Help placing kampilan please
 

I have been going through some of the nearly 300 threads that were a hit with the search term kampilan. The mind boggles. What a diversity of pieces and discussion of subtle features. I posted one picture of mine when I introduced the topic of betel nuts. Here are some more. I would appreciate comments of the when and where of this sword. My guess is that the hair is horse.
Thanks,
Marcus

To my eye the kampie looks Moro through and through. The wood, the hilt style and carving are Moro. The laminated blade(very nice, btw!!) is a typical, but rarer, Moro form for these. The hair plum is intact and looks original.

It is a little hard to tell if the carving is just a little raw or if that is residue and dirt built up over years, with perhaps some tiny chips.

Seems to me you a have a very fine example of a late 19th-very early 20th century Moro kampillan in superb condition!

Great get!

I AGREE WITH CHARLES ON THE KAMPILIAN IT MAY BE A LITTLER OLDER BUT I SEE NOTHING TO INDICATE IT BEING FROM ANY OTHER SOURCE THAN MORO, MINDANO OF THERE ABOUTS. THE PATINA LOOKS GOOD EVEN THE CORD GUARD IS INTACT AND OLD. THE CORD WRAP ON THE GRIP MAY HAVE BEEN REPLACED BUT IS NOT A NEW REPLACEMENT THAT GOES FOR THE HORSE HAIR AS WELL BUT FROM PICTURES ITS NOT POSSIBLE TO TELL. THE BLADE IS WHAT WE USED TO REFER TO AS A WATERED STEEL BLADE (THE FOLDING TECKNIQUE SHOWS BUT A PATTERN NOT INTENTIONALLY MADE). A VERY NICE EXAMPLE OF BLADE AND THE CARVING ON THE HANDLE IS BETTER THAN AVERAGE EVEN IF THERE IS A LITTLE DAMMAGE. THE EYE IS ESPECIALLY NICELY DONE AND THERE IS A LOT OF PIERCING. A GOOD OLD EXAMPLE INTACT AND COMPLETE FROM THE PERIOD, I SEE NOTHING POINTEING TO RECENT RESTORATION PERHAPS A ETCH OR CLEANING OF THE OLD BLADE?

The pattern in this blade is already so clear you may not even need an etch. You could take a good oil like WD40 and a fine grade piece of steel wool and go over the blade well. This will remove any superficial rust and gunk on the blade and make the pattern even clearer. Once you have done this make sure all the oil residue is off and you may then want to use a VERY thin layer of a heavier oil to protect the blade. If you want to remove the dark spots and pitting, then I would take Barry's suggestion of a polish or etch.

Tribal traditions amongst the Islamic Moro
 

The Kampilan came from Oriental Arms. It was in Artzi’s private collection for a number of years. He bought it in Manila in the late 70's. His attribution was to “the Sea Dayaks of Borneo (or) Moros of the Southern Philippines”. Based on the comments of Charles and Vandoo, it would seem more likely the latter than the former.
It is my understanding that the Moro were converted to Islam in the 15th century, so it seems a bit curious to me that so many of the stylistic features of this sword, produced hundreds of years later, are shared with swords of the animistic tribes such as the Dayaks. The is still a lot of tribal symbolism in this sword.

There is also a Suluwesi form of kampilan. Where ever the Moros landed, influence can be had, including Borneo (where Moros also live) and Suluwesi (with whom the Moros traded).

I never considered horse hair a typical attribute for these swords, replaced perhaps?

Gavin

Looks like a typical Moro kampilan, most likely from the Lake Lanao area (i.e., Maranao) based on the particular hilt style--a very similar example can be found on a royal Maranao kampilan in the Museum of the Philippines, Manila, and the same hilt style is still being produced on Maranao pieces. Horse hair was the usual adornment on the hilt of a Moro kampilan.

Ian.

Horse hair
 

Thanks Ian. That was my understanding.