2 Moro Kampillans

[CharlesS]

Here are two Moro kampillans that I picked up recently. They could not be more different in appearance...one more plain and austere with a more common blade type, the other finely carved in great detail with a rarer blade and even rarer and more unusual scabbard.

The kampillan with the scabbard has a lovely hilt with no iron hand guards but with all rattan intact. Note the short "mouth". The blade is nicely laminated and features a more unusual tip. The scabbard type is not one typically seen with Philippine Moro kampillans, so I can't help but wonder if this one is from somewhere outside of the Phillipines.

The other kampillan has a massive, if plain, hilt. The wood quality of the hilt helps to make up for its lack of carving. The the cross guard is two tiered across its length, making it almost look broken. There is a crack to one side unassociated with that. There are two iron hand guards with the one to the right being a bit larger. The hair is original, and mostly intact. The grip is most interesting as it is standard braided cord across a piece of ray skin that has buckled with time and use.

Dimensions:

Kampillan with no scabbard overall length:39in.
Blade length: 29in.
Blade's widest point: 1.75in.
Blade at the forte: just over 1 in.

Kampillan with scabbard overall length: 38.5in.
Blade length: 28.75in.
Blade's widest point: just under 2in.
Blade at the forte:1.25in.