Chain weapon
Encyclopedia
A chain weapon is a weapon
made of one or more heavy objects attached to a chain, sometimes with a handle. The flail
was one of the more common types of chain weapons associated with medieval Europe, although some flails used hinges instead of chains.
. The shoge was a ring with a sickle-like knife on a chain that could be used to pierce armor, grapple, and to entangle the legs of man and horse. The kusari-gama was a kama
on a handled chain. The chigriki
was a staff with a weighted chain on the end. The manriki-gusari was a double weighted chain. The nunchaku
was a short chain with two short wooden sticks on the ends.
The nunchaku is often thought of as a feudal weapon. It was used in those times for farming and not as a weapon until much later.
Weapon
A weapon, arm, or armament is a tool or instrument used with the aim of causing damage or harm to living beings or artificial structures or systems...
made of one or more heavy objects attached to a chain, sometimes with a handle. The flail
Flail (weapon)
The flail is a hand weapon derived from the agricultural tool.The handle is attached to the striking part of a weapon by a flexible chain or cord...
was one of the more common types of chain weapons associated with medieval Europe, although some flails used hinges instead of chains.
Chain weapons in Japan
There were several chain weapons that were used in feudal Japan; these weapons were allegedly used by the ninjaNinja
A or was a covert agent or mercenary of feudal Japan specializing in unorthodox arts of war. The functions of the ninja included espionage, sabotage, infiltration, and assassination, as well as open combat in certain situations...
. The shoge was a ring with a sickle-like knife on a chain that could be used to pierce armor, grapple, and to entangle the legs of man and horse. The kusari-gama was a kama
Kama (weapon)
The is a traditional Filipino and Japanese farming implement similar to a small scythe used for reaping crops and also employed as a weapon...
on a handled chain. The chigriki
Chigriki
The chigiriki is a Japanese flail weapon. It consists of a solid or hollow wood or iron staff with an iron weight and chain on the end, sometimes retractable. The chigiriki is a more aggressive variation of the parrying weapon kusarigama. It can be used to strike or entangle the opponent as well...
was a staff with a weighted chain on the end. The manriki-gusari was a double weighted chain. The nunchaku
Nunchaku
is a traditional Okinawan weapon consisting of two sticks connected at their ends with a short chain or rope.-Etymology:The Japanese word nunchaku is the Kun'yomi reading of the Kanji term for a traditional Chinese two section staff....
was a short chain with two short wooden sticks on the ends.
The nunchaku is often thought of as a feudal weapon. It was used in those times for farming and not as a weapon until much later.
See also
- Flail (weapon)Flail (weapon)The flail is a hand weapon derived from the agricultural tool.The handle is attached to the striking part of a weapon by a flexible chain or cord...
- BolasBolasBolas are a throwing weapon superficially similar to the surujin, made of weights on the ends of interconnected cords, designed to capture animals by entangling their legs...
- Chain whipChain whipThe chain whip is a weapon used in some Asian martial arts, including Chinese martial arts, in addition to modern and traditional wushu. It consists of several metal rods, which are joined end-to-end by rings to form a flexible chain. Generally, the whip has a handle at one end and a metal dart,...
- Manriki (different from a manriki-gusari)
- Meteor hammerMeteor hammerThe meteor hammer , often referred to simply as meteor, is an ancient Chinese weapon, consisting at its most basic level of two weights connected by a rope or chain. One of the flexible or 'soft' weapons, it is referred to by many different names worldwide, dependent upon region, construction and...
- SlungshotSlungshotA slungshot is a maritime tool consisting of a weight, or "shot," affixed to the end of a long cord often by being wound into the center of a knot called a "Monkey's fist." It is used to cast line from one location to another, often mooring line...
(not the same thing as a slingshot) - SurujinSurujinThe surujin or suruchin is one of the traditional weapons of Okinawan Kobudo. It comprises a 2–3 metre long rope with a weight tied to each end. Historically this weapon is very prevalent and can be found attached to a weapon or used separately...
- Tabak-ToyokTabak-ToyokThe Tabak-Toyok is a Filipino weapon closely related to the Okinawan nunchaku. The primary difference between the Filipino version and other versions of the weapon is that the Tabak-Toyok tends to have shorter handles as well as a longer chain. Each handle is approximately four inches long. The...
- Three section staff
- Kusari-fundoKusari-fundoKusari-fundo is a hand held weapon used in feudal Japan consisting of a length of chain with a weight connected to each end of the chain. Various sizes and shapes of chain and weight were used as there was no set rule on the construction of these weapons...
- Rope dartRope dartThe rope dart or rope javelin , also known as Jōhyō in Japanese,is one of the flexible weapons in Chinese martial arts. Other weapons in this family include the meteor hammer, flying claws, and chain whip...
(loosely speaking) - List of Mêlée weapons (Chain weapons have their own extensive section)