My first Kampilan

[migueldiaz]

Steve, thanks for the pics! Very nice lamination patterns!

In my opinion, the kampilan symbolizes the bird-deity just like the kris, barung, and pira (with the beak & crest of the kakatua in the pommel, etc.). Hence, we often see ukkil on the kampilans' crossguard that makes it look like outspread bird wings. And I also think that the kampilan's blade tip (with or without the spikelet) is the bird's head and beak. Thus the bifurcated pommel will logically be the bird's tail (and not the open mouth of a croc).

There's also a Muslim univ. professor whom I interviewed about two years ago, who in turn interviewed at least two prominent Mindanao craftsmen earlier. Here's what the univ. prof. told me:

"The kampilan represents a swift's tail, particularly the Purple Needletail Swift which is a bird known to hunt in large groups, nests in caves, and unlike most birds, it makes no noises or calls – thus warrior-like. It’s also known for its beautiful shiny purple color."

It's no coincidence thus that often we see the bird side of the coin displayed on the kampilan's hilt (as Robert also noted).

Further up north among the Panay Bukidnons in the Visayas (central Phils.), they are fond of using a Mexican coin with a sun burst design on one side. The logic is the same - it is all about the veneration of the sun god and the bird deity (two sides of the same coin ) of the ancient religion of the islands.

Thus IMHO I think you should show the bird side of the coin when you affix them in your kampilan ...

Just my two cents

Lorenz