The , also known as ''hachiwari'', was a type of knife-shaped weapon, resembling a ''

jitte A is a blunt melee weapon that was used by police in Edo-period Japan (1603–1868). In English-language sources, it is sometimes incorrectly spelled jutte, such as in Ikkaku-ryū juttejutsu. History In feudal Japan, it was a crime punishable ...

'' in many respects. This weapon was carried as a side-arm by the ''

samurai The samurai () were members of the warrior class in Japan. They were originally provincial warriors who came from wealthy landowning families who could afford to train their men to be mounted archers. In the 8th century AD, the imperial court d ...

'' class of

feudal Japan The first human inhabitants of the Japanese archipelago have been traced to the Paleolithic, around 38–39,000 years ago. The Jōmon period, named after its cord-marked pottery, was followed by the Yayoi period in the first millennium BC whe ...

Types

''Kabutowari'' were usually around long; some larger versions are around long. There were two types of ''kabutowari'': a

dirk A dirk is a long-bladed thrusting dagger.Chisholm, Hugh (ed.); "Dagger", ''Encyclopædia Britannica'', 11th ed., Vol. VII, New York, NY: Cambridge University Press (1910), p. 729. Historically, it gained its name from the Highland dirk (Scott ...

-type and a truncheon-type. The dirk-type was

forged Forging is a manufacturing process involving the shaping of metal using localized compression (physics), compressive forces. The blows are delivered with a hammer (often a power hammer) or a die (manufacturing), die. Forging is often classif ...

with a sharp dirk-like point,Cunningham, Don. ''Taiho-Jutsu: Law and Order in the Age of the Samurai''. p. 75. which could be used to parry an opponent's sword, to hook the cords of armor or a helmet, or like a

can opener A can opener (North American and Australian English) or tin opener (British English) is a mechanical device used to open metal tin cans. Although preservation of food using tin cans had been practiced since at least 1772 in the Netherlands, the ...

to separate armor plates. The sharp point could pierce unprotected or weak areas of an opponent's armor like the armpit area. The blade of this type of ''kabutowari'' was a curved tapered square iron or steel bar with a hook on its back edge. In combat, one could parry and catch a blade with that hook, as with a

. Some ''kabutowari'' of this type were mounted in the style of a ''

tantō A is a traditionally made Japanese knife () that was worn by the samurai class of feudal Japan. The dates to the Heian period, when it was mainly used as a weapon but evolved in design over the years to become more ornate. were used in tradit ...

'' with a '' koshirae''. The truncheon-type was

blunt Blunt may refer to: * Blunt (surname), a surname (and list of people with the name) * Blunt (cigar), a term used in the cigar industry to designate blunt-tipped, usually factory-rolled cigars * Blunt (cannabis), a slang term used in cannabis cult ...

cast iron Cast iron is a class of iron–carbon alloys with a carbon content of more than 2% and silicon content around 1–3%. Its usefulness derives from its relatively low melting temperature. The alloying elements determine the form in which its car ...

or forged truncheon-like weapon resembling a '' tekkan'' or a ''jitte''. This type of ''kabutowari'' had the same basic shape as the dirk-type, including the hook, but it was usually blunt and not meant for stabbing.

Use

It would appear, according to Serge Mol, that tales of ''

'' breaking open a ''

kabuto ' (兜, 冑) is a type of helmet first used by ancient Japanese warriors that, in later periods, became an important part of the traditional Japanese armour worn by the samurai class and their retainers in History of Japan#Medieval Japan (118 ...

'' (helmet) are more

folklore Folklore is the body of expressive culture shared by a particular group of people, culture or subculture. This includes oral traditions such as Narrative, tales, myths, legends, proverbs, Poetry, poems, jokes, and other oral traditions. This also ...

than anything else.Mol, Serge. ''Classical weaponry of Japan: special weapons and tactics of the martial arts''. Kodansha International. 2003. pp. 71. The ''hachi'' (helmet bowl) is the central component of a ''kabuto''; it is made of triangular plates of steel or iron riveted together at the sides and at the top to a large, thick

grommet Curtain grommets, used among others in shower curtains A grommet is a ring or edge strip inserted into a hole through thin material, typically a sheet of textile fabric, sheet metal or composite of carbon fiber, wood or honeycomb. Grommets are ...

of sorts (called a ''tehen-no-kanamono''), and at the bottom to a metal strip that encircles the ''hachi''. This would require enormous pressure to split open. This idea that the ''kabutowari'' was somehow able to smash or damage a helmet ''kabuto'' is most probably a misinterpretation of the name which could have several meanings, as ''hachi'' could mean skull or helmet bowl and ''wari'' could mean, split, rip, crack or smash. In modern times there is no ''ryū'' (school or style) known to train with ''kabutowari'', although certain ''

dojo A is a hall or place for immersive learning, experiential learning, or meditation. This is traditionally in the field of martial arts. The term literally means "place of the Tao, Way" in Japanese language, Japanese. History The word ''d� ...

s'' within '' Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu'' still train with them, as an extension of '' jittejutsu''.Stone, George Cameron
''A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration and Use of Arms and Armor: In All Countries and in All Times''
Courier Dover Publications. 1999. pp. 273. Mentioned as meant for breaking swords, as other kinds of jitte A number of weapons retailers in Japan still sell usable ''kabutowari''.

Gallery

File:Hachi wari.JPG, Antique Japanese ''kabutowari'' File:Hachi wari 1.JPG, Antique Japanese ''hachi wari (kabutowari)'' mounted in a ''shirasaya'' File:Antique Japanese hachiwari (hachiwara or kabutowari) 1.jpg, Antique Japanese ''kabutowari'' File:Hachi wari 3.JPG, Antique Japanese ''kabutowari''. Close up of the hand guard and the wrapped handle.

References

External links

(

Wayback Machine The Wayback Machine is a digital archive of the World Wide Web founded by Internet Archive, an American nonprofit organization based in San Francisco, California. Launched for public access in 2001, the service allows users to go "back in ...

copy) {{Knives Samurai clubs and truncheons Japanese martial arts terminology Samurai weapons and equipment Clubs and truncheons of Japan Weapons of Japan