BAGOBO DATU CLASS

[tanaruz]

Hi friends,

A Bagobo kampilan datu class.

Regards

Yves

Note: with a t'nalak abaca weave cloth (scabbard)

[Ian]

Hi Yves. Nice example.
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[tanaruz]

Hi Sir Ian,

Many thanks!

Yves

[Marbel]

Hello,

Very nice example.

Just to clarify, ‘t’nalak’ is very specific to the Tboli. Bagobo weaving is generally known as ‘inabal’. Both utilize abaca and the ikat method and while there are many similarities, they are unique styles. Therefor we should say that the textile on your scabbard is inabal.

[Rick]

I know I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer; but how is this classified as a kampilan? This begs the question: how is a kampilan defined these days? Is it now just a term for a large Philippine sword?

[Battara]

I would agree Rick that this is not a kampilan nor a datu class piece.

Datu glass pieces usually distinguish themselves by having lots of bead work on the scabbard.

Here is my example for comparison:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ht=datu+bagobo

[Battara]

Your example is nice. Hard to find these complete. The only thing is that your's is missing the other silver bands on the scabbard.

Still a nice example and thank you for posting it.

[ariel]

I am a bit confused: is it a split pommel or a split chape of the scabbard? Reminds me of a pakayun.

[Ian]

Originally Posted by Rick

I know I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer; but how is this classified as a kampilan? This begs the question: how is a kampilan defined these days? Is it now just a term for a large Philippine sword?

Rick,

You are correct. This is not a kampilan-like blade. I don't know what this blade profile is called by the Bagobo, but we should not give it an incorrect name here. AFAIK, the kampilan is still defined by the traditional Moro blade. Similar blade styles among the Lumad tribes have different names. The T'boli call their traditional kampilan-like sword a tok. [This should not be confused with the general name for a sword in T'boli, which is kafilan--and awfully close to kampilan so as to be confusing).

I will try to search out Bagobo names for their swords, or maybe one of our members can tell us.

[Ian]

Originally Posted by ariel

I am a bit confused: is it a split pommel or a split chape of the scabbard? Reminds me of a pakayun.

Hi ariel,

It's a split chape you are seeing. And yes, I also think it looks like a Pakayun hilt. The pattern of tying the two sides of the fork and bridging the space is similar.

[kai]

Hello Ariel,

The wooden tip of this Bagobo scabbard has 2 decorated metal tidbits attached while the 2-pronged pommel of a pakayun/parapat/pelepet is carved from a single piece of wood. I don't think there is any historic relationship...

Regards,
Kai

[Ian]

Jose,

I think what Yves was referring to as "datu class" was the style of hilt. Some would say that this style is reserved for swords of distinction, while more ordinary swords have a simpler style such as shown on this sword, which also has an ikat wrap. Perhaps Marbel could tell us if the textile is T'boli or Bagabo in origin.

Ian

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[Marbel]

Hi Ian,

It’s always a bit hard to identify a textile when it’s only a small piece, but the scabbard you’ve shown appears to be wrapped in Tboli t’nalak.

[Ian]

Originally Posted by Marbel

Hi Ian,

It’s always a bit hard to identify a textile when it’s only a small piece, but the scabbard you’ve shown appears to be wrapped in Tboli t’nalak.

Thanks Craig. I thought it was probably T'boli, but I am far from an expert like yourself on the T'boli and Bagobo textiles.

[Marbel]

Hi Ian,

I feel like quite a few of these lumad scabbards (like the one you showed, not the nice old Bagobo and sometimes Blaan/Tagakaolo examples with great ‘mounds’ of textiles and sometimes beads wrapped at the tops of the scabbard) had textiles added to them later on in their lives. Maybe they were added to make them appear more interesting or indigenous. As you know, the old wooden Tboli and Blaan scabbards can often be beautifully carved. I suppose it’s a bit blasphemous on some level (maybe not), but I’m often tempted to cut the textile off what appears to likely be an old scabbard just to see what’s underneath.