Tboli Kampilan for Assessment

Marbel · 30th September 2020, 03:28 PM

Hello Ian & Xas,

In terms of the textile, it's abaca but doesn't appear Tboli. It actually looks like Subanen. I'd be interested in seeing what's underneath the textile and if the scabbard has any markings or carvings.

Your thoughts on the hilt are quite accurate I think. While he's not likely too old, he was crafted and cast very well, nicely detailed. It's nice to find the old ones, which as you both noted seem a bit thinner and smaller and usually show nice wear or patina from use.

One thing to keep in mind on these Tboli hilts is that the availability of different metals or alloys was always changing. Softer bronze or brass blends created better casts and lovely patina after use. Harder or more coarse alloys created rough casts and didn't wear well over time. In the mountains, the brasscasters did their best with what they had at the time.

Battara · 30th September 2020, 05:42 PM

Very nice example.

Based on the patina I would say that there is a mix of bronze dots on the bottom and silver dots on the top.

Ian and Marbel - would you say that the addition of beads on T'boli hilts like this are a later 20c development? Have never seen this on older pieces.

Marbel · 30th September 2020, 06:19 PM

I personally don't think much information can be gathered from anything attached to a Tboli hilt - chains, beads, bells, etc. They are obviously easy to attach and detach any time. Traditionally, brass chains and bells would be used. I think the use of beads - with or without bells attached - is probably meant to make a Tboli hilt look more attractive or authentic to a buyer, but in actuality makes it less so.

drac2k · 30th September 2020, 09:39 PM

The blade could be an indicator of its age. I have a panabas with a similar pattern on the blade; it was made from a huge rasp file as yours may be as well. As a result of the Spanish and the American presence in the Philippines, a large chunk of good steel taken off one of their ships would certainly be tempting. Ships needing a wood rasp probably pre WW2, so in my completely uninformed opinion, the blade could date between 1890-1939; after that, there were plenty of leaf springs as already mentioned.

Battara · 2nd October 2020, 12:44 AM

Thank you Marbel for confirming my suspicions.

tanaruz · 5th October 2020, 01:50 PM

Hi,

The info on this piece is great. But IMHO the abaca textile on the scabbard is most likely called Dagmay- and this type of abaca weave comes from the Mandaya tribe. My father showed me his very old piece of dagmay and it matches the design on the abaca weave.

Just my observation.

Yves

xasterix · 5th October 2020, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tanaruz

Hi,

The info on this piece is great. But IMHO the abaca textile on the scabbard is most likely called Dagmay- and this type of abaca weave comes from the Mandaya tribe. My father showed me his very old piece of dagmay and it matches the design on the abaca weave.

Just my observation.

Yves

Many thanks for this info- yet another possible twist in the confused identity of this particular blade. I'll look into dagmay patterns.

30th September 2020, 03:28 PM	#1
Marbel Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 64	Tboli Hello Ian & Xas, In terms of the textile, it's abaca but doesn't appear Tboli. It actually looks like Subanen. I'd be interested in seeing what's underneath the textile and if the scabbard has any markings or carvings. Your thoughts on the hilt are quite accurate I think. While he's not likely too old, he was crafted and cast very well, nicely detailed. It's nice to find the old ones, which as you both noted seem a bit thinner and smaller and usually show nice wear or patina from use. One thing to keep in mind on these Tboli hilts is that the availability of different metals or alloys was always changing. Softer bronze or brass blends created better casts and lovely patina after use. Harder or more coarse alloys created rough casts and didn't wear well over time. In the mountains, the brasscasters did their best with what they had at the time.

30th September 2020, 06:19 PM	#3
Marbel Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 64	Tboli I personally don't think much information can be gathered from anything attached to a Tboli hilt - chains, beads, bells, etc. They are obviously easy to attach and detach any time. Traditionally, brass chains and bells would be used. I think the use of beads - with or without bells attached - is probably meant to make a Tboli hilt look more attractive or authentic to a buyer, but in actuality makes it less so.

5th October 2020, 01:50 PM	#6
tanaruz Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 267	tboli kampilan for assessment Hi, The info on this piece is great. But IMHO the abaca textile on the scabbard is most likely called Dagmay- and this type of abaca weave comes from the Mandaya tribe. My father showed me his very old piece of dagmay and it matches the design on the abaca weave. Just my observation. Yves

30th September 2020, 05:42 PM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,139	Very nice example. Based on the patina I would say that there is a mix of bronze dots on the bottom and silver dots on the top. Ian and Marbel - would you say that the addition of beads on T'boli hilts like this are a later 20c development? Have never seen this on older pieces.

30th September 2020, 09:39 PM	#4
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,187	The blade could be an indicator of its age. I have a panabas with a similar pattern on the blade; it was made from a huge rasp file as yours may be as well. As a result of the Spanish and the American presence in the Philippines, a large chunk of good steel taken off one of their ships would certainly be tempting. Ships needing a wood rasp probably pre WW2, so in my completely uninformed opinion, the blade could date between 1890-1939; after that, there were plenty of leaf springs as already mentioned.

2nd October 2020, 12:44 AM	#5
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,139	Thank you Marbel for confirming my suspicions.