![]() |
![]() |
#1 |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 327
|
![]()
Here is another interesting campilon. The handle is made from narwal ivory in a non-traditional form. Blade is laminated and is 27 inches long, 32 1/2 inches overall. On the back of the handle is a Spanish coin. I believe this blade is one of the oldest I've owned. It just has a feel to it that the later ones don't seem to have although I don't have any real proof. Just my thoughts. What do you think?........Dave.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#2 |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,731
|
![]()
Hello Dave,
nice one, very nice lamination on the blade. The handle have a very nice patina. What let you to be sure that it is narwhale ivory? Frankly said I've handled only one time old narwhale ivory and can't remember really how it has looked. ![]() Regards, Detlef |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#3 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: OKLAHOMA, USA
Posts: 3,138
|
![]()
A BEAUTIFUL BLADE AND UNUSUAL HANDLE. NO DOUBT IT WOULD BE AN INTERESTING STORY OF HOW NARWHALE IVORY AND A KAMPILLIAN CAME TOGETHER. A UNIQUE AND LIKELY ONE OF A KIND SWORD.
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#4 | |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 327
|
![]() Quote:
|
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#5 | |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 327
|
![]() Quote:
|
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#6 | |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,731
|
![]() Quote:
this was the reason why I have asked this question. Very rare material and seldom seen at ethnograhic weapons. Regards, Detlef |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#7 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 999
|
![]()
Dave, this blade has a really nice contrast, was the blade etched with phosphoric acid?
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#8 | |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 327
|
![]() Quote:
|
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#9 | |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 478
|
![]() Quote:
|
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#10 | |
Keris forum moderator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 7,100
|
![]() Quote:
![]() |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#11 |
Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Mother North
Posts: 189
|
![]()
It's narwhal without a doubt, with some of the nicest age crack patterning I've seen - and I see a lot of it!
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#12 |
Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Mother North
Posts: 189
|
![]()
Oh yeah btw, you can't really make something like a sword hilt out of the base of the tusk - the walls here are thin and rather fragile. I think it's carved from the piece imediately distal of the end of the pulp cavity or possibly near it with. What is the diameter?
Cheers, Thor |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#13 | |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 327
|
![]() Quote:
|
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#14 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: OKLAHOMA, USA
Posts: 3,138
|
![]()
I ALWAYS WANTED A NARWHALE TUSK BUT GAVE UP SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND BOUGHT A REPLICA MADE OF CAST RESIN. IT LOOKS GOOD AT A DISTANCE BUT NEVER WILL GAIN A PATINA OR BE THE REAL MAGICAL THING BUT IS THE BEST I CAN DO IN THIS LIFE.
IT IS 57 INCHES LONG AND 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER AT THE BASE. I SUSPECT IT IS A LARGER SIZE AS THESE TUSKS GO BUT THERE ARE SOME LARGER ONES NO DOUBT. THIS WAS A REPLICA OF A REAL TUSK SO DOES GIVE SOME IDEA OF SIZE. ONE THING THAT PUZZLES ME IS WHY WOULD ONE WANT TO REMOVE ALL THE RAISED SPIRAL TEXTURE OF THE NATURAL TUSK TO MAKE A SWORD HANDLE OR ANYTHING ELSE. THAT VERY UNIQUE SPIRAL TEXTURE IS WHAT SETS IT APART FROM ALL OTHER IVORY AND GIVES IT ITS BEAUTY. ![]() A PICTURE OF A RARE NARWHALE SKULL WITH 2 TUSKS IT IS 8 FEET 11 INCHES LONG. THEY USUALLY ONLY HAVE ONE TUSK. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#15 | |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 327
|
![]() Quote:
|
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#16 | |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 327
|
![]() Quote:
|
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#17 |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,200
|
![]()
I have resisted commenting until now. To me this hilt seems wrong on several levels to be contemporary with the blade:
1. Narwal ivory would be so difficult to get to the southern Philippines, even through trade. 2. The pin keeping the old Spanish coin in the pommel - usually there is no pommel cap on kampilans. 3. When one rarely sees this type of hilt shape, it is usually because the pommel has been broken so many times that the isn't much left. 4. Unless the cross guard is made of horn, ivory would not normally be used without also using other higher ranking materials in suite. These are my thoughts on this piece. It all may be authentic, or at least the blade may be older, and yes trade went very far and anything is possible. I guess I have my reservations until proved or convinced otherwise. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#18 | |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 327
|
![]() Quote:
|
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|
|