It was some modified chigikiri which is a type of kusarigama, a weapon and tool used by many ninjas in Feudal Japan. If the weapon you are referring to had a "hand" on the end of it, then it was probably custom made, because chigikiris or kusarigamas typically did not have a hand design on the end of the chain.

Chigikiri?

no

I have been on a serious ninja kick lately and I remember pictures of a chain weapon with what looked like a hand on the end, I assume the point was to grapple your opponent or was used to climb, probably both, was this a real piece of equipment and if so, what's it called?