My first Kampilan
 

Also my first auction experience. Very exciting! :) Bought it at the Auctions Imperial last night at the Timonium show. Nice blade, thick at the hilt. It has some light power sanding marks, but they will come out with a polish. I'd love your comments.
Thanks,
Steve

Wow very nice! Wish I was there ;)

Lew

Hi Steve,

beautiful Kamp! :) I was one of the low online bidders on this one. I love the reddish wood with the nice grain.
Congrats to your first Kampilan, I am curious to see the blade etched. Do you plan to give him back his eyes? See here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...light=kampilan

Regards,

Detlef

Congratulations!!! a very good piece, be carefull, the kampilans are dangerous...to the wallet, is like a virus!!
best regards
carlos

NOW YOU ARE AN EXTREME MORO COLLECTOR!! :eek:
YOU HAVE JUMPED FROM THE SMALLEST MORO BLADES TO THE LARGEST.
CONGRADULATIONS, LOOKS LIKE A VERY NICE OLD ONE, I ESPECIALLY LIKE THE WOOD AND PIERCED TIP.

Looks like an excellent example in a nice stat of condition....congrats! :)

Was going to bid on this but had to work. Lucky for both of us as I don't think I have the money right now!

Congrats on a great piece. It really is beautiful, Steve

Nice honest piece - congratulations. I agree with Sajen that the silver disk eyes are the only things missing. Otherwise complete (sans scabbard).

Congrats again....and apologies....you could have saved a few more dollars if I had realized I was bidding against you sooner. If I had known you were interested in it earlier I never would have bid at all, but you still got it for a darn good price.

The piece is far better in person than the pics indicate. It is one of the heaviest examples I have ever handled, with very crisp carving.

Nice pick up!

Thank you all gentlemen! I do plan to give her back her eyes. Just have to find some coins from the proper period.

No problem Charles. I was so nervous bidding that I didn't even notice who I was bidding against. Sorry if you wanted it. I was pleased at the price it went for.

Just had to give it a polish and etch as soon as I finished the 7 hour drive home. :D And I was pleasantly surprised! :D

A wonderful Kampilan Steve. I am happy that you've finally been able to add one to your collection and a very nice one at that. I have never seen the grip with this style of wrap before, is this a common form? Beautiful overall condition and once the eyes have been replaced WOW :eek: My congratulation on your latest addition.

Robert

Nice polish and etch my friend now what did I do with that eye ;) :D . I guess some type of period coin may be needed?

Thanks Robert. I've seen similar wraps on Kris, but I haven't handled many Kampilan. Pictures I've seen mostly show rattan wraps, or missing wraps.

Thanks Lew!

I have a couple of 20 centavo coins coming from Ebay. Which side of the coin would usually be shown?

Steve

Most of the ones I've seen using these coins have the eagle and shield side showing.

Robert

I have had the same problem (and use as well 20 centavos coins) so I show at one side the eagle and at the other side the "girl". Look the thread I give you in post # 3.

Regards,

Detlef

Steve, thanks for the pics! Very nice lamination patterns!

In my opinion, the kampilan symbolizes the bird-deity just like the kris, barung, and pira (with the beak & crest of the kakatua in the pommel, etc.). Hence, we often see ukkil on the kampilans' crossguard that makes it look like outspread bird wings. And I also think that the kampilan's blade tip (with or without the spikelet) is the bird's head and beak. Thus the bifurcated pommel will logically be the bird's tail (and not the open mouth of a croc).

There's also a Muslim univ. professor whom I interviewed about two years ago, who in turn interviewed at least two prominent Mindanao craftsmen earlier. Here's what the univ. prof. told me:

"The kampilan represents a swift's tail, particularly the Purple Needletail Swift which is a bird known to hunt in large groups, nests in caves, and unlike most birds, it makes no noises or calls – thus warrior-like. It’s also known for its beautiful shiny purple color."

It's no coincidence thus that often we see the bird side of the coin displayed on the kampilan's hilt (as Robert also noted).

Further up north among the Panay Bukidnons in the Visayas (central Phils.), they are fond of using a Mexican coin with a sun burst design on one side. The logic is the same - it is all about the veneration of the sun god and the bird deity (two sides of the same coin :D) of the ancient religion of the islands.

Thus IMHO I think you should show the bird side of the coin when you affix them in your kampilan ...

Just my two cents ;)

Lorenz

Lorenz,
Thank you so much for sharing this information. It's fascinating! Bird side it is!

Steve

She can see now.

Steve

Well done :) .

Congrats
 

Nice Work!!

Yes, well done! :)

Brings it back to life doesn't it.

Yes it does!

Thanks gents. :D

Steve

Looks GREAT Steve!!! Now that it can see again be careful not to make it mad :eek: ;) :D

nice! :)