Kumade
- Other Names: Bear's Claw
- In Redwall: N/A
- Time Period: Momoyama period
and Sengoku Jidai
- Origin: Japan
- Description: Pole grapple with a
three-pronged head. The kumade is a dual purpose tool. It is a long
wooden shaft with a rake-head fitted at one end. Often a
collapsible bamboo pole with a claw at one end. Collapsed, it is barely
18"long, but it can telescope out to 12' and is cunningly reinforced to
support the weight of a man.
- Use: Can be used for climbing by
setting the rake prongs in a crack, ledge, or sill and climbing up the pole.
It can also be used as a weapon. It was used often to unhorse cavalry.
Commonly, it was used to rake leaves, though the weapon kumade was a lot
stronger than the rake version. It was typically used by ninjas.
- Sites for Further Research: N/A