(exerpts from Wikipedia)
The Naginata is a pole weapon traditionally used in by members of the samurai class, consisting of a wooden shaft with a curved blade.
During the Gempei War (1180–1185), the naginata was extremely effective at dismounting cavalry forcing the introduction of shin guards.
Women of the samurai class were expected defend their homes while their husbands were away at war. It allowed them to keep opponents at a distance, to lessen their disadvantage in height and upper body strength.
Itagaki led a garrison of 3,000 warriors out of the Toeizakayama castle against ten thousand Hōjō clan warriors, killing many of her attackers before being overpowered.
With the rising popularity of firearms, the naginata saw its final uses in 1876, in Satsuma, used only by fighting women.
I used the PM machete instead because its more curvy (and I've run out of PM samurai swords)...in fact, i prefer cowabuounga-Arnaud's naginata as his has a more correct sword-like guard with a more correct, proportionately longer blade (to achieve that effect, I have to shorten the pole but its such a waste)
so guys, I cheated..."no katana handle nor spear blade were hurt in making..."
