Making an SCA Jumonji Yari

[mrcunningham]

I've seen a lot of "how do you make an SCA [insert Japanese weapon here]?" threads, so here's one more. There was some related discussion about SCA legal kama yari, but I wanted to try my own hand. Here's how I did it:

I took a 6 foot, 2 inch rattan stave, 2 inch diameter, and planed two sides down to inch and a half. I stained it, rather unsuccessfully. (Next time, I'm thinking darker and longer set time.) I took an 11 inch long section of pool noodle, split it down the middle, and stuck it ten inches down from one end of the rattan. I taped the heck out of it with strapping tape, and secured it further with a leather thong (which itself was secured with more strapping tape).



Next, i took 2 strips of leather, 1/2 inch by 13 inches, and wrapped them around the ends of the pool noodle. (Their location is indicated by the curvy, white line below.) More strapping tape secured the leather. I also added a thrusting tip at this point. (I used 2 more strips of leather, 1/2 inch by 13 inch, because it was easier to cut a bunch the same.)



Next, I added duct tape and electrical tape to mark the edges and the thrusty. Note that the two "prongs" that make the jumonji yari so interesting are not thrusting tips, but edges. Their edge is marked along the leather straps. Of course, the same edge on the rattan up to the thrusty is also edge. Then I added 8 inches of wrap to make it look pretty.



And there she is! Ta-da! (As for buttspike, I'm still debating...)

[tomoyuki]

This looks pretty good. I guess you live in a unpadded pole Kingdom. Butt spike for sure!
Every edge on a jumonji is a razor. My fingers can atest to that.
Let us know how well it holds up, and if anyone will die ti it. Tomoyuki/Marc

[Otagiri Tatsuzou]

Nice looking!

I would be worried about the shearing force on the cross pieces. You might consider using some wide leather strapping to reinforce the joint.

Good Hunting. ;D

[Ishikawa Yoshimasa]

I am looking at making a kama-yari, and a jumanji-yari... in both cases I am thinking of making a core for the side spikes in heavy leather... at present I am thinking of 8 and 16 oz leather that I have laying around the house sewn so as to make a COMPLETE striking surface. I want the spikes to be plenty strong to use for shield hooks...

how many layers do you think I should go, and would you strengthen it further by boiling the leather?

I figure the leather core, MAYBE some mild padding, and stealth thrusting tips should be suficient to build a safe weapon.

[mrcunningham]

Yoshimasa-dono,
Having used the new yari at Boredom War this past weekend, I can say that my construction was fine, but it definitely could have been stronger. It holds up to shield-hooking, and I got my only polearm kill in the King and Queen's Championship tourney with a very square hit with the "prong," so people _will_ take blows from it.

However, your method sounds a LOT better than mine, in the strength department. I would say make enough layers to make it look appropriate. In the end, you can't go wrong with making it MORE solid, so long as it has 1/2 inch of give and doesn't violate weight limits.

Definitely post some pics of what you make, though! I for one would love to see your method, and how it works on the field.

[Edit: PS: I did add a buttspike, and it not only looked cooler, it was helpful just as a potential threat.]

[dannyinjapan]

I am not in the SCA, but I think I will make one of these for training anyway. It's just a nice idea...

[mrcunningham]

Hey DannyInJapan, If you're using it for training you should be fine, but it sure as heck didn't hold up to SCA combat for longer than an event or two. Hence my other post with a similar title. I don't know what kind of practice you're doing though, since you're not SCA...

Good luck, mate!

[dannyinjapan]

Id be using it for basic martial arts training.
here's one for sale at 1500$