for pure speed and mobility, even then steel armor could rust in Japans medieval humidity. It would be nice to see, but I doubt it.