Kampilan for info

tanaruz · 1st October 2025, 11:20 AM

Hi,

From the same source (Maranao keping and Maranao kampilan)comes another kampilan. Comes with a scabbard.

Your valuable insights/info is very much appreciated.

1) Maranao?
2) possible approximate age? or circa

Kind regards

Yves

Sajen · 1st October 2025, 04:29 PM

Hi Yves,

Would like to see better pictures from the cleaned sword, details are hardly visible.

From which material are the attachments at the handle?

Best regards,
Detlef

GIO · 2nd October 2025, 11:41 AM

The hilt appears reversed

Sajen · 2nd October 2025, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GIO

The hilt appears reversed

Jep, you are correct!

Ian · Today, 11:42 AM

Hi Yves,

There are several anomalies on this exsample that lead me to think it may not be a Moro piece. The blade may have been made by a Moro panday but the ensemble does not look Moro to me.

The hilt, as already noted, has been reversed. Part of what would usually be the "upper jaw" of the pommel has been broken or removed, and capped with a nailed metal plate. There are similar nailed plates on the sides of the pommel—I think these are atypical for Moro kampilan. Some tufts of goat or horse hair remain on what was once the "lower jaw" of the pommel.

The blade looks shorter than many kampilan (what is the blade length?), which is a feature seen on some Maranao kampilan from the latter half of the 20th C. Sometimes Moro kampilan are dressed in Lumad fashion (usually T'boli or Bagobo), and I have seen some of the recent, shorter kampilan dressed in this manner. The scabbard is reasonably ornate, and unlike usual Moro scabbards although somewhat consistent with the more decorative, late 20th C versions.

Short kampilan-like blades are made by the T'boli and Bagobo groups, but I think this example is probably a Moro blade and not a Lumad blade.

Age is very hard to assess in its present state. After cleaning, it may be easier to assign an age. A cautious estimate at this time would be 20th C.

Ian · Today, 11:52 AM

Hi Yves,

There are several anomalies on this piece that lead me to think it may not be a Moro piece. The blade may have been made by a Moro panday but the ensemble does not look Moro to me.

The hilt, as already noted, has been reversed. Part of what would usually be the "upper jaw" of the pommel has been broken or removed, and capped with a nailed metal plate. There are similar nailed plates on the sides of the pommel—overall, I think these are atypical features for a Moro kampilan. Some tufts of goat or horse hair remain on what was once the "lower jaw" of the pommel.

The blade looks shorter than many kampilan (what is the blade length?), which is a feature seen on some Maranao kampilan from the second half of the 20th C. Sometimes Moro kampilan are dressed in Lumad fashion (usually T'boli or Bagobo), and I have seen some of the recent, shorter kampilan dressed in this manner.

Short kampilan-like blades are made by the T'boli and Bagobo groups, but I think this example is probably a Moro blade and not a Lumad blade.

Age is very hard to assess in its present state. After cleaning, it may be easier to assign an age. A cautious estimate at this time would be 20th C.

1st October 2025, 11:20 AM	#1
tanaruz Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 283	Kampilan for info Hi, From the same source (Maranao keping and Maranao kampilan)comes another kampilan. Comes with a scabbard. Your valuable insights/info is very much appreciated. 1) Maranao? 2) possible approximate age? or circa Kind regards Yves Attached Images

1st October 2025, 04:29 PM	#2
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,367	Hi Yves, Would like to see better pictures from the cleaned sword, details are hardly visible. From which material are the attachments at the handle? Best regards, Detlef

2nd October 2025, 11:41 AM	#3
GIO Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 331	The hilt appears reversed

Today, 11:42 AM	#5
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,483	Hi Yves, There are several anomalies on this exsample that lead me to think it may not be a Moro piece. The blade may have been made by a Moro panday but the ensemble does not look Moro to me. The hilt, as already noted, has been reversed. Part of what would usually be the "upper jaw" of the pommel has been broken or removed, and capped with a nailed metal plate. There are similar nailed plates on the sides of the pommel—I think these are atypical for Moro kampilan. Some tufts of goat or horse hair remain on what was once the "lower jaw" of the pommel. The blade looks shorter than many kampilan (what is the blade length?), which is a feature seen on some Maranao kampilan from the latter half of the 20th C. Sometimes Moro kampilan are dressed in Lumad fashion (usually T'boli or Bagobo), and I have seen some of the recent, shorter kampilan dressed in this manner. The scabbard is reasonably ornate, and unlike usual Moro scabbards although somewhat consistent with the more decorative, late 20th C versions. Short kampilan-like blades are made by the T'boli and Bagobo groups, but I think this example is probably a Moro blade and not a Lumad blade. Age is very hard to assess in its present state. After cleaning, it may be easier to assign an age. A cautious estimate at this time would be 20th C.

Today, 11:52 AM	#6
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,483	Hi Yves, There are several anomalies on this piece that lead me to think it may not be a Moro piece. The blade may have been made by a Moro panday but the ensemble does not look Moro to me. The hilt, as already noted, has been reversed. Part of what would usually be the "upper jaw" of the pommel has been broken or removed, and capped with a nailed metal plate. There are similar nailed plates on the sides of the pommel—overall, I think these are atypical features for a Moro kampilan. Some tufts of goat or horse hair remain on what was once the "lower jaw" of the pommel. The blade looks shorter than many kampilan (what is the blade length?), which is a feature seen on some Maranao kampilan from the second half of the 20th C. Sometimes Moro kampilan are dressed in Lumad fashion (usually T'boli or Bagobo), and I have seen some of the recent, shorter kampilan dressed in this manner. Short kampilan-like blades are made by the T'boli and Bagobo groups, but I think this example is probably a Moro blade and not a Lumad blade. Age is very hard to assess in its present state. After cleaning, it may be easier to assign an age. A cautious estimate at this time would be 20th C.