Help: Kampilan I.D.
 

Hello all,
bought this kampilan off ebay. 1 metre/39.5". The description for the auction is as follows:
"Circa 1900, Being very large 39 1/2" Overall 27 3/4" blade.
This is a very flamboyant blade. 26 5/8" Carved Panels being dark and flat while the edges were made bright. "
I'm planning on taking in toa gun club meeting and was hoping to have a bit more info on it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

Judging from the blade, the pretty roughly carved pommel/guard, and the grip bindings I'd believe this is Moro work (most likely from Marawi): rather late though (well after 1930) and not made for real use (warfare).

Regards,
Kai

Kai,

What makes you say this Kampy is now Battle worthy? :confused:

How thick is the blade at the spine near the handle?

Hello,
photos of spine taken in 100mm intervals from handle with thickness in mm and inch. Taken with my digital callipers so should be pretty good, but the engraving on the blade caused a bit of wiggling to get callipers off so might be out by a mm.

Distal taper is poor compared to older examples .
I have a kris with the same okir pattern; one piece blade, unhardened edges .
Mid 20th century, imo .

Hello imas560, After looking at the quality of the hilt carving and the engraving on the blade I will have to agree with Rick and say that this is a mid 20th century piece.

Regards, Robert

thanks guys for the info.