How to Make Origami Weapons
Learn how to make origami weapons to be productive during downtime or to give kids some cheap accessories for their toy soldiers and samurais.
Origami Weapon Uses
Making paper weapons using origami techniques offers benefits to both adults and children. Adults will find weapons perfect as:
- Stress relief at work or at home
- Inexpensive additions to a Halloween costume of a warrior, samurai or soldier
- Excellent party decorations for a child's birthday
- Play props at church, school or within a theatre club
Kids can use origami weapons as part of their everyday play. Instead of purchasing shoddy plastic parts that will only be broken or lost, parents can help teach their children how to make origami weapons. Origami for kids will cut down on costs for toys, while teaching children to reuse everything they can. Origami also helps develop hand-eye coordination.
While origami weapons are made out of paper, they are still weapons, so children should be cautioned not to make them or take them to school. Additionally, kids should be careful around one another with the weapons, as they may cause scratches or hurt eyes when thrown. Well-made weapons will have sharp creases and points.
Learn How to Make Origami Weapons
Commonly made origami weapons include origami pistols, swords and throwing stars. Paper can be folded a number of ways, resulting in unique ways to create the various weapons.
Directions for making origami weapons are usually in diagram form, with or without written instructions. Some books and websites use photographs or videos for demonstrating how to make weapons using origami techniques. Choose the form you understand best to make the origami.
If you do not have time to visit the library or take a class to learn folding techniques for origami weapons, visit these websites to learn how to make various origami weapons:
- Ninja-Weapons.com has diagrams for making two different origami shurikens.
- Simply Origami offers up three videos, detailing how to make a throwing knife, pistol and ninja throwing star in these simple tutorials.
- Origami-Instructions.com has easy to follow, step-by-step photographic instructions for making an origami gun.
- PaperCrafty offers both photos and extensive written instructions on how to make an origami ninja star.
- Origami Patterns diagrams folding a cannon in 23 steps.
- Foldsomething.com's video of how to make an origami tank shows viewers how to make a tank in under three minutes.
- Peter Budai has a free downloadable origami catapult on his website.
- OrigamiTube.com offers video depictions of how to make various weapons, such as an 8-point star and flip knife.
Making weapons means that an "attack" is often imminent, so protect yourself or your soldiers by creating a paper shield and wearing Lisa Shea's origami helmet.
Weapon Folding Tips
Like other simple origami figures, weapons need to be folded precisely in order to have the best results. Follow these tips for making origami weapons:
- Use origami paper in the weapon color, such as black or gray for guns and brown for catapults.
- Double check that your paper is the correct size and shape; money origami diagrams will not work with square papers.
- Line up paper edges carefully before making the crease.
- Run your thumbnail over the crease several times to make sharp edges.
- Look ahead to the next photo or diagram when following instructions, to see what the current step looks like when complete.
Creating large-scale versions of origami for use in plays or as part of a Halloween costume may require practice with smaller papers. Modifications may necessary to create a life-size replica of a weapon using origami techniques.
Making origami weapons is a great way to pass some time, make a child's playtime more realistic or add to a costume. Learn how to make the weapon of your choice by picking the tutorial medium, from diagrams to videos, that is easiest for you to understand. As you refine your origami skills, you can begin to make original designs yourself.
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