Mantis

[Wayne]

Since a lot of us are learing mantis now.

WS

[Tim Hall]

Very nice!

[_LiLi_]

More lovely farm/garden tools turned defensive weapon!

I'm guessing ... sorry to interject Novices.

[Jason Lee]

You can still find these retailed as garden tools.
Check around the Asian markets in your town.  In Birmingham, they are all clustered in Homewood.  One of the shops has kamas in a basket for like $3 a piece or something, and these are NOT flashy fancy kamas, but hard iron lawn tools marketed to Korean grandmothers.   I've been meaning to pick some up, just for giggles.  And Celeste will probably use them as yard tools.
Still, the main reason I bring this up is for any one looking for a set to try.  These aren't flashy, but the price is hard to beat.  Standard warnings about live blades apply -- as I recal, that technically makes these verboten for novices in the eyes of the school, but they are so cheep you could get a pair and grind down the blade.

[Znegative]

     I understand this is an older topic but these are the weapons I favor the most. If anyone would like to get battle ready Kama's just for fun or even if you mastered them and would like to have a pair these, the best I have found out there are these . http://www.thesteelsource.com/html/hanweikamas.htm If anyone can find better ones please let me know. Also, If anyone would like to learn more on this weapon please look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kama_(weapon)

[Will Hooper]

Jimmy,

Sorry I am not around to meet you in person. I have one thing to throw in the mix, however - Ander's Hardware, the older one in Northport, sells kama. They don't call them kama, of course, they call them garden sickles or some such, but having used the same tool to clear brush - and do mantis work - I can tell you, they are kama. They are also quite reasonably priced, and tough enough for actual gardening use, so if you want kama far cheaper than you'll generally find them priced when sold as weapons, Ander's is the best source I've found.

[Znegative]

Will,

     Thanks I will have to go check that out. I don't live in Northport anymore, I live in Demopolis now, but I will have to go check that out. I wonder how hard it would be to attach a ball and chain on one like that to make it a kusarigama. I am into weapon making, but i have only made a couple of knives. I am sure I could mod it where it would hold, or at least I will hope. I would hate to have a weighted ball to the face.