9th July 2007, 09:19 PM | #1 |
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Kampilan Question
Hello. I have a newbie question about kampilans
Though I've had the pleasure of handling ginuntings, pinutes, keris, and talibons, my experience with kampilans has been nonexistent. Which is the sharp side on a kampilan? Is it the side with the barb/hook, or the opposite side? Or are they double-edged. I thought I could tell by the orientation of the "crocodile jaws" handle, but I've seen the "jaws" facing both sides of the blades in kampilan pictures. Also, does anyone know if it's true that small brass discs embedded in the blade are representative of how many enemies that enemy has killed? Thanks, Queequeg |
9th July 2007, 11:03 PM | #2 |
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http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=4877
The bottom of the blade in my picture is the sharp edge. The number of brass dots has nothing to do with how many men killed as far as I know. I have never seen a double edged Kampilan |
10th July 2007, 02:56 AM | #3 | |
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Quote:
That's what I love about these swords; among all the Moro weapons they have the finest temper and distal taper. |
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10th July 2007, 12:11 PM | #4 |
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Bill,
Thanks for the answer. I have a couple of further questions. Are the "clip-point" or the spike sharpened, too? Is the spike decorative, or does it give some tactical advantage? Also, what initially confused me about which side was sharp was the direction of the handle. Most kampilan seem to have the "jaws" of the handle flared toward the sharp edge, which makes sense to me ergonomically. Yours has the jaws facing the spine, which seems (no offense) backward to me. I guess it doesn't make any difference which way the jaws are facing? |
10th July 2007, 12:35 PM | #5 |
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All my kampilan (14) have the sharp edge facing the same way. I would imagine that this is the usual direction, though, I guess there could be variations.
Perhaps you could tell us about the handling of ginuntings and pinutes. I guess you are FMA? |
10th July 2007, 01:33 PM | #6 | |
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What would you like to know about ginuntings? To start, I'll say that they're a wonderful blade. |
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10th July 2007, 02:17 PM | #7 | |||
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Hello Queequeg,
Welcome to the forum! Quote:
Quote:
I've heard respected Filipinos explaining that the spike can be used to distract an opponent (i.e. asking for an opening) but none of those I remember were Moro themselves. It would be nice if someone well versed in a Moro MA style were to confirm this. Quote:
OTOH, I've often seen kampilans mounted on a wall with the edge upside down. This always striked me as weird - maybe the sharp edge kept cutting any attachment string? Regards, Kai |
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10th July 2007, 03:28 PM | #8 |
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These, are of course slashing swords and the hilts tend to be oriented at a slight upward angle to the edge.
What I have observed from cutting with a kampilan; the end third of the blade is what really gets the business done. There are a couple of great older threads on this sword which can be found through the search function. |
10th July 2007, 09:16 PM | #9 | |
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Hello Rick,
Quote:
Regards, Kai |
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10th July 2007, 09:29 PM | #10 |
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13th July 2007, 03:44 AM | #11 |
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Hi all. As a matter of possible interest, I have a Kampilan that does have about a third of the "back" side sharpened. The finish and profile of the point, coupled with the facts that it is an older blade and fully an inch longer than my other spike and clip point variations, leads to the conclusion that it is in it's original form.
Last edited by potapych; 13th July 2007 at 04:05 AM. |
13th July 2007, 08:00 AM | #12 |
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That seems to be an old one - I'd have no qualms to place it into 19th c.
What's the blade length? Could you please post a close-up of the blade tip? Regards, Kai |
13th July 2007, 10:09 AM | #13 |
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Hi Kai,
Hope this helps, it's the best I could do being that it's night time here. The reverse taper is about equivalent to the front edge taper, (a little over 1/4 the blade width) and runs for about 8 1/2" (or 21.6 cm) back from the tip. It is as sharp as the front (very) and there is no indication it has ever been any different.The blade measures 29 5/8" (or 75.75 cm). I'll try for a daylight shot later. It's scabbard also conforms to the blade profile but that in itself is not so compelling as they were often, (as I'm sure you know), discarded in the heat of things and later replaced. Best, Ray Last edited by potapych; 13th July 2007 at 10:26 AM. |
13th July 2007, 10:18 PM | #14 |
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And you are sure that the curved back edge is not a later sharpening? This is very unusual. In every single kampilan (and traditionally) the straight part is what is sharpened.
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13th July 2007, 10:55 PM | #15 | ||
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Hello Jose,
Quote:
Quote:
Regards, Kai |
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14th July 2007, 07:30 AM | #16 |
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Hi,
Please excuse me if I didn't explain well enough; the straight "front" edge is entirely sharpened, as is usual and the first third of the "back" (curved edge) is sharpened exactly equally. Anyway, I tried to get better pictures of the profiles today, the last one depicts the taper of the "back" side, from it's full width to the point of where it is truly sharpened. (Please excuse the greenish hue, it's a from Japanese Maple that's always trying to get into the picture ;-) Ray |
14th July 2007, 08:07 AM | #17 |
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Hi Jose,
No, with my admittedly limited experience I can't be absolutely, positively certain but even if it the "back" third portion were to have been sharpened in that manner sometime after it's manufacture; it would appear it was done very long ago and indigenously, which would still make it a valid sub-type? Best, Ray |
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