How old is the kampilan as a form?

Jim McDougall · 20th June 2015, 06:06 PM

In the concurrent thread with an intriguing example hilt on a kampilan, I was wondering just how old is the kampilan as a sword form.
While the example shown was being discussed, I realized that the now familiar hilt form with 'open jaw' has become well known, especially after the Spanish-American war, when of course many of these were taken as souveniers.

It seems that the apparent symbolism seen in the design and motif in these hilts remains elusive, and while authors such as Holstein and Cato offer suggestions, no conclusive explanations stand as far as I know.
As a form, I understand that these have existed outside the Moro regions in the Philippines, as well as into Borneo with the Dyaks, and probably other areas ?

What is most unclear is just how far back does the design of the kampilan go? I recall that accounts of the death of Ferdinand Magellan April 27, 1521 at Mactan, Philippines at the hands of tribal warriors described his being attacked with a 'kampilan'.
However, we cannot know whether that describes the examples we are now familiar with, or whether it was some sort of proto form . Also it must be considered that these accounts were probably transcribed and transliterated a number of times, so the kampilan term may well have been interjected.

Which leads to the next question, etymologically what language and meaning does the term have? how long?

Other accounts I have seen described the weapon used by the warriors as 'cutlasses', again a broadly applied term for any heavy blade and in any degree curved for cutting strokes. Since this term was not really known until late 17th into 18th c. it is again clearly later addition to the text of accounts.

So just how long has the kampilan as we know it been around? and are there notable differences regionally or tribally?

20th June 2015, 06:06 PM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,945	How old is the kampilan as a form? In the concurrent thread with an intriguing example hilt on a kampilan, I was wondering just how old is the kampilan as a sword form. While the example shown was being discussed, I realized that the now familiar hilt form with 'open jaw' has become well known, especially after the Spanish-American war, when of course many of these were taken as souveniers. It seems that the apparent symbolism seen in the design and motif in these hilts remains elusive, and while authors such as Holstein and Cato offer suggestions, no conclusive explanations stand as far as I know. As a form, I understand that these have existed outside the Moro regions in the Philippines, as well as into Borneo with the Dyaks, and probably other areas ? What is most unclear is just how far back does the design of the kampilan go? I recall that accounts of the death of Ferdinand Magellan April 27, 1521 at Mactan, Philippines at the hands of tribal warriors described his being attacked with a 'kampilan'. However, we cannot know whether that describes the examples we are now familiar with, or whether it was some sort of proto form . Also it must be considered that these accounts were probably transcribed and transliterated a number of times, so the kampilan term may well have been interjected. Which leads to the next question, etymologically what language and meaning does the term have? how long? Other accounts I have seen described the weapon used by the warriors as 'cutlasses', again a broadly applied term for any heavy blade and in any degree curved for cutting strokes. Since this term was not really known until late 17th into 18th c. it is again clearly later addition to the text of accounts. So just how long has the kampilan as we know it been around? and are there notable differences regionally or tribally?