Moro Kampilan. Opinion needed

Federico · 25th March 2005, 06:42 AM

What makes the metal stand out for me is not the thinness, I have seen many extremely thin fittings, but there is something about its uniformity that bugs me. Cant say that it is modern, but it has a precision/uniformity that just strikes me as odd. Anyways, not a big deal, just something that hits me funny. Personally I would read much into it, it doesnt take away from anything, its still a nice kampilan.

Anyways, I agree whole-heartedly Kampilan were not just campaign swords. There are many fine examples, beyond the large carved heads, of extravagent kampilan. From completely silver plated hilts, bone/ivory hilts, banati hilts, etc... The Kampilan is claimed (in a similar fashion to the barong being claimed by Tausug) by some Mindanao groups as a national weapon (Im sorry cant remember which group). Sultan Kudarat is well known for bearing Kampilan as his favored sword. Its inclusion in court regalia (as far as period pics) is more than an occaisional token piece, from pics of sultans to pics of more lower level datus. However, due the natural difficulty in carrying such a large weapon everywhere, they arent something that were necessarily every day carry. Hmm...dunno where Im going with this, but then whats new.

tom hyle · 25th March 2005, 07:48 AM

May I suggest that it's the perfect-seeming flatness of the metal that looks odd; I think that's it; there is something.....it looks industrially-made; real flat, no hammer marks, which wouldn't make sense; I think it was just a real precise metal bending job; maybe the corners were made with a "brake", as in N American sheetmetal work; a type of bending vice/jig, instead of hammering. I don't know if PI traditionally uses such a tool though (I'm sure they do now).

Battara · 25th March 2005, 05:44 PM

I have been lurking in the dark on this one, pondering what it was that was bothering me. I think that Tom and Federico have identified my feeling. Although it could be silver, it is more pure than I usually encounter, and the depressions due to hammer marks are not present. I also must add that usually I encounter more lines and border work at the edges than I see here. I believe this to be a more modern attempt at older work. Not much research went into this restoration. Often the "eyes" would have had some silver on them and thus "re-animating" the spirit of the piece.

Bill · 25th March 2005, 06:03 PM

The white metal shows scratchs but no bumps or dents, so it was never on the sword durning use. The band around the hair plugs doesn't seem to go completely around, at least in the pics, where it is up for auction.

25th March 2005, 06:42 AM	#1
Federico Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Minneapolis, MN, USA Posts: 312	What makes the metal stand out for me is not the thinness, I have seen many extremely thin fittings, but there is something about its uniformity that bugs me. Cant say that it is modern, but it has a precision/uniformity that just strikes me as odd. Anyways, not a big deal, just something that hits me funny. Personally I would read much into it, it doesnt take away from anything, its still a nice kampilan. Anyways, I agree whole-heartedly Kampilan were not just campaign swords. There are many fine examples, beyond the large carved heads, of extravagent kampilan. From completely silver plated hilts, bone/ivory hilts, banati hilts, etc... The Kampilan is claimed (in a similar fashion to the barong being claimed by Tausug) by some Mindanao groups as a national weapon (Im sorry cant remember which group). Sultan Kudarat is well known for bearing Kampilan as his favored sword. Its inclusion in court regalia (as far as period pics) is more than an occaisional token piece, from pics of sultans to pics of more lower level datus. However, due the natural difficulty in carrying such a large weapon everywhere, they arent something that were necessarily every day carry. Hmm...dunno where Im going with this, but then whats new.

25th March 2005, 07:48 AM	#2
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	May I suggest that it's the perfect-seeming flatness of the metal that looks odd; I think that's it; there is something.....it looks industrially-made; real flat, no hammer marks, which wouldn't make sense; I think it was just a real precise metal bending job; maybe the corners were made with a "brake", as in N American sheetmetal work; a type of bending vice/jig, instead of hammering. I don't know if PI traditionally uses such a tool though (I'm sure they do now).

25th March 2005, 05:44 PM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	I have been lurking in the dark on this one, pondering what it was that was bothering me. I think that Tom and Federico have identified my feeling. Although it could be silver, it is more pure than I usually encounter, and the depressions due to hammer marks are not present. I also must add that usually I encounter more lines and border work at the edges than I see here. I believe this to be a more modern attempt at older work. Not much research went into this restoration. Often the "eyes" would have had some silver on them and thus "re-animating" the spirit of the piece.

25th March 2005, 06:03 PM	#4
Bill Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Chicago area Posts: 327	The white metal shows scratchs but no bumps or dents, so it was never on the sword durning use. The band around the hair plugs doesn't seem to go completely around, at least in the pics, where it is up for auction.