Got a Real-World Weapon or Armor Question? Mk. VI

[Fhaolan]

So what do you guys think? Complete fabrication? A sort of misunderstood/misapplied version of a Chinese chain whip or "morning star" flail? Or an actual historical weapon that nobody mentions because only dirty, low-class sailors ever fought with it?

Stephenson's version is likely just an extension of the Chinese three-part-staff, but Clavell's version is... odd. I've never heard of the nunchaku or the three-part-staff ever being made of iron bars rather than wood, and I've not seen a european flail with segmented foot-long bars.

Not to say that it didn't exist, just that I've not run into anything that I would recognize with that description. And with the idea that this is a common sailor's weapon... I'm just not sure.

If it did exist, it would be very heavy, unless the 'iron bars' were relatively thin.