Two Kampilans For Comparison - One Modern, One Older…

Jerseyman · 9th September 2016, 09:40 PM

I own two kampilans - the modern item collected from a dealer in the Philippines a decade ago, the older version recently acquired. I thought it might be interesting to see them side by side.

The modern version first. This came with a plain wooden scabbard, nicely crafted with simple carving at the end. Unfortunately a three inch crack in the base near the hilt.

A well-made blade with 13 brass inserts near the end and a spur. It seems to me that on the left side of the blade in particular I can make out the effects of a grinding wheel which may have been used to clean the blade - I can also see small forging flaws on both sides of the blade. There is a small area of incised lines and crosses on the spine familiar from other recent blades from this area. It is sharp and strong.

The wood of the hilt seems to have a reddish/golden effect that would polish up well. I don’t believe the metal grip cover and the roundels are silver as they’ve not tarnished since I bought it. The serpentine guard seems to be iron and well-fixed. The holes for the hair plugs are present but don’t seem to have been used.

Balance point - 8”/203mm from the hilt.

A big, attractive sword.

Dimensions

Length - 46.5”/1181mm
Blade length - 34.5”/876mm
Depth of blade (narrowest) - 1.25”/32mm
Depth of blade (widest) - 1.9/48mm
Width of spine (hilt) - 0.3”/7mm
Width of spine (point) - 0.08”/2mm
Length of hilt - 12”/305mm
Length of cross piece - 5.75”/146mm
Width of cross piece - 1”/25mm
Depth of cross piece - 1.75”>1.25”/44mm>32mm
Length of metal grip - 4”/102mm
Depth of metal grip - 1.5”/38mm
Width of metal grip - 1.125”/29mm
Width of jaws - 4”/102mm
Length of guard - 3.75”/95mm
Width of guard - 1.25”/32mm
Depth of guard - 0.2”/5mm

9th September 2016, 09:40 PM	#1
Jerseyman Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 97	Two Kampilans For Comparison - One Modern, One Older… I own two kampilans - the modern item collected from a dealer in the Philippines a decade ago, the older version recently acquired. I thought it might be interesting to see them side by side. The modern version first. This came with a plain wooden scabbard, nicely crafted with simple carving at the end. Unfortunately a three inch crack in the base near the hilt. A well-made blade with 13 brass inserts near the end and a spur. It seems to me that on the left side of the blade in particular I can make out the effects of a grinding wheel which may have been used to clean the blade - I can also see small forging flaws on both sides of the blade. There is a small area of incised lines and crosses on the spine familiar from other recent blades from this area. It is sharp and strong. The wood of the hilt seems to have a reddish/golden effect that would polish up well. I don’t believe the metal grip cover and the roundels are silver as they’ve not tarnished since I bought it. The serpentine guard seems to be iron and well-fixed. The holes for the hair plugs are present but don’t seem to have been used. Balance point - 8”/203mm from the hilt. A big, attractive sword. Dimensions Length - 46.5”/1181mm Blade length - 34.5”/876mm Depth of blade (narrowest) - 1.25”/32mm Depth of blade (widest) - 1.9/48mm Width of spine (hilt) - 0.3”/7mm Width of spine (point) - 0.08”/2mm Length of hilt - 12”/305mm Length of cross piece - 5.75”/146mm Width of cross piece - 1”/25mm Depth of cross piece - 1.75”>1.25”/44mm>32mm Length of metal grip - 4”/102mm Depth of metal grip - 1.5”/38mm Width of metal grip - 1.125”/29mm Width of jaws - 4”/102mm Length of guard - 3.75”/95mm Width of guard - 1.25”/32mm Depth of guard - 0.2”/5mm Attached Images