Pirate swords and weapons

[Ian]

Thank you Rick for bringing us back to the ethnographic aspects of this topic. We have traveled far and wide, including westerners. Many of the Ilanun (Iranum) were a plundering group. I posted last year some drawings from the 1840s in the following thread showing some of these pirates: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...&postcount=498


Some of the weapons, including lantaka, are illustrated.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Ian

Thank you Rick for bringing us back to the ethnographic aspects of this topic. We have traveled far and wide, including westerners. Many of the Ilanun (Iranum) were a plundering group. I posted last year some drawings from the 1840s in the following thread showing some of these pirates: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...&postcount=498


Some of the weapons, including lantaka, are illustrated.

Thank you Ian, and Rick. In the pirate spectrum, there are many factions and theaters of operation for this maritime phenomenon, and these more exotic areas definitely bring in the ethnographic factor.

In the thread just posted by Pirate Lady, on Zheng Yi Sao, the woman who took over the huge Chinese pirate confederation that had been run by her late husband (over 400 junks and up to 60,000 pirates!), who operated in the South China sea in early 19th c.

It seems to me that the European pirates operating in from the Atlantic from Madagascar to the Red Sea, and Indian Ocean may well have ventured as far as the South China Sea in some cases. There are unproven accounts of Captain Kidd reaching an island off the coast of Viet Nam (said to be near the China Sea/South China Sea).
I am wondering if perhaps some of the native weapons in use in these areas of piracy in the many asian archipelagos might have diffused into pirate armories via capture of European vessels frequenting or trading in those areas. Though doubtful there was direct contact between our European pirates and the Eastern versions, the diffusion of weapons through networking it would seem.

I was thinking that the unusual 'scimitars' with notably clipped points etc. seen in the woodcuts of pirate notables in 'Johnson' (1724) might have been influenced by these exotic sword types of Asia, Indonesia, Philippines etc.

[Rick]

I believe I have an Iranun Kampilan,or so Xasterix tells me. It seems that it would be pretty cumbersome for boarding another vessel but it cerainly would be a fearsome weapon once one was ashore raiding.

I only have 2 examples of these swords, and I believe he was referring to this one that went to Macao for the H.O.S. exhibition.

Pardon the poor photo quality.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Rick

I believe I have an Iranun Kampilan,or so Xasterix tells me. It seems that it would be pretty cumbersome for boarding another vessel but it cerainly would be a fearsome weapon once one was ashore raiding.

Thats pretty cool Rick! I dont know a great deal on the weapons of these regions, and the kampilan seems to have been used by various tribal groups including sea dyaks (?) and of course Moro.
As you note, these full size swords would have been awkward in melees on deck, but deadly in encounters ashore.

I recall always wondering why full length bladed swords were so often associated with pirates such as the 'Barbary pirates' and the so called nimchas. What I found later was that shore raids and combat were far more prevalent than boarding vessels with these ethnographic pirate groups.

With the 'black flag' pirates of the 'Golden Age', there was seldom boarding and combat as in most cases merchant vessels surrendered without such action.

Question, on these kampilan, how does one distinguish one kampilan used by one group from another?
Whatever the case, I agree, these would be extremely deadly swords!

[Ian]

Jim,

The Ilanun (Iranum) kampilan that Rick shows has an unusual tip for kampilan in that it has no spike or file work, and the length of the edge from tip to the spine is a little longer. I have associated that arrangement as a distinguishing feature between Borneo (Iranum, "Sea Dayak") and Moro kampilan. Perhaps Xasterix can add further distinctions.

Attached is an enlargement from one of the drawings I linked to in the comment above. This unhappy local in the Brunei Datu/Sultan's retinue has a sword with a similarly shaped tip. This sword seems to have a slightly curved blade (such kampilan are very uncommon) and a mandau style hilt. This may not be a kampilan but a sword more akin to a Dayak parang.

Regards,

Ian.
.

[Jim McDougall]

Rick and Ian, thank you so much guys!
That example you show Rick, is amazing, and I remember you posting it years ago. What I noticed is the unusual squiggle (?) type guard. The wrap on the grip seems to resemble that on my example (attached).

My example acquired about 40 years ago, has a cloth tied to the hilt. I have heard the tales offered to explain its purpose, but as always take these mostly as collectors lore in 'western' parlance having little to do with the actual purpose or perhaps 'meaning'.

Ian, thank you for the detailed notes on this. It is fascinating to learn more on these, which in my admitted lack of knowledge in this area has simply relegated the kampilan to the Moro's without really considering other tribal use in the larger sphere.
The notion of a curved blade on one of these, even to my uninitiated perspective , seems very unusual, and my thought would be probable European influence or even one of their blades. As always, maybe just the artists license.

I added the other sword I have from this sphere, a mandau, again from about 40 years ago, which I have never regarded as particularly old, but carried out in traditional manner and decoration.

What was the significance of that unusual element on the back of the blade near the hilt?

[Maurice]

Hello,

Are these kampilan blades concave/convex?

PS, I added a photo from early times in Minahasa.
Several kampilan can be found in this photo, and the people carrying them are no Lanuns, Moros or Dajaks, but people from North Celebes.

Regards,
Maurice

[Maurice]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

What was the significance of that unusual element on the back of the blade near the hilt?

Hello Jim,

Which element are you exactly referring to?
Do you mean the motif engraved at the shoulder (ricasso) of the mandau blade, above the protrusion?

Regards,
Maurice

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Maurice

Hello Jim,

Which element are you exactly referring to?
Do you mean the motif engraved at the shoulder (ricasso) of the mandau blade, above the protrusion?

Regards,
Maurice

Thank you Maurice,
The extension on the back of the blade (on the mandau) that looks like it is to wrap cord around or whatever (I cant think of the right descriptive term).

It is great to look into these weapons which bring in the ethnographic element in the study of piracy, which indeed cover the figurative 'seven seas'!

[David]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

My example acquired about 40 years ago, has a cloth tied to the hilt. I have heard the tales offered to explain its purpose, but as always take these mostly as collectors lore in 'western' parlance having little to do with the actual purpose or perhaps 'meaning'.

I have always assumed these cloths were meant to bind the sword to the wrist of the wielder so that they cannot lose hold of it in the heat of battle.

[Maurice]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Thank you Maurice,
The extension on the back of the blade (on the mandau) that looks like it is to wrap cord around or whatever (I cant think of the right descriptive term).

It is great to look into these weapons which bring in the ethnographic element in the study of piracy, which indeed cover the figurative 'seven seas'!

Hello Jim,

Sometimes you find here lot of curls and protrusions,
which are supposed to represent genitals.
I can't recall I have seen that 'motif' before like on yours (as far as I can judge from the fuzzy photo, as I can't see it clearly).

Kind regards,
Maurice

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by David

I have always assumed these cloths were meant to bind the sword to the wrist of the wielder so that they cannot lose hold of it in the heat of battle.

Thank you David, that does make sense and I wondered as well if these wrapped would offer more secure grip if hilt slippery.I guess often with ethnographic forms pragmatic purposes are often overlooked by westerners seeking more esoteric notions. I think Christopher Spring mentioned that in "African Arms and Armor" noting attempts at trying to explain the wild shapes of blades on throwing knives.