Suntetsu
寸鉄 · suntetsu
A Japanese concealed weapon: a metal rod about 15 cm long with a ring through which the middle finger is passed, so it lies hidden in the palm.
Quick Facts
JapanAbout the weapon
Suntetsu (寸鉄) is a Japanese concealed weapon: a metal rod or spike about 15 cm long with a ring attached. The middle finger is passed through the ring, and the rod then lies in the palm in one of several grips. We have not been able to establish when and where it arose and which school held it as its own weapon; the English encyclopaedic overview from which this description comes rests on a single blog source. Suntetsu is used to stab, jab, pinch, strike, crush, scratch and throw, alone or in a pair. It is small, easy to hide, and according to the source it is relatively easy to learn to handle. The Chinese emeici needle and the Japanese shobo are considered similar weapons.