Imported Middle Eastern Sword ( Kampilan)

[kino]

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

[Rick]

Originally Posted by kino

Rick, going back to your 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.
Attachment 232530

The two below doesn’t have holes for the staple guards
Attachment 232531

Hi Kino
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?

[Gavin Nugent]

Robust discussion!

Following Kino's lead, I went off looking for the similar scabbard that has me intrigued. I could not locate one similar within the pages.

The only other ones I recall, one partial hexagonal in the Penn Museum, another in my collection, it though in not as thick as this one looks to be at the base, nor does it have what looks to be a carved protrusion at the end, another in the entourage of Datu Piang, with the additional carry handle,

Some of these others seen that are close but not quite close enough to my eye, are below. Happy to take advice on the nature of these hexagonal types, flaring at the base or not.

I did see this one as a side note, one of Ron's with staple and rope or remains of a munsala.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...pilan+scabbard

And another with quite narrow spacing of the holes, rope and munsala only.
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collec...914-Loan01-583