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4th December 2023, 12:48 PM | #1 |
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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? |
5th December 2023, 05:58 PM | #2 |
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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. |
5th December 2023, 06:47 PM | #3 |
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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. |
5th December 2023, 11:57 PM | #4 |
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I believe that this sword may be Iranun as I gathered from a fellow member who expressed an interest in in my example. Possibly the configuration of the point was what led him to classify it as such.
The Munsala was attached to this sword by a woven collar that was around the hilt rather than woven through the holes in the cross guard as your example shows. I also have a Parang Nabur that has a Munsala attached to it in the same manner. Both cloths show extreme age. Last edited by Rick; 6th December 2023 at 01:53 AM. |
6th December 2023, 01:01 AM | #5 |
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What exactly is a munsala?
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6th December 2023, 02:55 AM | #6 |
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Jim, regarding you Kampilan blade, I have seen quite a few Kampilan blade profile similar to yours, although not uncommon they’re not as prolific as the ones with the spikes.
Munsala - some say it’s a fetish cloth, some, a talisman blessed by an Imam, others say it is used to secure your hand to the hilt by tying around. Rick, going back to you entry regarding missing staples, They must have been an option like Gavin questioned. I also have seen where there were once staple guard on a crosspiece and was removed. No telling when it was removed. There’s no evidence on this one having an iron staple guard. The set of holes had one had a cord loop thru them. The two below doesn’t have holes for the staple guards |
6th December 2023, 05:27 AM | #7 | |
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Quote:
Okay, Obviously the swords you showed were never drilled which I guess would mean that the person who commissioned them did not want them drilled for staple/s; I get that part. This brings up the question; why are the holes drilled in the guard of Jim's example? Certainly not just to hold the Munsala in place. Could Jim's sword have been passed down from a family member, or was it taken in combat with another tribe? I can't see the point in drilling staple holes in a guard if it wasn't asked for by the fellow who commissioned the weapon. By the way, Jim how many holes are drilled in your guard 2 3 or 4? |
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6th December 2023, 03:30 AM | #8 |
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I believe it serves the same purpose as a sword knot Jim. I expect that an anting anting could be incorporated in one.
A search here for Munsala will bring up some hits. I see we crossed posts Kino; obviously from the photographic evidence the 'staples' were optional, but why drill holes in the cross guard when one could more easily make a tight loop around the handle to attach the munsala? Last edited by Rick; 6th December 2023 at 03:43 AM. |
8th December 2023, 06:19 PM | #9 | |
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Quote:
Regarding the missing staple guard, here’s one that was clearly removed by cutting, only the nubs remain. |
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