Sundang and kampilan for comment

ward · 3rd August 2014, 06:52 PM

Looking at how the blade goes in the handle I think Gavin and Charles are right, it's the pommel that was flipped not the whole hilt. That's why there is that band on the grip. You don't need to take the handle off just get under the band carefully and see what was done. Expect epoxy, if you're lucky maybe just white glue

Nirghosa · 6th August 2014, 03:27 AM

yours isn't the only one, I got one off ebay some year ago as well with the handle incorrect. Guard was correct but no handle. Fortunately my teacher is a smith and was able to carefully help me "knock" it loose. It seriously looked like they had used modelers cement at one time

drac2k · 6th August 2014, 12:20 PM

A member of the forum was good enough to give me the name of a swordsmith and as such, the blade is on it's way to California ; if this works out, he will be receiving a suitcase of "projects," to work on .

Gavin Nugent · 7th August 2014, 02:45 PM

Hi Drac2k

These Kampilans are quite simple in there manufacture.
The grip and pommel is a separate piece of timber from the guard and they are typically pinned with a single pin mid way through the grip.

I'd say the pin perhaps rusted through or was removed/fell out after the rattan binding wore through and was just reassembled incorrectly at the time.

A simple thing to reverse and rebind correctly.

drac2k · 7th August 2014, 05:49 PM

Thanks for the advice, but I'm not sure how "simple," the fix would be and I don't possess the skill set for the binding.If the sword were loose, I might have tried , but it is tight as a drum !
I have found that 2 phrases in the English language usually cause me great regret :
"don't worry, it's simple, you can do it," and "don't worry, it won't cost you anything."

3rd August 2014, 06:52 PM	#1
ward Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 637	Looking at how the blade goes in the handle I think Gavin and Charles are right, it's the pommel that was flipped not the whole hilt. That's why there is that band on the grip. You don't need to take the handle off just get under the band carefully and see what was done. Expect epoxy, if you're lucky maybe just white glue

6th August 2014, 03:27 AM	#2
Nirghosa Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Michigan Posts: 119	yours isn't the only one, I got one off ebay some year ago as well with the handle incorrect. Guard was correct but no handle. Fortunately my teacher is a smith and was able to carefully help me "knock" it loose. It seriously looked like they had used modelers cement at one time

6th August 2014, 12:20 PM	#3
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,258	A member of the forum was good enough to give me the name of a swordsmith and as such, the blade is on it's way to California ; if this works out, he will be receiving a suitcase of "projects," to work on .

7th August 2014, 02:45 PM	#4
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Hi Drac2k These Kampilans are quite simple in there manufacture. The grip and pommel is a separate piece of timber from the guard and they are typically pinned with a single pin mid way through the grip. I'd say the pin perhaps rusted through or was removed/fell out after the rattan binding wore through and was just reassembled incorrectly at the time. A simple thing to reverse and rebind correctly.

7th August 2014, 05:49 PM	#5
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,258	Thanks for the advice, but I'm not sure how "simple," the fix would be and I don't possess the skill set for the binding.If the sword were loose, I might have tried , but it is tight as a drum ! I have found that 2 phrases in the English language usually cause me great regret : "don't worry, it's simple, you can do it," and "don't worry, it won't cost you anything."