As a form of kusarigama, one having a chain weight at the bottom end of a handle of kama is generally known, but depending on schools, various forms of kusarigama have been confirmed, such as one having a chain weight at the top end of kama so that it may be used with one hand, one having a 4 shaku (about 120cm) length of a handle which is referred to as "dai-kusarigama (big kusarigama)" (or nagi-kusarigama), and yae-kusarigama which is a 7 shaku (about 210cm) length of yaegama (nagikama) (sickle-weapon) with a chain.
鎖鎌の形態としては、鎌の柄尻に鎖分銅の付いた物が一般的に知られているが、流派によっては片手でも使える様に鎌の頭端部に鎖分銅を取付けたもの、『大鎖鎌』（又は薙鎖鎌）と称する柄の部分が4尺（約120cm）のもの、7尺の八重鎌（薙鎌）に鎖をつけた八重鎖鎌など様々な形の物が確認されている。