How to Make a Paper Kunai

Last Updated: January 19, 2022 References Tested

If you’re a fan of anime and manga, you’ve probably seen pictures of kunai blades before. Unlike traditional knives, swords, or katanas, kunai are short, angled blades with a long handle. If you’re looking for a fun craft or an easy prop for a cosplay, look no further! It may be tricky to get the right paper folding technique down at first, but with enough practice and dedication, you’ll be able to make a realistic paper kunai prop of your very own.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Forming the Blade

1
Trim a normal sheet of paper so it’s 18 by 14 cm (7.1 by 5.5 in). Take a normal sheet of printer paper and make sure that it’s exactly 18 cm (7.1 in) long and 14 cm (5.5 in) wide. This will make your kunai blade more exact, and will make it easier to fold.^{[1]
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2
Fold a 18 by 14 cm (7.1 by 5.5 in) sheet of paper in half vertically. Place a small, thin piece of paper vertically on your table or work surface. If you have some lying around, origami paper might be a good option, or you can use a regular sheet of printer paper, too. Fold this piece of paper in half evenly, so there’s a crease separating both sides. Once you’ve done this, reopen and flatten the paper on the table.^{[2]
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- For a more fun-looking prop, consider using a brightly colored paper for your craft.
- You can always use a larger sheet of paper for this if you’d like to make a larger prop!
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3
Tuck and fold the upper left and right corners of the paper. Pretend you’re making a paper airplane as you begin. Fold in the top left corner to create an even triangle, then repeat the process with the top right corner. When you’re finished, your paper will look like the start of a basic paper airplane.^{[3]
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- Try to make your folds as even as possible, as this will make your kunai look more accurate.
4
Fold the upper right corner again to create an angled triangle. Take the currently folded edge and fold it again towards the center. Beforehand, the triangle looked completely even on all three sides—now, all 3 sides will be uneven, and the folded triangle will look much thinner. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t get this fold right at first, as it can be really tricky to master.^{[4]
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- If you aren’t super confident in your paper folding skills, consider having multiple sheets on hand. This way, you can make clean creases for your project!
5
Repeat this folding process with the upper left corner. Take the small, even triangle in the top left corner and fold the entire strip of paper into the center crease. Ideally, this fold will look identical to the fold you already made on the right side of the kunai.^{[5]
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- These folds help give your kunai blade a defined, angled shape.
6
Fold in the bottom left and right corners of the paper toward the crease. Examine the bottom corners of your paper—at this point, they should still be squared off, normal corners. Take the rightmost edge of the paper and fold it towards the center, so the tip of the corner touches the crease. Repeat this process with the bottom left corner of your paper, as well.^{[6]
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- These folds will help form the base for your kunai.
- The edges of the bottom triangle may overlap slightly with the upper triangle, which is completely normal.
7
Tuck and fold the upper right triangular section. For your paper to really look like a blade, you need to fold it 1 more time to make it look 3-dimensional. Take the folded portion on the upper right side of the paper and fold it into the center of the paper, which gives your blade a more defined shape.^{[7]
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- It may take a few tries before you get this fold down. Don’t give up!
8
Repeat this folding technique on the upper left triangular section. As you did with the upper right section of the paper, tuck and fold the upper left triangle into the center crease. Once you’re finished, both sides of the kunai will look like mirror images of one another.^{[8]
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- It’s okay if your paper doesn’t look exactly right. It may take a few tries before your kunai looks the way you want it to.
9
Secure the upper triangles in place with a glue stick. Use a normal gluestick to apply a small square of glue on the base of the paper. Center the glue above the bottom folds but beneath the upper folds, so your kunai blade can hold its shape.^{[9]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Creating and Decorating the Handle

1
Wiggle your finger between the bottom creases to create a hole. Flip your glued kunai blade over and find the base. Beneath the folds, find a small opening along the bottom of paper. Stick your finger into this paper opening so you can add a handle later on.^{[10]
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2
Roll a 15 by 25 cm (5.9 by 9.8 in) sheet of paper around a pencil into a coil. Lay a large, thin sheet of origami or printer paper horizontally on a flat surface. Arrange a pencil on the bottom edge, then fold the paper around the pencil. Roll the pencil forward, creating a tight, even paper coil as you go.^{[11]
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- This section of coiled paper will serve as the handle for your kunai knife.
3
Glue vertically 1 in (2.5 cm) along the side of the paper. Unroll the coiled paper so there’s a thin margin of space open on the opposite edge. Swipe your glue stick along this open section, then press it onto the rest of the coiled paper to hold it in place. Give the glue a few seconds to dry, or wait until the paper seems secure.^{[12]
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4
Slide the rolled handle into the opening on your kunai blade. Take 1 end of the coiled paper and slide it into the opening you made earlier with your finger. Push the handle into the knife as far as it will go, so your prop can be as sturdy as possible.^{[13]
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5
Pinch and roll the bottom 1 in (2.5 cm) of the handle into a circle. Pinch a small section from the opposite end of your handle to separate it from the rest of the paper. Roll this section of handle into a circle that’s less than 1 in (2.5 cm) wide.^{[14]
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- This loop helps make your kunai look more realistic.
6
Glue the loop into place to complete the handle. Swipe a small amount of glue on the end of the looped paper. Use your fingers to press this loop into place for several seconds. Once your loop is secure, you’re ready to display your new prop!^{[15]
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Tip: As an extra decorative touch, you can wind a thin strip of colored paper around the handle of your paper kunai.