Naginata Anyone???

SamuraiDave

SamuraiDave

Joined
Apr 6, 2001
Messages
2,632
I am interested to see who out there would be intrested in a Himalayan Imports Naginata. From what I understand they have done a good job with the Katana. I figure why stop there, next they need to go with a Naginata and maybe a Yari. I have some spare time coming up and was wondering who else would be intrested in this little venture if I created a model?

I haven't yet spoken with Uncle about this. So I am not sure if he is ok with the pole arms idea. I just know the idea will have a better time taking shape if more than one of us is involved. What do you guys think???

 
Well, I am always interested in anything that gives me an excuse for another sword, spear, or war axe. My input would be to design a fairly large blade. Shipping long poles has always a hassle, so I think it might be some thing that has an overall length that complies with us shipping regs: length-plus-measurements around thickest part of shipping container less than 104 inches. Or just the head of the naginata. Planning on a straight or traditional curved blade?
I own a Cold Steel Boar Spear, and the length is over 7 feet!! Nice battle field weapon, but not really for close and dirty. I hope to see your design soon.



------------------
Watakushi Wa Shinajin Desu
DeathDancer

Movement, transcends movement, transcends thought--Zazen Mantra
 
Having a good spear head might be fun. And I don't think there's any need to ship the shaft along with it; Cold Steel sells ash shafts for their spears, and you can get decent lengths of rattan here & there, too. The naginata might be another matter, though. That you might have to mount at the shop to get it right.
 
How about starting with Nagamaki (long handle)? It's a short spear with a katana blade, and as long shaft as the blade, and more popular in warriors' hands in battlefield 400 years ago. We already have Everest katana as spearhead.
Naginata has been thought as women's weapon somehow, so we can wait for more of female takers. In China, contrary to Japan, the Naginata type was very popular in battlefield as blue dragon sword that weighed tens of pounds sometimes.

------------------
Otokohadaremo yumenofunanori.
Shonennohinoakogare shinutokimade wasurezunidaiterumonodayo.
 
Is that the one with a curved and clipped blade (a little like a scimitar, but not that curved), handle roughly length of blade with ring pommel, and squared-off S-guard? I've seen one of those; wondered how you would use it without all that handle getting in the way. Looks like it would handle like an axe, but never laid hands on one.

Thinking details here . . . Do the kamis have access to well-made shafts? Good, straight, well-treated shafts in the 4-6 foot range might be a little tough to come by some places.

[This message has been edited by DocPat2511 (edited 04-25-2001).]
 
Actually, my thought was that only the blades be shipped to the USA, since it has been pointed out that wood (especially long straight shafts) is a a premium in Nepal. I also don't know what it would cost, but if my experience with another Khukuri house Nepal is an example ($55 for shipment of a singel Khukuri), it be more than prohibitive.

Even if the assembly of the Naginata were done in the USA, there still is the total-length-issue of 104 inches to contend with, also making shipping of the item more expensive.

As Wrongfriend says, traditinal use of the Naginata has been religated to a woman's weapon. But, in more ancient times, the Naginata was a man's weapon, just as halberds were used in Europe. However, I like his idea of a shortend Naginata, sort of like those "things" called a Kwaiken showing up a various shows I've attended. I have a very nice weapon done up with a CS Bushman as the blade--about the same size as a "jo". I could see something with a larger head about the same size a "bo".

------------------
Watakushi Wa Shinajin Desu
DeathDancer

Movement, transcends movement, transcends thought--Zazen Mantra
 
If a naginata is a "woman's weapon" then I suspect the boys were very, VERY polite on the first date in old Nippon.
biggrin.gif
 
So what I am hearing is a do it yourself handle (easily supplied by Cold Steel). The best bet for this would be to make the handle hollow, easily mounted to whatever you want. This may be a problem for the Kamis, and if you wanted a tsuba or a guard it would make it so that it would have to be forged to the blade.

I imagine HI could sell the mounting equiptment for the rig, like a "do it yourself" handle job on a old kitchen knife but built to withstand far greater stress. This would be the best to spread out the force of the shock on the handle/blade joint, instead of the hollow handle.

The only problem with the "do it yourself" is that I worry about the forces on the blade/handle joint. Anyone have any Ideas???

I have thought alot about what I want now I am curious to what ya'll want. I know that the more of us on this poject the better it will be. Thanks for your ideas.

 
About the "Woman's Weapon" thing... I am designing this thing to be graceful and beautiful as well as brutal. I like my blades more so than my firearms. Why? I don't know. I just do.
I always wanted a big blade on a big pole so I could "reach out and touch someone". This is not going to be a stick with a kitchen knife taped to it. I want this to be a weapon and and willing to spend the time and money to make it so. I know I am not the only one who wants one, so I am asking if anyone wants to cooperate in the making of the HI Naginata.
Trust me, it will not be a woman's weapon.
Hell, I could get started on a HI Yari instead if you guys wanted to.
 
I have been thinking of a 1/2" to 5/8" thick blade around 2' long. Sort of like the Tarwar but swept. I am having a problem posting pics, I haven't figured it out yet. When I do I will show you what I mean.

 
OK...OK so it may be a woman's weapon. Hell, buy yourself a HI katana and then buy her the HI Naginata. I don't really care, but I still want one.
 
I'd like to see the design, but I don't know if I'd buy one. I just wouldn't know how to use it. I would like to see the result though. Has anyone else off the forum expressed interest?

I wouldn't mind dropping a dollar or two on a good spearhead. I was thinking about buying from CS, but the blades just look like they're rolled and stamped. I'd much rather have something from HI.

Traditionally, how are naginata blades mounted? Tang inserted into cleft and pinned? Do they have collars or langetes? I was just thinking what it would take to do your own handle.
 
Dear DocPat2511,

I have owned the short Assegai by CS, the Bushman, and currently have the Boar Spear. These are, as you say, cold forged (not sure about the rolled), but the quality is excellent and they do everything advertised. However, I would not want to punch or rip holes in oil drums for any length of time.

The Boar Spear is considerably heavier in construction, and mine is atop a 6 foot shaft. I also have a Bushman mounted on a four foot staff, and it is a very nice medium distance weapon. Also excedingly sharp!

A Japanese Warrior armed with a Naginata of the old school was very often avoided by his regularly armed peers, since it took a great amount of skill to fight with such a large and formidable weapon. Remember, this was essentially a sword blade mounted on an pole!

------------------
Watakushi Wa Shinajin Desu
DeathDancer

Movement, transcends movement, transcends thought--Zazen Mantra
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top