Show us your kampilan =)

[xasterix]

I think everyone who's into Bangsamoro traditional blades enjoy the shared pictures and posts on the "...show us your barung" topic. I've been browsing for kampilan pics and info on this site, and I noticed there's no repository for kampilans...so I'm starting one =)

By the way it doesn't have to be Maranao/Maguindanao/Iranun kampilan only...Lumad kampilans are also welcome! Dayak ones as well.

To start of, here are my two kamps. One has a munsala but no scabbard, and has a broken jaw. The other is more "complete" in a sense, with a non-breakable scabbard and grills-guard. TIA for your contributions!

[kino]

Here’s a couple.

[xasterix]

Originally Posted by kino

Here’s a couple.

Great samples sir Kino! I'm curious about the bottom kampilan. I think it's only the second or third time I've seen that type.

[kino]

Originally Posted by xasterix

I'm curious about the bottom kampilan. I think it's only the second or third time I've seen that type.

Hi Xas, I don’t believe that it’s BangsaMoro. I haven’t seen others prior to this. Might you have photos of others?

[xasterix]

Originally Posted by kino

Hi Xas, I don’t believe that it’s BangsaMoro. I haven’t seen others prior to this. Might you have photos of others?

I'll try to dig back on the pics. I saw one for sale on ebay I think either 2018 or 2019. Might be swimming around in Worthpoint

[Battara]

Here are my 3 kampilans:

1. Ivory, silver, and copper/silver alloy with hair. Belonged to Maranao sultan circa 1800 with replacement coin "eyes" and later hilt mounts, and a Maranao cloth mansala.

2. Low silver and silver/copper alloy. Belonged to a datu. Probably Maranao.

3. Wood and 4 bronze bells with hair. Maguindanao.

[Oliver Pinchot]

I found this Lumad kampilan really aesthetic.
Is it Bagobo? T'boli?

[Battara]

T'boli.

[Athanase]

Hello,
Here is my only Kampilan, which I think is vintage but not old.
I bought it on a bad photo so I hadn't seen some repair (Fortunately it was not very expensive). Bad photos often lead to good deals, but this time the I lost the bet.

It lacks the sinuous iron bar which serves to hold the bells and coin (here replaced by a brass wire) and a missing part of the guard has been replaced by pine wood with an attempt to continue the missing engravings (I think that the repair was made in France).

The thickness of the blade at the base is 4mm and it is 2mm at the end.

[Battara]

Nice ceremonial Iranian/Ilanun kampilan with bells!

Shame the wood repair does not match.

[kino]

Another Kampilan to share.

Published in Arts of Asia Jan.-Feb. ‘91

[Athanase]

Originally Posted by Battara

Nice ceremonial Iranian/Ilanun kampilan with bells!

Shame the wood repair does not match.

Thank you very much for the informations.
Can you estimate the age?

[Rick]

Originally Posted by kino

Another Kampilan to share.

Published in Arts of Asia Jan.-Feb. ‘91

Kino, do you have any guesses as to the age of this blade? I have a Kris (no gonjo) with almost the same okir work running down the center; I'm pretty sure it's 20thC work but pre-WW2 or post?

[Rick]

N/T

[Ian]

Originally Posted by Rick

Kino, do you have any guesses as to the age of this blade? I have a Kris (no gonjo) with almost the same okir work running down the center; I'm pretty sure it's 20thC work but pre-WW2 or post?

Rick, I also had a kris (without hilt) that had similar okir work. IIRC, my blade did not have a separate gangya and was not high quality. I estimated my example as being mid-20th C, probably post-WWII. Will try to find a file picture.

P.S. Rick, for comparison I tried to send you a (poor quality) picture of mine via PM -- but PM does not allow attachments So it's attached here for comparison. Not sure that it adds much to discussion of the kampilan posted by Kino. It's an old file pic and poor quality, but I think it shows the engraving on the blade OK.
.

[Rick]

Ian, yes. but the okir runs all the way to the point.
I wonder if the two krisses and the Kampilan came from the same maker.

[kino]

Originally Posted by Rick

Kino, do you have any guesses as to the age of this blade? I have a Kris (no gonjo) with almost the same okir work running down the center; I'm pretty sure it's 20thC work but pre-WW2 or post?

No idea Rick. Several years ago I contacted Claremont College to inquire about the okirred Kampilan blade, since it has an acquisition number and the donors name, I thought I could at least get an acquisition date. I never got anywhere. If I had to guess, early 20th century.

The one pictured above has an old Spanish colonial coins, but that doesn’t really tells the swords age, just the coins age.

DaveS had a similar bladed Kampilan that showed lamination patterns.

Here’s a bare blade that DaveS gifted over 10 yrs ago.

[Battara]

Originally Posted by Athanase

Thank you very much for the informations.
Can you estimate the age?

Probably mid to late 19c

[xasterix]

Originally Posted by Battara

Here are my 3 kampilans:

1. Ivory, silver, and copper/silver alloy with hair. Belonged to Maranao sultan circa 1800 with replacement coin "eyes" and later hilt mounts, and a Maranao cloth mansala.

2. Low silver and silver/copper alloy. Belonged to a datu. Probably Maranao.

3. Wood and 4 bronze bells with hair. Maguindanao.

Those are really fine samples! Especially the first one, there's a similar one like it in the PH National Museum.

[Battara]

Originally Posted by xasterix

Those are really fine samples! Especially the first one, there's a similar one like it in the PH National Museum.

Thank you. I wish mine had gold on it like the PH National Museum. Still I have only seen these two, unless someone else has an example.

I was very fortunate to get all 3 kampilans.

[Athanase]

Hello,

Here is my second Kampilan, unfortunately it's only a blade (engraved) without handle.

[Battara]

However your blade has nice Maranao okir.

[carlos]

Two more examples...

[xasterix]

Originally Posted by carlos

Two more examples...

That last sample - kampinegre - is a wonderful Frakenstein of a blade!