Weapon for Sinking Boats?!?

[celt72]

I've never seen one of these before. From what I can make out using Google Translate, it is for sinking boats. Here is the link to the site... http://www.nipponto.co.jp/swords5/ET560146.htm

 

[Rich S]

Hmmm, maybe, but it looks more like a frog gig to me :-)

Rich

[SAS]

Cranial shish ka bob? I doubt that would sink a boat, maybe a birch bark canoe...

[John A Stuart]

The text says it was a secret weapon for drilling a hole in the hull under water to sink ships. Not a very convincing drill and who could hold their breath long enough to drilling to penetrate. Text goes further to say the idea of this tool gave rise to explosive weapons (BS, mines were in use centuries earlier) attached to the hulls of ships during WW II. Sounds like wishful thinking or a story from Jules Verne. Goodness, why would an underwater secret weapon be so redundantly fitted with such fittings? John

[Logan09]

I've heard some crazy made up stories about weapons but I think this one takes the cake.

 

If anything it's a fancy meat fork used by a wealthy samurai to flip his Wagyu beef over on the grill.

[ROKUJURO]

It would indeed work like a drill and make a big hole, but as Steve wrote, it might be difficult on a big ship.

By the way, it is not necessary to drill a hole in the bottom of a ship to sink it. Just one foot below the waterline can be enough. This strange tool may have been used together with a fork wrench.

[Brian]

Yeah, also heard it was for making holes in boats, and that the fittings were added later in its life.
It's plausible. Probably like many "real" ninja weapons, not used very often but more for the symbolism or extended arsenal.

[EdWolf]

I don't think there is that much rotation speed to drill a hole. More a story to scare the enemy.