Very Unusual Kampilan

[Ian]

Dan lucked out with this one! And he got it a GREAT price ...

This kampilan is 100% original, no reworking to the hilt evident at all. the metal guard on both sides of the cross piece is still solid. All the wood is still there. The handle is wrapped with finely woven abaca cloth. Only the horse hair has disappeared. It even has the traditional scabbard of two pieces of crudely carved wood shaped on the inside to fit the blade, and held together originally by a few thin rattan strips that could be sliced through without removing the blade. (See Krieger's description and others' reports of how a devastating blow could be struck with the sheathed kampilan.)

The hilt on this one is unlike any others I have seen and my first impression was a "naga" variant. Before cleaning, this sword had a nice old patina to the hilt and blade, but the carving on the hilt since cleaning is now much more obvious and crisper -- really an outstanding example of Moro artistic work.

From its condition before cleaning, I would say this kampilan is at least 100 years old. One of the best I've seen. Congrats Dan.

Ian.