of Shuriken and throwing stars

fearn · 20th October 2006, 04:22 AM

Hi All,

A couple of notes: Yes, shuriken are an old weapon. Classical Weaponry of Japan by Serge Mol have a number pictured (including one on the cover), and interestingly, they don't all look like the modern six-pointers shown. Many schools seemed to have their own "signature" throwing weapons. This book is also neat for the number of old Japanese weapons. Many of them I've never heard of (or seen) elsewhere, but I think that they're simply unknown outside of Japanese museums and collections.

Anyway, while shurikens are old, I'm not sure the same is true of the "ninja-to" (straight bladed wakizashi with a square guard). After all, if you're a spy/terrorist/infiltrator, why run around with a sword that instantly identifies you as such and is difficult to hide? Check out the

Wikipedia article, which suggests that the ninjatos that are everywhere are a modern invention. I'd love to see an old ninja-to that matches this description.

my 0.02 cents,

F

VANDOO · 20th October 2006, 04:51 AM

I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A THROWER OF STUFF MY FOOD WHEN I WAS A BABY AND LATER ANYTHING I COULD GET MY HANDS ON. IN ELEMENTRY SCHOOL I SPECIALIZED IN STICKS (SPEARS OR THROWING STICK) AND WAS ESPECIALLY GOOD WITH ROCKS. I COULD USUALLY HIT ANYTHING I THREW AT FROM GROUND SQUIRRLS TO TREE SQURRILS, RABITS OR BIRDS. I ALSO GOT INTO TROUBBLE FOR INJURING OTHER KIDS IN ROCK FIGHTS. IN LATER YEARS I PRACTICED WITH CHEAP THROWING KNIVES AND THE ODD METAL SPIKE I COULD FIND. SO IT IS NO SUPRIZE THAT WHEN SURIKINS SHOWED UP I GOT SOME AND HAVE ENJOYED PRACTICING WITH THEM FOR MANY YEARS. I GOT FAIRLY GOOD IN THE LATE 1970'S AS I WAS WORKING ON AN OFFSHORE PLATFORM ON A SHIFT BY MYSELF SO IN 7 DAYS WORKING A 12 HOUR SHIFT I FOUND A LOT OF TIME TO PRACTICE. I HAVE A SELECTION OF THEM AROUND HERE SOMEWHERE IF I CAN GET THEM ALL TOGETHER I WILL TRY AND GET SOME PICTURES TO POST WHEN TIME ALLOWS.

not2sharp · 21st October 2006, 04:05 AM

Here is a very good website on shurikens - the links on the home page are also worth checking.

http://www.secrets-of-shuriken.com.au/index1.htm

n2s

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20th October 2006, 04:22 AM	#1
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Hi All, A couple of notes: Yes, shuriken are an old weapon. Classical Weaponry of Japan by Serge Mol have a number pictured (including one on the cover), and interestingly, they don't all look like the modern six-pointers shown. Many schools seemed to have their own "signature" throwing weapons. This book is also neat for the number of old Japanese weapons. Many of them I've never heard of (or seen) elsewhere, but I think that they're simply unknown outside of Japanese museums and collections. Anyway, while shurikens are old, I'm not sure the same is true of the "ninja-to" (straight bladed wakizashi with a square guard). After all, if you're a spy/terrorist/infiltrator, why run around with a sword that instantly identifies you as such and is difficult to hide? Check out the Wikipedia article, which suggests that the ninjatos that are everywhere are a modern invention. I'd love to see an old ninja-to that matches this description. my 0.02 cents, F

20th October 2006, 04:51 AM	#2
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A THROWER OF STUFF MY FOOD WHEN I WAS A BABY AND LATER ANYTHING I COULD GET MY HANDS ON. IN ELEMENTRY SCHOOL I SPECIALIZED IN STICKS (SPEARS OR THROWING STICK) AND WAS ESPECIALLY GOOD WITH ROCKS. I COULD USUALLY HIT ANYTHING I THREW AT FROM GROUND SQUIRRLS TO TREE SQURRILS, RABITS OR BIRDS. I ALSO GOT INTO TROUBBLE FOR INJURING OTHER KIDS IN ROCK FIGHTS. IN LATER YEARS I PRACTICED WITH CHEAP THROWING KNIVES AND THE ODD METAL SPIKE I COULD FIND. SO IT IS NO SUPRIZE THAT WHEN SURIKINS SHOWED UP I GOT SOME AND HAVE ENJOYED PRACTICING WITH THEM FOR MANY YEARS. I GOT FAIRLY GOOD IN THE LATE 1970'S AS I WAS WORKING ON AN OFFSHORE PLATFORM ON A SHIFT BY MYSELF SO IN 7 DAYS WORKING A 12 HOUR SHIFT I FOUND A LOT OF TIME TO PRACTICE. I HAVE A SELECTION OF THEM AROUND HERE SOMEWHERE IF I CAN GET THEM ALL TOGETHER I WILL TRY AND GET SOME PICTURES TO POST WHEN TIME ALLOWS.

21st October 2006, 04:05 AM	#3
not2sharp Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 210	Here is a very good website on shurikens - the links on the home page are also worth checking. http://www.secrets-of-shuriken.com.au/index1.htm n2s