Download Article
Download Article
This article was co-authored by Coco Sato. Coco Sato is an Origamist and Contemporary Artist based in Brighton, UK. She is an award-winning contemporary artist specializing in origami and geometric sculptures. With a multidisciplinary practice encompassing sculpture, performance, psychology, and geometry, she explores shifting perspectives through the intricate art of origami. Coco’s work bridges cultures by combining traditional Japanese aesthetics with contemporary concepts, inviting audiences to reconsider their relationship with the world.
This article has been viewed 607,526 times.
Kunai are believed to be derived from a type of gardening tool, but now are famously known as the preferred knives of ninjas[1] , made popular in Japanese Animes and Mangas such as Naruto. Now you can make them yourself out of paper!
Steps
-
Get two square pieces of paper, preferably black construction paper. One should be bigger than the other, to be used for the handle. This can be found at any craft store.- Gather the rest of your materials. These include some tape, scissors (to cut the paper into squares), and, optionally, a small, heavy object, like a penny.
-
Holding the smaller square, fold one corner to the opposite side. It should now look like a triangle.Advertisement
-
Fold a crease halfway through the paper. It should now look like a smaller triangle.[2]
-
Unfold the paper. [3] Now, it's a triangle with a crease.
-
Take one of the short sides of the triangle (not the long one) and fold the edge to the middle. The edge of the side you're folding should line up with the crease. Flatten the fold down.
-
Keep folding repeatedly until you can't fold it anymore. Then tuck the extra paper inside the kunai.
-
Squish the paper from top to bottom so that it creates a kunai shape (grasp by edges and press). This step isn't that necessary. It just makes a flatter kunai.
-
Take the larger square paper and roll it into a thin tube for the handle. Tape it.
-
Insert the tube into the hole. You may need to open the blade a bit to allow the tube to fit.[4]
-
Wrap your hand around the section of the tube next to the blade. Make sure there's enough of the tube that you can hold it. The extra bit, sticking out from your hand, should be flattened.
- Optionally, before flattening the extra length of the tube, cut a chopstick to the length of the handle and stick it inside to improve the stiffness of the handle.
-
Use a series of folds and reverse folds on the flat side of the tube to create a circle. You'll be making 90 degree folds in the flattened tube, in a counter-clockwise fashion.
-
Tape the circle so that it stays. One piece of tape connecting the end of the tube to the unflattened section should do it.
-
Tape or staple the tube into the back of the kunai (where the hole is). Make sure the handle is secure. Use extra tape here if necessary.
-
Take something heavy and put it inside the knife so that it can fly better. Pennies work well and are cheap. This step is optional.
-
Seal the kunai with thick tape so that the heavy object doesn't come flying out when you throw it. [5] Place tape over where the blade and handle meet, enough of it to seal and secure the heavy object in the blade.
-
Finished. You've now got your very own paper kunai knife. Avoid throwing it at people as you could injure someone.
Community Q&A
-
QuestionCan I make a Kunai knife out of origami paper?
Community AnswerYes, as long as the paper is square. -
QuestionIs there any way to stiffen the point?
Community AnswerYou can spin or crease the top a little to make it sharper. . -
QuestionHow long did it take to make the example in the article?
Community AnswerIt took about 15-20 minutes to make the entire project for me, but it turned out awesome!
Tips
-
When doing this Origami Paper is recommended, but any piece of paper will suffice when making the Kunai.Thanks
-
On step 6, make sure that the corner is sharp for a sharp knife.Thanks
-
Instead of tape you can use a glue gun.Thanks
Tips from our Readers 
- If the knife flops over instead of sticking upright when thrown, experiment with different weighted fillings like pennies or metal washers to improve balance.
- For easier folding, use origami paper which already starts as a colored square and doesn't need excess trimming. Construction paper can also work too.
- Display your finished kunai knives under glass or plastic on a wall if possible, when not playing ninja battles. Keeps them looking nice longer!
- To make a sturdier handle, insert a chopstick or pen barrel before wrapping with paper. This helps prevent bending and breaking over time.
- Go slowly and firmly when making folds — don't wrinkle or rip the paper. Unfold and redo any messy folds for a crisp finished look.
Warnings
- Fold and read the instructions carefully, one little mistake can change a lot.Thanks
- Be wary of paper cuts.Thanks
- Do not aim at people.Thanks
Things You'll Need
- 2 pieces of paper
- Tape
- A penny or a similar object to add extra weight to make throwing easier.
References
About This Article
Kunai knives are known for being used by ninjas and assassins. To make a paper one, you’ll need to fold 1 piece of paper into the shape of the blade, then roll a separate piece of paper into the handle. To make the blade, fold a square of paper in half diagonally twice to make a small triangle. Then, unfold it once and fold the edge of 1 side of the paper to the middle. Keep folding until you can’t fold anymore, then tuck the extra paper at the bottom inside the blade. It should resemble a tall, skinny triangle. To make the handle, simply roll a larger square paper into a thin tube. Insert the end into the open bottom of the blade and secure it with a piece of tape. To learn how to make a notch at the bottom of your handle, read on!
Reader Success Stories
-
"This was so good, in no time at all, I got my very first kunai knife!"
