Sodegarami

The Sodegarami also jap torimono sandogu was a Japanese pole weapon that was used from the 13th to the 16th centuries by the police.

Description and appearance

This gun is made of sturdy wood and is equipped with a head made ​​of iron. The mounting is done with the help of springs that were 50 to 75 cm long. They are fixed from both sides with the help of screws or bolts on the shaft. At the top of a different shaped head made ​​of iron was attached, which resembled either a halberd or a mace. On the iron rails nails and small blades or spikes were installed. The tips of the heads were designed so that they could easily get caught in clothing. You could a criminal or a fugitive thus causing serious injury, which primarily was not but sense the Sodegarami. It served mainly to retain an offender to make him unable to move, to break the resistance and overwhelm. The peaks below the head served to that it could not be possible to the fixed, to detect the weapon. Was used the Sodegarami of city guards, police facilities and pirate hunters. They resembled the Sasumata and the Tsukubo. The Sodegarami was from the 13th century to the 18th century in use. Their significance was lost with the advent of firearms in Japan. It is similar in function and determination of the European human scavengers.