Kabutowari

Kabutowari literally meaning ‘helmet splitter’, also known as a hachiwari, is a sharp knife-like weapon that resembles a jitte. The weapon was carried by the samurai as a companion weapon, much like a wakizashi or a tantō. Kabutowari in many respects were similar to the jitte, however are significantly more deadly. The blade, forged with a sharp point, was used to parry opponents’ swords and to hook the cords off of opponents’ armour and helmets. The sharp point would be used to pierce unprotected or weak areas of armour, such as the armpit, with fatal results.