Imported Middle Eastern Sword ( Kampilan)

Gavin Nugent · 30th November 2023, 10:04 AM

It took me a while to see a silver pin... it might be, but I feel it is camera angles and a hole.

The best I can do with simple editing skills to merge the images.

The left side shows nothing shiny, but you can see through the hole above the grip.
The right image, you can now only see shadows in the hole above the grip and I feel it is now lighting up the ironing board cover below the next hole.

I get the feeling this is all rich dark timber.

kino · 30th November 2023, 04:42 PM

Hopefully the new owner will weigh in and post photos.

Here’s a Kampilan with Carabao horn hilt and cross-guard.

Gavin Nugent · 1st December 2023, 04:45 AM

That's a very beautiful high quality and very clean example Kino.

What is your opinion on restoration of the hair and plugs within the pommel?
I've pondered it a lot over the years, just never ventured down that road though.

kino · 1st December 2023, 04:03 PM

I’ve done a few hair restorations on Kampilan’s that were totally bare.
I used wood glue to secure the plugs and hair into the cavity. I acquired white horse hair and dyed it with fabric dye.

DaveS (RIP), used to buy Sporran’s at Gun Shows and harvest the hair for Kampilan restorations.

Battara · 2nd December 2023, 02:44 AM

I've also done many hair restorations on kampilans, as well as "eye" repair.

Gavin Nugent · 4th December 2023, 12:48 PM

What part of the horse do you take the hair from? Mane I am guessing as tail is too coarse.

I've seen a decent variety of Kampilan scabbards over the years. I don't however recall one of this style. It looks thick, of hexagonal cross section, and devoid of any okir designs or pigments?

Have you see other examples of this type?

kino · 5th December 2023, 05:58 PM

I acquired a bundle of horsehair years ago, I believe it’s from the tail. Compared to what’s on some of my Kamps, it’s about the same firmness. I’ve read somewhere that goat hair were also used, where the hair is harvested from I don’t know.

I’ve seen a similar scabbard thick and hexagonal as you mentioned, here on the Forum, I couldn’t locate it. I’ll keep searching.

Here one that I worked on. I dyed the hair, It was darker whey I removed it from the dye bath, but got lighter when I rinsed it. The overhead light makes it look shiny. Might have to do-over.

30th November 2023, 10:04 AM	#1
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	It took me a while to see a silver pin... it might be, but I feel it is camera angles and a hole. The best I can do with simple editing skills to merge the images. The left side shows nothing shiny, but you can see through the hole above the grip. The right image, you can now only see shadows in the hole above the grip and I feel it is now lighting up the ironing board cover below the next hole. I get the feeling this is all rich dark timber. Attached Images

30th November 2023, 04:42 PM	#2
kino Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,018	Hopefully the new owner will weigh in and post photos. Here’s a Kampilan with Carabao horn hilt and cross-guard. Attached Images

5th December 2023, 05:58 PM	#7
kino Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,018	I acquired a bundle of horsehair years ago, I believe it’s from the tail. Compared to what’s on some of my Kamps, it’s about the same firmness. I’ve read somewhere that goat hair were also used, where the hair is harvested from I don’t know. I’ve seen a similar scabbard thick and hexagonal as you mentioned, here on the Forum, I couldn’t locate it. I’ll keep searching. Here one that I worked on. I dyed the hair, It was darker whey I removed it from the dye bath, but got lighter when I rinsed it. The overhead light makes it look shiny. Might have to do-over. Attached Images

1st December 2023, 04:45 AM	#3
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	That's a very beautiful high quality and very clean example Kino. What is your opinion on restoration of the hair and plugs within the pommel? I've pondered it a lot over the years, just never ventured down that road though.

1st December 2023, 04:03 PM	#4
kino Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,018	I’ve done a few hair restorations on Kampilan’s that were totally bare. I used wood glue to secure the plugs and hair into the cavity. I acquired white horse hair and dyed it with fabric dye. DaveS (RIP), used to buy Sporran’s at Gun Shows and harvest the hair for Kampilan restorations.

2nd December 2023, 02:44 AM	#5
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	I've also done many hair restorations on kampilans, as well as "eye" repair.

4th December 2023, 12:48 PM	#6
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	What part of the horse do you take the hair from? Mane I am guessing as tail is too coarse. I've seen a decent variety of Kampilan scabbards over the years. I don't however recall one of this style. It looks thick, of hexagonal cross section, and devoid of any okir designs or pigments? Have you see other examples of this type?