Very Unusual Kampilan

Rick · 22nd January 2005, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilked aka Khun Deng

For those of you who like the crusty look all I can say is I've been in the Army too long, I CANNOT leave a weapon in an unservicable condition it drives me nuts (they did their job well). I will always clean and polish and preserve to try and return it to it's former glory and insure if it can be made servicable again it will be (this includes sharpening).
n.

Too funny Dan , I don't know how many hours I have spent re-etching Moro Kris blades that were polished bright by your Span Am War forefathers .

I tend to agree , I think this hilt is not a re-carve but a rare and beautiful variant .

Federico · 22nd January 2005, 09:01 PM

Recarves when done well can be extremely hard to detect. While there is the occaisional ad-hoc recarve that are easily detectable, when we are talking recarve here, we are talking someone with lots of money looking to change a piece and take no small steps at it. They are also looking to hide the fact that it has been done. So clues to traditional re-fits and recarves are generally much more subtle, such as off lines, etc... Which is what makes this piece to me a likely candidate for being a recarve. It is obviously very well done, but there are a few features that are off. I doubt the carver had a slip, and if he did, for such a nice piece I doubt he would be let off with just placing it on anyways. Anyways, this is a level of pickiness in Moro Weaponry that we normally dont do on the forum. I know the vast bulk of my swords are ones that have all been tweaked here and there, and the fact does not take away from the quality of the piece, when done very well. Unless of course you are adamant about having 100% original, but then to do that you suddenly limit yourself away from the vast majority of the stuff on the market these days.

wilked aka Khun Deng · 23rd January 2005, 09:22 AM

Rick, here's those pics of the top and bottom edge.

Ian · 23rd January 2005, 09:35 PM

Dan lucked out with this one! And he got it a GREAT price ...

This kampilan is 100% original, no reworking to the hilt evident at all. the metal guard on both sides of the cross piece is still solid. All the wood is still there. The handle is wrapped with finely woven abaca cloth. Only the horse hair has disappeared. It even has the traditional scabbard of two pieces of crudely carved wood shaped on the inside to fit the blade, and held together originally by a few thin rattan strips that could be sliced through without removing the blade. (See Krieger's description and others' reports of how a devastating blow could be struck with the sheathed kampilan.)

The hilt on this one is unlike any others I have seen and my first impression was a "naga" variant. Before cleaning, this sword had a nice old patina to the hilt and blade, but the carving on the hilt since cleaning is now much more obvious and crisper -- really an outstanding example of Moro artistic work.

From its condition before cleaning, I would say this kampilan is at least 100 years old. One of the best I've seen. Congrats Dan.

Ian.

23rd January 2005, 09:22 AM	#3
wilked aka Khun Deng Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Oahu, Hawaii Posts: 166	Top and Bottom Rick, here's those pics of the top and bottom edge. Attached Images

23rd January 2005, 09:35 PM	#4
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,398	Excellent and unusual kampilan ... Dan lucked out with this one! And he got it a GREAT price ... This kampilan is 100% original, no reworking to the hilt evident at all. the metal guard on both sides of the cross piece is still solid. All the wood is still there. The handle is wrapped with finely woven abaca cloth. Only the horse hair has disappeared. It even has the traditional scabbard of two pieces of crudely carved wood shaped on the inside to fit the blade, and held together originally by a few thin rattan strips that could be sliced through without removing the blade. (See Krieger's description and others' reports of how a devastating blow could be struck with the sheathed kampilan.) The hilt on this one is unlike any others I have seen and my first impression was a "naga" variant. Before cleaning, this sword had a nice old patina to the hilt and blade, but the carving on the hilt since cleaning is now much more obvious and crisper -- really an outstanding example of Moro artistic work. From its condition before cleaning, I would say this kampilan is at least 100 years old. One of the best I've seen. Congrats Dan. Ian.

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22nd January 2005, 09:01 PM	#2
Federico Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Minneapolis, MN, USA Posts: 312	Recarves when done well can be extremely hard to detect. While there is the occaisional ad-hoc recarve that are easily detectable, when we are talking recarve here, we are talking someone with lots of money looking to change a piece and take no small steps at it. They are also looking to hide the fact that it has been done. So clues to traditional re-fits and recarves are generally much more subtle, such as off lines, etc... Which is what makes this piece to me a likely candidate for being a recarve. It is obviously very well done, but there are a few features that are off. I doubt the carver had a slip, and if he did, for such a nice piece I doubt he would be let off with just placing it on anyways. Anyways, this is a level of pickiness in Moro Weaponry that we normally dont do on the forum. I know the vast bulk of my swords are ones that have all been tweaked here and there, and the fact does not take away from the quality of the piece, when done very well. Unless of course you are adamant about having 100% original, but then to do that you suddenly limit yourself away from the vast majority of the stuff on the market these days.