[Spunjer]

hi gav,

sword collection might be my hobby, but first and foremost, filipino history, specifically moro regions is my passion. i'm afraid that none of what i mentioned came from wikipedia, or any website online if that's what you're inferring. these were based on what i know, and what i've researched. to cite my references, besides books published in that era, i would have to say, came from actual annual reports made by commanding officers in that region during the moro campaigns, diaries passages specifically from pershing, davies, et al, unpublished memoirs, letters, etc, which can be readily had using the local college libraries. also, we have libraries here in ohio which i have done my researches, notably the rutherford hayes museum, who's son, webb hayes was an ardent ethnographic collector, and was one of the first american to broker with the moros while the philippine war was happening. also, there's lots of records at the mckinley museum, who, incidentally was the president of that era when the war broke out. these presidential libraries are but two hour drive from where i live. i have consulted for the hayes museum as well, that's why you will see my name noted various times on their website. all my passion was a direct result in trying to learn more about my collection, and the history tied with it. yes, it's nice to know the significance of those squiggles on the blade, but to know the history behind them is more satisfying, knowing what they were thinking about, etc. etc. it gives one a whole new perspective.

yes you are right that there are much more that surrounds the scene during that fateful day in may 2, 1902. the americans didn't just wake up that day and decided to have a war with the moros. you're right in that there were skirmishes, which led to lots and lots of bicharas, or parleys, and were primarily being made prior and leading to this first battle, and that was what pershing was hedging on, in preventing the battle. but you have a veteran from the then recent indian wars and medal of honor recipient who's mantra was "a good moro is a dead moro" (baldwin), you have an inevitable battle on hand. but this i can assure you, battle of camp vickers never happened, and capt pershing became the senior commander of this post AFTER the battle of pandapatan. and none of these happened in 1901, since all the aforementioned incidents didn't happen until 1902. camp vickers, the battle of pandapatan, capt pershing as the commanding officer, etc.. all 1902 headlines.
if indeed you have the notes and extracts, it should back up everything what i have posted so far.

not to sustain or dispel the tag itself, rather, it's what traveled with the kampilan through time. sometimes, we get our clue from the sword itself, telling us where it originated from, usually by the art form that has some similarity with the okir of that region. but then again there are times when these swords remain quiet, and what we have to go with are those incessant tags that has volumes to say, whether we like the final result or not. i don't understand why you would put the provenance aside, when it offers the best logical clue. if what the tags says it's true, wouldn't it be safe to say then that this was owned by a maranao warrior, hence a lake lanao kampilan?
this particular kampilan attracted me for a couple reasons: the completeness of it, and one of the finest i've seen.

if your intention is to present that kampilan to pershing's museum, that would be cool. understand tho, that with just that tag backing it up, it will never be 100 percent certain that this was a part of his collection. fortunately, he already have an extensive collection of moro weapons.
what is certain though, and without a shadow of a doubt, is if you present this to the National Museum in the philippines, or better yet, at the Aga Khan Museum in Mindanao State University (Marawi City, Lanao del sur), the moro people will get to view and understand this fantastic specimen of their ancestor.

regards
ron