Kampilan for assessment

xasterix · 4th September 2020, 10:47 AM

Greetings, just wondering what you guys make of this kampilan. It was acquired by the previous owner in the 80s. I observed that it has a silver coin. It's an easy wield. There is linear lamination, and an age crack towards the tip. The blade is 27.5in long. TIA!

kai · 4th September 2020, 06:31 PM

Nice blade, Xas! Certainly looks antique - how thick is it at the base?

The hilt also seems to be genuinely old, especially the crosspiece. At some point though, apparently someone decided to stain the wood black: IMHO it would be a shame to hide nice timber like banati even if a bit damaged from use...

Regards,
Kai

Battara · 4th September 2020, 11:52 PM

I like the pattern welding in the blade. I agree with Kai that this is older, I'd say late 19c, and perhaps Maranao.

Looks like part of the jaw and the teeth are missing.

xasterix · 5th September 2020, 05:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kai

Nice blade, Xas! Certainly looks antique - how thick is it at the base?

The hilt also seems to be genuinely old, especially the crosspiece. At some point though, apparently someone decided to stain the wood black: IMHO it would be a shame to hide nice timber like banati even if a bit damaged from use...

Regards,
Kai

Hi sir, here's a pic of the base. I don't have a measure at hand right now, unfortunately.

Ian · 5th September 2020, 09:22 AM

I agree with Kai and Jose. This is a genuinely old piece--at least late 19th C. As for the dark wood, I've seen this before on old kampilan and I wonder whether they sometimes used a darker wood, like kamagong, in the 19th C.

As already noted, part of the upper "jaw" is missing but this seems to have happened a long time ago. The laminated blade looks great the way it has been etched.

Ian.

xasterix · 5th September 2020, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian

I agree with Kai and Jose. This is a genuinely old piece--at least late 19th C. As for the dark wood, I've seen this before on old kampilan and I wonder whether they sometimes used a darker wood, like kamagong, in the 19th C.

As already noted, part of the upper "jaw" is missing but this seems to have happened a long time ago. The laminated blade looks great the way it has been etched.

Ian.

Thanks very much for the assessment Ian! Am happy with this piece =)

4th September 2020, 10:47 AM	#1
xasterix Member Join Date: Oct 2018 Posts: 703	Kampilan for assessment Greetings, just wondering what you guys make of this kampilan. It was acquired by the previous owner in the 80s. I observed that it has a silver coin. It's an easy wield. There is linear lamination, and an age crack towards the tip. The blade is 27.5in long. TIA! Attached Images Last edited by xasterix; 4th September 2020 at 12:01 PM.

4th September 2020, 06:31 PM	#2
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Nice blade, Xas! Certainly looks antique - how thick is it at the base? The hilt also seems to be genuinely old, especially the crosspiece. At some point though, apparently someone decided to stain the wood black: IMHO it would be a shame to hide nice timber like banati even if a bit damaged from use... Regards, Kai

4th September 2020, 11:52 PM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,345	I like the pattern welding in the blade. I agree with Kai that this is older, I'd say late 19c, and perhaps Maranao. Looks like part of the jaw and the teeth are missing.

5th September 2020, 09:22 AM	#5
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,521	I agree with Kai and Jose. This is a genuinely old piece--at least late 19th C. As for the dark wood, I've seen this before on old kampilan and I wonder whether they sometimes used a darker wood, like kamagong, in the 19th C. As already noted, part of the upper "jaw" is missing but this seems to have happened a long time ago. The laminated blade looks great the way it has been etched. Ian.