Unique Kampillan

kai · 22nd January 2020, 11:20 PM

Hello Charles,

Thanks for another oddity!

I seem to remember several kampilan with pretty narrow exposed edges. Are you referring to inserted edges as apposed to a fully stacked construction (aka san mai)?

If this edge extends all the way up to the tip, it is either inserted and the original construction or, if the tip got fully revamped, it really is of san mai construction...

How thick is the blade near the hilt?

Regards,
Kai

Battara · 23rd January 2020, 12:51 AM

I see what you mean Charles. The top part of the blade where holes are show remnants of the original holes. I agree with the assertion that part of the blade was damaged and thus cut away.

RSWORD · 23rd January 2020, 02:29 AM

In the pictures you can see a bold and very clear line of demarcation. It is close to the edge which could be the result of years of sharpening. Look at all the edge nicks. The steel is cleanly flaked off and not crumpled or bent. This blade appears to be San Mai construction which is a hard steel core with softer steel cheeks. An inserted edge if you will. There is some cloudiness above the demarcation line that is probably from the heat treatment. If it was just a folded blade that had a heat treated edge you would only have the darkened zone along the edge but not such a strong and defined line of demarcation.

22nd January 2020, 11:20 PM	#1
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Hello Charles, Thanks for another oddity! I seem to remember several kampilan with pretty narrow exposed edges. Are you referring to inserted edges as apposed to a fully stacked construction (aka san mai)? If this edge extends all the way up to the tip, it is either inserted and the original construction or, if the tip got fully revamped, it really is of san mai construction... How thick is the blade near the hilt? Regards, Kai

23rd January 2020, 12:51 AM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	I see what you mean Charles. The top part of the blade where holes are show remnants of the original holes. I agree with the assertion that part of the blade was damaged and thus cut away.

23rd January 2020, 02:29 AM	#3
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,087	In the pictures you can see a bold and very clear line of demarcation. It is close to the edge which could be the result of years of sharpening. Look at all the edge nicks. The steel is cleanly flaked off and not crumpled or bent. This blade appears to be San Mai construction which is a hard steel core with softer steel cheeks. An inserted edge if you will. There is some cloudiness above the demarcation line that is probably from the heat treatment. If it was just a folded blade that had a heat treated edge you would only have the darkened zone along the edge but not such a strong and defined line of demarcation.