Jingama - Edo period - for info/discussion

[Timo Nieminen]

Originally Posted by kronckew

the jingama, as opposed to the kama was made as a weapon, not a farm tool used as one. it was favoured by many samurai as a side-arm. useful for hamstringing horses or cutting reins, armour ties, etc.

As I understand it, the jingama is primarily part of a cavalryman's equestrian equipment, and only secondarily a weapon. So military equipment and not a farm tool, but still more tool than weapon.

Also functions as insignia, saying "I am a cavalryman". A fancy jingama must perform some of the same functions as a fancy ankus/ankush.

Originally Posted by kronckew

my understanding is the fireman's tool while similar was larger, did not have a sharpened edge on the blade as it was used for pulling down wooden structures rather than cutting, and so was shaped a bit differently.
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the jingama was derived from the tobiguchi fire tool, so is very similar.

I'd guess that the similarity between jingama and tobiguchi is convergent evolution, not ancestry. The jingama is a small-bladed kama, and I see no reason why it isn't derived from the kama. Small blade to make it convenient to carry.