SCA legal japanese weapons

[arashi]

Getting back into SCA heavy combat after a 15 year hiatus, and I am aiming for a japanese themed kit. I was just wondering what weapons everyone has made that are legal for SCA use.

Ive seen many very nice looking swords and daggers (tanto, wakizashi, katana, tachi, and nodachi) as well as spears and polearms (yari and naginata) and a few mass weapons (tetsubo and kanabo)

Has anyone ever done any SCA legal versions of any other weapons of note? A few that come to mind are the kama and tonfa, I would imagine a kama could be made similarly to how some axes are. Tonfa however I would imagine would basically be a parrying tool for SCA combat (if it would be allowed at all)

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks
Arashi

[Yawata Saburou Tadamori]

Ooh, thank you for mentioning tonfa. They would be amazing for rapier combat.

[tengumoon]

I use tanto, wakizashi, katana, nagimaki and naginata/yari - the cutting weapons dont translate to SCA all that well!

The nagimaki is a nice idea but I have had glaive knights comment to me about its real battle applications and how it doesnt translate to SCA (cutting technique vs SCA concussion techniques)
I am planning to make a tetsubo - wish we could get plasti-dip or tool-dip here in Oz
I am also considering turning the 7 foot yari into a jumonji yari
We cant use any of the cool chain weapons!
Tonfa are not really Japanese weapons - I believe they are Okinawan in origin and not particularly in period??? Also in Australia tonfa are prohibited items and can only own them with a license. However it could be an interesting toy for SCA, excepting the fact that SCA gauntlets dont really allow for the dexterity required for use of tonfa.
Sai would suck for the same reason - it just wouldnt translate to SCA well
Kama would be great but again they wouldnt translate to the SCA game (already thought a lot and talked with marshalls about this). It is a cutting weapon and would have a thrusting tip on the end. Many techniques involve grappling and trips etc.
I have heard of someone considering one of those giant battlefield axes but again it would be weird.

The Japanese had some great weapons but most were designed to really damage and destroy opponents and simply dont translate to the SCA game... and would be very hard to use in a "safe" manner

We walk a balancing act between looking cool, using period weapons in period styles and being effective within the rule sets.

Just my experience

[Lash]

I doubt they would allow tonfa in hardsuit they would probably consider it a punch dagger like weapon.
Nagimaki would be awsome if you could make it work!!

[Please Delete]

I'd have to look again, but I'm pretty sure there is something about not allowing anything with a handle that perpendicular to the shaft of the weapon, but I could be wrong.

[tengumoon]

Apr 24, 2010 23:34:20 GMT -5 Please Delete said:

I'd have to look again, but I'm pretty sure there is something about not allowing anything with a handle that perpendicular to the shaft of the weapon, but I could be wrong.

Yes I thought the same thing... but wasnt sure If it was in reference to punch daggers and those Indian type swords

12. Weapons with thrusting tips inline with the forearm including, but not limited to, shovel-handled
spears, push-daggers and thrusting bucklers are prohibited. Thrusting tips mounted parallel with
the forearm, such as hammer-heads must be separated from the hand by at least 30cm of haft1.

From: Kingdom of Lochac Fighters Handbook 2.3 : Ch 8.1 Point 12

This might also affect kama.
I suppose it might be possible to have a tonfa that had no thrusting tip but using one effectively in gauntlets?

[arashi]

Looks like tonfa would be out as a weapon, kama may be doable though. I'll have to talk to the local knights and marshalls to get their opinions.

Florentine kamas could be interesting for tournament style fights, probably not so usefull in a battle though.

[Please Delete]

Kama should be okay. It is basically a type of axe--you just need to make sure it conforms to your Kingdom's standards.