Tourist kampilan or unusual hilt?

carlos · 15th February 2010, 08:36 PM

I have seen this kampilan and is very rare to me. is a unusual kampilan hilt or maybe is made to the torist market like souvenir? best regards
carlos

Battara · 15th February 2010, 08:48 PM

By the pictures it does not look like a cheap tourist piece. It is a little unusual in that there is okir designs in the wooden hilt. Also evidence of once being a guard on top. The tourist ones I don't believe bother to put a guard on top.

BTW - the barong looks like it has been torn apart.

VANDOO · 15th February 2010, 11:25 PM

THE MOST UNUSUAL THING ABOUT THIS SWORD IS THE HANDLE SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN CARVED FROM A SINGLE PIECE OF WOOD. KAMPILIAN FROM THE PHILIPPINES AND BORNEO TRADITIONALY HAVE A TWO PIECE HANDLE. ONE PIECE IS THE HANDLE AND THE OTHER IS THE CROSS GUARD THE HANDLE FITS INTO A GROVE IN THE CROSSGUARD. THE DESIGNS ARE NOT USUAL FOR KAMPILIAN FROM THESE TWO AREAS. YOUR EXAMPLE MAY HAVE BEEN MADE OR MODIFIED IN ANOTHER AREA. BETTER PICTURES OF THE ENTIRE HANDLE ON BOTH SIDES WOULD HELP. A INTERESTING SWORD THAT APPEARS TO HAVE AGE AND NO TOURIST LOOK. HOW HEAVY , THICK AND WELL MADE IS THE BLADE?

carlos · 16th February 2010, 12:14 PM

.

carlos · 4th March 2010, 03:30 PM

Finally I won the auction, I have received swords, the kampilan has a strong blade, but unfortunatelly the last owner change color of blade, with nickel, and now the blade bright. someone knows how I can erase this nickel?
thanks
best regards
carlos

kronckew · 4th March 2010, 04:59 PM

use google, search on "removing nickel plating". brings up a a wealth of info. you probably should be carful to use a method that will not attack the steel.

Bill · 4th March 2010, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carlos

someone knows how I can erase this nickel?

Pictures never tell the real story but I doubt this sword was plated with nickel. For hundreds of years "Luwa Iron" was produced in Sulawesi/Celebes. According to Pelras (The Burgis) this steel had a high nickel content & was valued through the archipelago before European influences. Before European scrap metal hit the scene, much of the welded/pamor blades included Luwa.
The Bugis controlled the Spice trade, before the Europeans, often using high nickel content steel, as well, sword blades for trade. Also remember, metals in this area are constantly recycled. The high nickel content, I believe helps a lot of these swords from rusting.
Variations of the kampilan are found throughout the Moluccas & Banda Sea area.
Your sword is not a tourist item.
Previous owner probably steel wooled your sword to remove the blackening.
You could experiment by using some week acids to darken the blade, if you choose.

carlos · 4th March 2010, 07:15 PM

Thanks all for the information, Bill , your answer have made me more happy!!!

, this information is very good to me!!
best regards
carlos

15th February 2010, 08:36 PM	#1
carlos Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 737	Tourist kampilan or unusual hilt? I have seen this kampilan and is very rare to me. is a unusual kampilan hilt or maybe is made to the torist market like souvenir? best regards carlos Last edited by carlos; 16th February 2010 at 12:34 PM. Reason: THIS ARTICLE IS IN AUCTION, I´M SORRY

16th February 2010, 12:14 PM	#4
carlos Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 737	more pictures . Last edited by carlos; 16th February 2010 at 12:34 PM. Reason: THIS ARTICLE IS IN AUCTION, i´M SORRY

4th March 2010, 03:30 PM	#5
carlos Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 737	I won auction Finally I won the auction, I have received swords, the kampilan has a strong blade, but unfortunatelly the last owner change color of blade, with nickel, and now the blade bright. someone knows how I can erase this nickel? thanks best regards carlos Attached Images

4th March 2010, 07:15 PM	#8
carlos Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 737	thanks and more pictures Thanks all for the information, Bill , your answer have made me more happy!!! , this information is very good to me!! best regards carlos Attached Images

15th February 2010, 08:48 PM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,217	By the pictures it does not look like a cheap tourist piece. It is a little unusual in that there is okir designs in the wooden hilt. Also evidence of once being a guard on top. The tourist ones I don't believe bother to put a guard on top. BTW - the barong looks like it has been torn apart.

15th February 2010, 11:25 PM	#3
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	THE MOST UNUSUAL THING ABOUT THIS SWORD IS THE HANDLE SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN CARVED FROM A SINGLE PIECE OF WOOD. KAMPILIAN FROM THE PHILIPPINES AND BORNEO TRADITIONALY HAVE A TWO PIECE HANDLE. ONE PIECE IS THE HANDLE AND THE OTHER IS THE CROSS GUARD THE HANDLE FITS INTO A GROVE IN THE CROSSGUARD. THE DESIGNS ARE NOT USUAL FOR KAMPILIAN FROM THESE TWO AREAS. YOUR EXAMPLE MAY HAVE BEEN MADE OR MODIFIED IN ANOTHER AREA. BETTER PICTURES OF THE ENTIRE HANDLE ON BOTH SIDES WOULD HELP. A INTERESTING SWORD THAT APPEARS TO HAVE AGE AND NO TOURIST LOOK. HOW HEAVY , THICK AND WELL MADE IS THE BLADE?

4th March 2010, 04:59 PM	#6
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,178	use google, search on "removing nickel plating". brings up a a wealth of info. you probably should be carful to use a method that will not attack the steel.