Boxes holding Eastern weapons (6)
I believe the answer is:
spears
'weapons' is the definition.
(I know this)
'boxes holding eastern' is the wordplay.
'boxes' becomes 'spars' (sparring is a kind of boxing).
'holding' indicates putting letters inside.
'eastern' becomes 'e'.
'spars' going around 'e' is 'SPEARS'.
(Other definitions for spears that I've seen before include "asparagus perhaps" , "stickers" , "Long weapons with a sharp points" , "Pointed poles as weapons" , "Lances" .)