Help me figure out what real world weapon this is equivalent too!

[JupiterBase]

In the Dragonlance book Races Of Ansalon there is a weapon called a Soris. Its described as follows: The soris is a jointed staff-spear used
predominantly by the elven kirath. A soris is two pieces of
darkwood connected by a universal joint. The short upper
shaft has small folding hooks and a rope hand-loop. The
soris? lower shaft has an attached leather thong and is tipped
with a sharp metal spike. The ball-like joint can be locked
in any position, allowing for many possible uses. A soris is
always crafted as a masterwork weapon. You can
use this weapon to gain a +2 circumstance bonus on Climb
checks.
Function: A soris can attack as a club, a light flail, a
quarterstaff, or a shortspear of equivalent size (Medium for
elves).
Weapon Familiarity: Elf.

I cant imagine what it looks like but they have to have something like it in the real world. Anyone here know of anything? Some crazy Siberian farmers tool perhaps?

EDIT: as ive gotten older i have more and more trouble visualising thins within my head. This bothers me to no end, i cant imagine what this weapon would look like if say i wanted to draw a character using it.

 

[Vuliev]

Honestly, I have no idea. Sounds like a purely fictional fantasy weapon to me.

 

[Mikkaddo]

In one of the Suikoden games, the main char wields a staff that's in 3 parts. Each smaller staff is connected in a line to the next section with chain. That's the closest I can come up with to what you're describing and I cannot recall off the top of my head the name of the weapon.

 

[Jabberwock xeno]

Sounds like a 3-sectioned staff with a kama at the end:

 

[busterkeatonrules]

COULD be something out of feudal Japan. Try researching obscure ninja weapons - those ninja did use some bizarre weaponry!

 

[JupiterBase]

It pretty much seems to be a frankenweapon to me. Its funny Dragonlance seemed to went crazy with there imaginations when it comes to weapons. Those who have heard of Kender knows what im talking about. This one sounds like it would actually look pretty cool though.

 

[Hagi]

Lo and behold! My amazing paint impression!

EDIT: Just re-read it and seems the spike isn't attached to the leather thong but instead directly to the tip of the staff. Not sure what the use for that leather thong is though...

 

[JupiterBase]

Sounds like a 3-sectioned staff with a kama at the end:

Thats what i thought too but its only two sections. As to the kama part it works as spear without slashing.

 

[JupiterBase]

Lo and behold! My amazing paint impression!

HA! probably the closest to what it may actually look like.

 

[dangoball]

I know a tiny bit about melee weponry and I dare say that's as imaginary as it can be. Looks like combination of at least three weapons and that ball joint is utter nonsence (in my humble opinion). Now chain joining that can slip into the weapon and create one shaft would be more realistic.
Weapons propably used:
3-sectioned staff (or super long nunchaku)

small grappling hook (steping in for flail/mace head)http://www.iagram.com/components/com_joomgallery/img_thumbnails/physical_science__technology_7/military_technology_70/grappling_hook_20101120_1326397165.png

chinese heavy spear
http://www.warrior-supplies.com/images_products/64_big.jpg

Beats me what they want to do with that leather at the end of bottom part.

Lo and behold! My amazing paint impression!

That tip has to be a part of the shaft since it's used to finish downed enemies. If it hang like this it would be a risk to the wielder.

Still baffles me how one would put that to "many possible uses" when it can't even be imagined. That rule book should provide pictures.

 

[somonels]

I am DM, and I say you lose 50 experience.
Troll again and I'll bring an Alchemists Sword.

 

[JupiterBase]

Also brought to you by Dragonlance: BEHOLD THE MIGHTY HOOPAK!

http://www.rubyblade.com/tes/images/hoopak.jpg

Its a different weapon but dragonlance just has so much wacky stuff. This soris thing. The Soris is just crazy.

 

[Hero in a half shell]

-snip-

By the wonders of the Google machine I present to you:

The Soris!

(I know it's a big picture but I decided not to spoiler it since it is precisely what the OP is asking for.)
Yeah, I don't think there is an historical equivalent, it seems a complete fantasy weapon, with hooks where you would want to hold the spear and that joint in the middle, seems to cause a lot more problems than it would actually benefit you.

 

[JupiterBase]

-snip-

-snip-

Wow, its actually kinda cool thanks man. yeah the rear end with those hooks just seems strange.

 

[Jabberwock xeno]

Also, it's likely that even if we can't name a real life version, it's almost certain that something like that has been used at one point or another.

Even if not, it's still a combination of various weapons, so it's not like it's entirely impratical either.

 

[Dimitriov]

It's sounds like a really retarded invention of a spastic fantasy writer to me. Seriously, ridiculously complicated generally equals worse with weapons.

The concept of a weapon is really simple, you try and throw in too many ideas and you are just wrecking its functionality.