Sam Cade
Member
The Okuotani-Tou (also called the Fukuronagasa) was named after the favorite knife used by hunters in Okuotani. This knife has a tough blade, so you can use it to chop through a branch like an axe. The peculiar hollow handle has various uses. For example, the knife can be affixed to a rod of oak, Keyaki or any other wood to provide a longer reach. This is particularly useful when you want to cut a wild vine beyond your reach and get mushrooms from high trees.
Bear hunters insert a 1.5m wood rod for close fighting in an emergency. They plant the butt of their Okuotani-Tou in the ground close at the hand with their rifle at the ready. When bears attack, they always rear over the man. The hunter falls backward when the bear comes down and thrusts the Okuotani-Tou into the bear's belly while the butt of the Okuotani-Tou is planted firmly in the ground. This strategy has actually saved several people.
Pure comedy gold.
http://www.kitchen-knife.jp/special/echigo.htm