Japanese Kursarigama

By Crusader1307

An innovative, close quarters combat weapon – The Kursarigama developed around the 14th Century. Consisting of 2 components, each weapon was made of reinforced, sturdy wood. Standardized at 3.5 feet long in some varieties, a long (6 to 8-inch) curved blade was attached at the top of each handle. Razor sharp and single-edged, they resembled a small “sickle”. The would be used in tandem as a cutting and slashing weapon. Properly trained, a Warrior could even “unsword” an attacker. In their evolution, weighted chains were also attached at the ends of the handles (thus increasing their effectiveness as multi-purpose weapons). Gripping handles (at their end), were also developed later in the 16th Century.