Kampilan with Bells

Battara · 3rd August 2016, 04:12 AM

Greetings folks,

I got this kampilan off of ePrey with the blade on backwards (which put a split in the wooden guard), the bells re-attached with thin wire, and most of the hair missing.

So I replaced the missing hair with hair I dyed, reversed the blade, took the rust off the blade, and replaced the wire with thick brass rings (hammered from a brass rod) like the old ones had.

There are 2 plain bronze bells, and one with large okir swirls and one with small okir swirls.

You will also notice the great carvings and that it has an iron double guard.

According to the okir, my guess is this is Maranao and from the late 19th century.

Enjoy!

Sajen · 3rd August 2016, 10:53 AM

What a beautiful kampilan after the work you have done on it!

Can you show a close up from the hair attachment? The double guard, the beautiful old bells and the very nice carving at the handle make that it is an outstanding kampy! Congrats.

Best regards,
Detlef

mariusgmioc · 3rd August 2016, 11:36 AM

Another wow as I wouldn't have known it was restored!

CharlesS · 3rd August 2016, 02:57 PM

Very nicely done Battara! I know this was on your wish list for some time, so glad it found a good home!

Jim McDougall · 3rd August 2016, 06:19 PM

Fantastic Kampilan!!!!!
It seems like Gav had one with a guard like this some years back. Also, the bells were I think imported from China (?) but I cant recall the idea or purpose of them.

Question: What was the symbolism/purpose of the wavy extension from the crossguard?

Lately it has been great around here with continued and dynamic discussions on the history and development of various weapon forms. It does not seem that of the kampilan has been attended to that much in recent discussions.

It seems further that the earliest recording of one was I believe Magellan (?) the famed explorer who was said to have been killed with one. The problem, as always, was it just the use of the word 'kampilan' describing an unspecified form of edged weapon.....or was it this form, in use at that early date (16th century)??

Ian · 3rd August 2016, 07:54 PM

Jose:

Nice job on that one! I think you are right that this is most likely Maranao in origin. Do the bells resemble "tiger bells?"

A couple of years ago I picked up a very similar kampilan, also online, with several "tiger bells." There is an interesting site devoted to these bells, http://www.tigerbells.nl/intro.htm, that I think Gavin has mentioned here before. That same site has a page (here) about these bells on kampilan, and shows an example of a Maranao sword with tiger bells taken in combat by US Army Captain JJ Pershing (later General Pershing). Not all of the jingles on that sword were of the tiger bell form, however. Among Muslim groups, the occurrence of tiger bells is thought to be rare.

The significance of these bells on a Maranao sword is something I would like to learn more about. Anyone have any thoughts?

Ian.

Battara · 4th August 2016, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Question: What was the symbolism/purpose of the wavy extension from the crossguard?

It seems further that the earliest recording of one was I believe Magellan (?) the famed explorer who was said to have been killed with one. The problem, as always, was it just the use of the word 'kampilan' describing an unspecified form of edged weapon.....or was it this form, in use at that early date (16th century)??

First Jim - wavy extensions? Do you mean the iron loops? My understanding that these are for hand protection.

To your second question, there were many forms of kampilan all over the islands. Even the Tagalogs up north had a kampilan version that is now lost. So the only kind left I guess are that of the Moro versions. Unfortunately, those 16th century chronicles do not give detailed description of the type of kampilan the Spanish encountered.

Clear as mud, right?

3rd August 2016, 04:12 AM	#1
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,220	Kampilan with Bells Greetings folks, I got this kampilan off of ePrey with the blade on backwards (which put a split in the wooden guard), the bells re-attached with thin wire, and most of the hair missing. So I replaced the missing hair with hair I dyed, reversed the blade, took the rust off the blade, and replaced the wire with thick brass rings (hammered from a brass rod) like the old ones had. There are 2 plain bronze bells, and one with large okir swirls and one with small okir swirls. You will also notice the great carvings and that it has an iron double guard. According to the okir, my guess is this is Maranao and from the late 19th century. Enjoy! Attached Images

3rd August 2016, 07:54 PM	#6
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,200	Jose: Nice job on that one! I think you are right that this is most likely Maranao in origin. Do the bells resemble "tiger bells?" A couple of years ago I picked up a very similar kampilan, also online, with several "tiger bells." There is an interesting site devoted to these bells, http://www.tigerbells.nl/intro.htm, that I think Gavin has mentioned here before. That same site has a page (here) about these bells on kampilan, and shows an example of a Maranao sword with tiger bells taken in combat by US Army Captain JJ Pershing (later General Pershing). Not all of the jingles on that sword were of the tiger bell form, however. Among Muslim groups, the occurrence of tiger bells is thought to be rare. The significance of these bells on a Maranao sword is something I would like to learn more about. Anyone have any thoughts? Ian. Last edited by Ian; 3rd August 2016 at 08:12 PM.

3rd August 2016, 10:53 AM	#2
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,781	What a beautiful kampilan after the work you have done on it! Can you show a close up from the hair attachment? The double guard, the beautiful old bells and the very nice carving at the handle make that it is an outstanding kampy! Congrats. Best regards, Detlef

3rd August 2016, 11:36 AM	#3
mariusgmioc Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Austria Posts: 1,903	Another wow as I wouldn't have known it was restored!

3rd August 2016, 02:57 PM	#4
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	Very nicely done Battara! I know this was on your wish list for some time, so glad it found a good home!

3rd August 2016, 06:19 PM	#5
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,945	Fantastic Kampilan!!!!! It seems like Gav had one with a guard like this some years back. Also, the bells were I think imported from China (?) but I cant recall the idea or purpose of them. Question: What was the symbolism/purpose of the wavy extension from the crossguard? Lately it has been great around here with continued and dynamic discussions on the history and development of various weapon forms. It does not seem that of the kampilan has been attended to that much in recent discussions. It seems further that the earliest recording of one was I believe Magellan (?) the famed explorer who was said to have been killed with one. The problem, as always, was it just the use of the word 'kampilan' describing an unspecified form of edged weapon.....or was it this form, in use at that early date (16th century)??