| Two of the most popular types of replica are video | | | | reality the tool was more of a substitute for a knife |
| game swords and movie swords. Fans of the wildly | | | | with throwing being a last-resort tactic. The reason |
| popular anime series Naruto can get the best of both | | | | this tool was perfect as a covert weapon is that it |
| worlds by having kunai knives in their collection. The | | | | was mass produced and cheap. As weapons were |
| kunai is a staple of the series Naruto. The various | | | | forbidden, carrying a common tool like the kunai was |
| ninja in the series have unique trademark styles and | | | | something that wouldn't necessarily considered arming |
| weapons. The only thing that each and every | | | | yourself. In similar fashion today, carrying a large |
| character is sure to have hidden on his or her body is | | | | hunting knife would get you arrested in most public |
| the trusty kunai. This makes the kunai the most basic | | | | places today, but possessing a large screwdriver |
| building block of the weaponry in the series, and | | | | wouldn't occasion much attention at all. |
| therefore the basis of any good collection that pays | | | | The anime series Naruto has taken the world by |
| due homage to the genre. | | | | storm. The popularity of the animated series includes |
| Kunai are one of the many weapons that were | | | | TV series, movies, and video games. While the lead |
| developed from common tools. Not really a knife, | | | | character Naruto is the driving force behind the action |
| kunai were originally used during the Tensho era in | | | | of the series, the kunai is the trademark weapon of |
| Japan. They were a tool most commonly used by | | | | the ninja in the series. These tools are the glue that |
| people involved in gardening and masonry. Made of | | | | hold the ninja together as a collective; the point of |
| wrought iron, the kunai edges weren't sharp. The tip | | | | commonality that keeps the various clans and villages |
| was ground to a fine point. The tool was utilized like | | | | from being, for all intents and purposes, different |
| a trowel would be, to dig into packed earth or to | | | | species. Without a single, uniting tool or technique, |
| smash into plaster or wood, or as a pry-bar. The tool | | | | the word "ninja" would be meaningless to the series. |
| was designed with a loop at the back end to enable | | | | The importance of this small tool can be seen as in |
| a rope to be tied to it. This furthered the usefulness | | | | any ninja battle in the series, kunai are the first and |
| of the tool by allowing it to be used as a piton or | | | | sometimes last option for defense. |
| anchor. Additionally, the rope loop could be used to | | | | Anime series require "branding" to stick in the minds |
| attach the kunai to your body the way a carabiner | | | | of people. Someone wanting to be like Naruto can't |
| might be used today. | | | | make duplicates of himself, leap buildings, or use any |
| Eventually, ninja developed techniques that utilized | | | | of the other fantastic powers the ninja possess in |
| the kunai as a weapon. While exaggerated legend | | | | the series. Video game swords and movie swords |
| contributes to the image of kunai being | | | | are a way we mortal men can tie ourselves to our |
| interchangeable with shuriken as a thrown weapon, in | | | | favorite characters and be our own heroes. |