Unusual Kampilan

Bill · 24th April 2007, 04:04 PM

A close up of the tiger bells may help. http://park.org/Guests/Tiger/details.htm http://park.org/Guests/Tiger/phils.htm#mindanao http://park.org/Guests/Tiger/indonesi.htm#lanun

carlos · 24th April 2007, 06:53 PM

MORE PICTURES!!

Battara · 27th April 2007, 01:37 AM

Is it me or does the back look like Visayan work?

Rick · 27th April 2007, 02:02 AM

Measurements ?

Ian · 27th April 2007, 03:58 AM

Carlos:

Very interesting sword. I agree with the sentiment that this comes from a tribe that is not Moro. Battara has pointed to the interdigitating covering to the scabbard, which we usually associate with Western Visayan swords and dates from the late 19th and early 20th C to the present. The tiger bells are a link to several Lumad tribes of Mindanao, notably the T'boli and neighboring tribes.

Visayan influence in Mindanao is fairly widespread today, but in the early 20th C was more concentrated and prominent in the area of the Davao Gulf and Davao City. My guess for the origin of this sword would be Eastern Mindanao, possibly Tagakaolo, Bagobo or T'boli.

Would love to know the actual provenance.

Ian.

Battara · 27th April 2007, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian

Carlos:

Very interesting sword. I agree with the sentiment that this comes from a tribe that is not Moro. Battara has pointed to the interdigitating covering to the scabbard, which we usually associate with Western Visayan swords and dates from the late 19th and early 20th C to the present. The tiger bells are a link to several Lumad tribes of Mindanao, notably the T'boli and neighboring tribes.

Visayan influence in Mindanao is fairly widespread today, but in the early 20th C was more concentrated and prominent in the area of the Davao Gulf and Davao City. My guess for the origin of this sword would be Eastern Mindanao, possibly Tagakaolo, Bagobo or T'boli.

Would love to know the actual provenance.

Ian.

Some excellent points Ian.

Rick · 27th April 2007, 08:06 PM

There's no way this could possibly be a mismatch of scabbard and sword .. convenient fit and all .. right?

VANDOO · 27th April 2007, 08:24 PM

JUDGEING FROM THE SHAPE OF THE TIP OF THE BLADE AND THE USE OF INTERLOCKING PLATES OF (SEA TURTLE SHELL?) AND THE SCABBARD SHAPE. I WOULD SUGGEST IT IS IS VISIAYAN IN ORIGIN AS FAR AS I KNOW THE TRIBES ON MINDANAO NEVER USED THE INTERLOCKING SHELL ON SCABBARDS. THE GAURD APPEARS TO BE METAL BUT IF IT WERE BAGOBO OR TIBOLI IT WOULD MOST LIKELY HAVE BEEN BRASS WITH THEIR USUAL PATTERNS AND SHAPE. THE SIMPLE SCABBARD SHAPE IS A LOT LIKE TIBOLI OR BAGOBO SCABBARDS BUT HAS NONE OF THE SPECIAL FEATURES SOMETIMES USED BY THOSE TRIBES. THE TWO LARGE SIZE TIGER BELLS WERE WIDELY TRADED THRUOUT THE AREA SO WOULD NOT POINT TO THE TIBOLI OR BAGOBO. THEIR SPECIAL BELLS ARE THE SMALL BRASS HAWK BELLS WHICH ARE NOT MADE ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE PHILIPPINES AS FAR AS I KNOW. AS TO AGE I WOULD PLACE IT SOMEWHERE BETWEEN WW1 AND WW2. THE ISLAND OF PANAY HAS ALWAYS BORROWED FROM THE MANY FORMS OF THE PHILIPPINES AND SURROUNDING AREAS AND AS A RESULT HAVE COME UP WITH QUITE A WIDE VARIETY OF FORMS AND UNUSUAL ITEMS OVER THE YEARS.

MaharlikaTimawa · 16th January 2017, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian

Carlos:

Very interesting sword. I agree with the sentiment that this comes from a tribe that is not Moro. Battara has pointed to the interdigitating covering to the scabbard, which we usually associate with Western Visayan swords and dates from the late 19th and early 20th C to the present. The tiger bells are a link to several Lumad tribes of Mindanao, notably the T'boli and neighboring tribes.

Visayan influence in Mindanao is fairly widespread today, but in the early 20th C was more concentrated and prominent in the area of the Davao Gulf and Davao City. My guess for the origin of this sword would be Eastern Mindanao, possibly Tagakaolo, Bagobo or T'boli.

Would love to know the actual provenance.

Ian.

This may be possible the very first visayan made kampilan that has surfaced. Assuming of course this was pre ww2/ww1.

Sajen · 16th January 2017, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaharlikaTimawa

Assuming of course this was pre ww2/ww1.

So far I know is the technique with this thin horn band 19th century, it may be still used in early 20th century but not later anymore.

carlos · 27th April 2007, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

Measurements ?

38.5 inch
THANKS!!!

Rick · 27th April 2007, 04:10 PM

Thanks Carlos ,
It's a lot bigger than I thought !

MaharlikaTimawa · 4th September 2015, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

Is it me or does the back look like Visayan work?

I'd figure that the kampilan was mostly made by the moros while the ones seen in the Visayas and luzon regions were imported from Mindanao, no?

Battara · 5th September 2015, 01:45 AM

Actually yes and no. Although Luzon stopped using kampilans early on, Visayans either imported the kampilan blades or made their own. Certainly the hilts and scabbards the Visayans made themselves.

This is also true of the Lumad peoples.

24th April 2007, 06:53 PM	#2
carlos Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 755	MORE PICTURES! MORE PICTURES!! Attached Images

27th April 2007, 03:58 AM	#5
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,521	Interesting kampilan ... Carlos: Very interesting sword. I agree with the sentiment that this comes from a tribe that is not Moro. Battara has pointed to the interdigitating covering to the scabbard, which we usually associate with Western Visayan swords and dates from the late 19th and early 20th C to the present. The tiger bells are a link to several Lumad tribes of Mindanao, notably the T'boli and neighboring tribes. Visayan influence in Mindanao is fairly widespread today, but in the early 20th C was more concentrated and prominent in the area of the Davao Gulf and Davao City. My guess for the origin of this sword would be Eastern Mindanao, possibly Tagakaolo, Bagobo or T'boli. Would love to know the actual provenance. Ian.

24th April 2007, 04:04 PM	#1
Bill Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Chicago area Posts: 327	A close up of the tiger bells may help. http://park.org/Guests/Tiger/details.htm http://park.org/Guests/Tiger/phils.htm#mindanao http://park.org/Guests/Tiger/indonesi.htm#lanun

27th April 2007, 01:37 AM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,345	Is it me or does the back look like Visayan work?

27th April 2007, 02:02 AM	#4
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,376	Measurements ?

27th April 2007, 08:06 PM	#7
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,376	There's no way this could possibly be a mismatch of scabbard and sword .. convenient fit and all .. right?

27th April 2007, 08:24 PM	#8
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	JUDGEING FROM THE SHAPE OF THE TIP OF THE BLADE AND THE USE OF INTERLOCKING PLATES OF (SEA TURTLE SHELL?) AND THE SCABBARD SHAPE. I WOULD SUGGEST IT IS IS VISIAYAN IN ORIGIN AS FAR AS I KNOW THE TRIBES ON MINDANAO NEVER USED THE INTERLOCKING SHELL ON SCABBARDS. THE GAURD APPEARS TO BE METAL BUT IF IT WERE BAGOBO OR TIBOLI IT WOULD MOST LIKELY HAVE BEEN BRASS WITH THEIR USUAL PATTERNS AND SHAPE. THE SIMPLE SCABBARD SHAPE IS A LOT LIKE TIBOLI OR BAGOBO SCABBARDS BUT HAS NONE OF THE SPECIAL FEATURES SOMETIMES USED BY THOSE TRIBES. THE TWO LARGE SIZE TIGER BELLS WERE WIDELY TRADED THRUOUT THE AREA SO WOULD NOT POINT TO THE TIBOLI OR BAGOBO. THEIR SPECIAL BELLS ARE THE SMALL BRASS HAWK BELLS WHICH ARE NOT MADE ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE PHILIPPINES AS FAR AS I KNOW. AS TO AGE I WOULD PLACE IT SOMEWHERE BETWEEN WW1 AND WW2. THE ISLAND OF PANAY HAS ALWAYS BORROWED FROM THE MANY FORMS OF THE PHILIPPINES AND SURROUNDING AREAS AND AS A RESULT HAVE COME UP WITH QUITE A WIDE VARIETY OF FORMS AND UNUSUAL ITEMS OVER THE YEARS.

27th April 2007, 04:10 PM	#12
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,376	Thanks Carlos , It's a lot bigger than I thought !

5th September 2015, 01:45 AM	#14
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,345	Actually yes and no. Although Luzon stopped using kampilans early on, Visayans either imported the kampilan blades or made their own. Certainly the hilts and scabbards the Visayans made themselves. This is also true of the Lumad peoples.