Imported Middle Eastern Sword ( Kampilan)

kino · 30th November 2023, 04:42 PM

Hopefully the new owner will weigh in and post photos.

Here’s a Kampilan with Carabao horn hilt and cross-guard.

Gavin Nugent · 1st December 2023, 04:45 AM

That's a very beautiful high quality and very clean example Kino.

What is your opinion on restoration of the hair and plugs within the pommel?
I've pondered it a lot over the years, just never ventured down that road though.

kino · 1st December 2023, 04:03 PM

I’ve done a few hair restorations on Kampilan’s that were totally bare.
I used wood glue to secure the plugs and hair into the cavity. I acquired white horse hair and dyed it with fabric dye.

DaveS (RIP), used to buy Sporran’s at Gun Shows and harvest the hair for Kampilan restorations.

Battara · 2nd December 2023, 02:44 AM

I've also done many hair restorations on kampilans, as well as "eye" repair.

Gavin Nugent · 4th December 2023, 12:48 PM

What part of the horse do you take the hair from? Mane I am guessing as tail is too coarse.

I've seen a decent variety of Kampilan scabbards over the years. I don't however recall one of this style. It looks thick, of hexagonal cross section, and devoid of any okir designs or pigments?

Have you see other examples of this type?

kino · 5th December 2023, 05:58 PM

I acquired a bundle of horsehair years ago, I believe it’s from the tail. Compared to what’s on some of my Kamps, it’s about the same firmness. I’ve read somewhere that goat hair were also used, where the hair is harvested from I don’t know.

I’ve seen a similar scabbard thick and hexagonal as you mentioned, here on the Forum, I couldn’t locate it. I’ll keep searching.

Here one that I worked on. I dyed the hair, It was darker whey I removed it from the dye bath, but got lighter when I rinsed it. The overhead light makes it look shiny. Might have to do-over.

Jim McDougall · 5th December 2023, 06:47 PM

As the topic here is kampilans, I wanted to add my example I've had for many years, but have many questions on it and far outside my usual areas.

I am curious about the cloth still attached to it, and with a rope type fixture rather than staple as seen on some others here. The blade does not seem to have the usual profiling either, I'd really appreciate you guys opinions.

30th November 2023, 04:42 PM	#1
kino Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 993	Hopefully the new owner will weigh in and post photos. Here’s a Kampilan with Carabao horn hilt and cross-guard. Attached Images

5th December 2023, 05:58 PM	#6
kino Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 993	I acquired a bundle of horsehair years ago, I believe it’s from the tail. Compared to what’s on some of my Kamps, it’s about the same firmness. I’ve read somewhere that goat hair were also used, where the hair is harvested from I don’t know. I’ve seen a similar scabbard thick and hexagonal as you mentioned, here on the Forum, I couldn’t locate it. I’ll keep searching. Here one that I worked on. I dyed the hair, It was darker whey I removed it from the dye bath, but got lighter when I rinsed it. The overhead light makes it look shiny. Might have to do-over. Attached Images

5th December 2023, 06:47 PM	#7
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,836	As the topic here is kampilans, I wanted to add my example I've had for many years, but have many questions on it and far outside my usual areas. I am curious about the cloth still attached to it, and with a rope type fixture rather than staple as seen on some others here. The blade does not seem to have the usual profiling either, I'd really appreciate you guys opinions. Attached Images

1st December 2023, 04:45 AM	#2
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	That's a very beautiful high quality and very clean example Kino. What is your opinion on restoration of the hair and plugs within the pommel? I've pondered it a lot over the years, just never ventured down that road though.

1st December 2023, 04:03 PM	#3
kino Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 993	I’ve done a few hair restorations on Kampilan’s that were totally bare. I used wood glue to secure the plugs and hair into the cavity. I acquired white horse hair and dyed it with fabric dye. DaveS (RIP), used to buy Sporran’s at Gun Shows and harvest the hair for Kampilan restorations.

2nd December 2023, 02:44 AM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,170	I've also done many hair restorations on kampilans, as well as "eye" repair.

4th December 2023, 12:48 PM	#5
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	What part of the horse do you take the hair from? Mane I am guessing as tail is too coarse. I've seen a decent variety of Kampilan scabbards over the years. I don't however recall one of this style. It looks thick, of hexagonal cross section, and devoid of any okir designs or pigments? Have you see other examples of this type?