Identifying this kampilan

Jubilado · 9th January 2006, 12:20 PM

Having just joined this forum, I hope that I may post a picture of my kampilan and ask if anyone can tell me more about it. In previous searches elswhere, I have been the impression that the blade was obviously from the Filipines but that the handle might be from Borneo or Sulawesi.

I can post more detailed pictures if it would help.

Thank you.

nechesh · 9th January 2006, 01:40 PM

Welcome to the forum Jubilado. I'd would guess the dress on this blade is actually Sumatran and it looks like fairly nice dress. Are the fittings actually silver? The blade does resemble a kampilan and i don't recall seeing blades like this coming from Sumatra so that's a mystery to me. How long is the blade alone?

Jubilado · 9th January 2006, 04:50 PM

Nechesh - thank you for the welcome.

The blade is 91 cm long and has been identified as a kampilan blade but it might have been traded or captured at some time in its history. I attach a scan of the blade tip.

The decoration of the grip and scabbard is silver; fairly pure I think, by the way it responds to cleaning.

Tim Simmons · 9th January 2006, 06:48 PM

Hello, I also have a puzzling knife which although small has a very similar scabbard and handle form, the blade however is quite different. In Albert G. Van Zonneveld's 'Traditional Weapons of the Indonesian Archipelago' the hilt is known after a pepper grinder, he calls 'tombok lada' which he says has origins in Sumatra and the Malayan peninsular. I know little about these things and post this once before but the knife was unassigned an origin. Total length in the scabbard 28cm, the blade is laminated, just possible to see, which seems to excite some people. People with more knowledge might be able to be more precise. Tim

CharlesS · 12th January 2006, 02:59 PM

I agree. The first piece certainly seems to be Bogobo type kampillon blade with Sumatran mounts. It's nicely done, but an odd marriage.

Ian · 13th January 2006, 02:55 PM

I agree that the first one looks to be a small kampilan blade in Sumatran dress. The second is perhaps from Borneo or Sumatra.

Attached are pictures of an old B'laan or Bagobo kampilan. I originally posted these on the old EEWRS web site and they are not very good quality. Note that the shape of the end of the hilt is somewhat similar to the second example.

Ian.

Tim Simmons · 14th January 2006, 05:44 PM

Very nice scabbard. Are the decorative dots metal or shell? Any idea as to whether that is goat or human hair? Tim

Rick · 14th January 2006, 09:41 PM

When considering this blade and hilt combination one may wish to factor in the Moro / Sumatran connection .
With a blade length of approximately three feet I think it is larger than your typical Bagobo kampilan .

As an observation I'd like to comment that the kampilan blade looks quite old .

Tim Simmons · 15th January 2006, 05:37 PM

The blade does appear to be quite old. Looking at books the blade could also be from Timor. I may sound like a blasphemer but many blades from the Indonesian archipelago all seem largely variations on a few basic themes and being sure of there origin {and true names}

may hinge on the scabbards and handles but even that has its problems. Tim

Ian · 15th January 2006, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

Very nice scabbard. Are the decorative dots metal or shell? Any idea as to whether that is goat or human hair? Tim

Tim:

The "dots" are small metal pins driven into the wood. The hair is probably from a horse.

Ian.

9th January 2006, 12:20 PM	#1
Jubilado Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Andalucia, Spain Posts: 3	Identifying this kampilan Having just joined this forum, I hope that I may post a picture of my kampilan and ask if anyone can tell me more about it. In previous searches elswhere, I have been the impression that the blade was obviously from the Filipines but that the handle might be from Borneo or Sulawesi. I can post more detailed pictures if it would help. Thank you. Attached Images

9th January 2006, 04:50 PM	#3
Jubilado Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Andalucia, Spain Posts: 3	Nechesh - thank you for the welcome. The blade is 91 cm long and has been identified as a kampilan blade but it might have been traded or captured at some time in its history. I attach a scan of the blade tip. The decoration of the grip and scabbard is silver; fairly pure I think, by the way it responds to cleaning. Attached Images

9th January 2006, 06:48 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Hello, I also have a puzzling knife which although small has a very similar scabbard and handle form, the blade however is quite different. In Albert G. Van Zonneveld's 'Traditional Weapons of the Indonesian Archipelago' the hilt is known after a pepper grinder, he calls 'tombok lada' which he says has origins in Sumatra and the Malayan peninsular. I know little about these things and post this once before but the knife was unassigned an origin. Total length in the scabbard 28cm, the blade is laminated, just possible to see, which seems to excite some people. People with more knowledge might be able to be more precise. Tim Attached Images

14th January 2006, 09:41 PM	#8
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	Back To The Sword Under Discussion When considering this blade and hilt combination one may wish to factor in the Moro / Sumatran connection . With a blade length of approximately three feet I think it is larger than your typical Bagobo kampilan . As an observation I'd like to comment that the kampilan blade looks quite old .

9th January 2006, 01:40 PM	#2
nechesh Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 940	Welcome to the forum Jubilado. I'd would guess the dress on this blade is actually Sumatran and it looks like fairly nice dress. Are the fittings actually silver? The blade does resemble a kampilan and i don't recall seeing blades like this coming from Sumatra so that's a mystery to me. How long is the blade alone?

12th January 2006, 02:59 PM	#5
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	I agree. The first piece certainly seems to be Bogobo type kampillon blade with Sumatran mounts. It's nicely done, but an odd marriage.

13th January 2006, 02:55 PM	#6
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,203	I agree that the first one looks to be a small kampilan blade in Sumatran dress. The second is perhaps from Borneo or Sumatra. Attached are pictures of an old B'laan or Bagobo kampilan. I originally posted these on the old EEWRS web site and they are not very good quality. Note that the shape of the end of the hilt is somewhat similar to the second example. Ian.

14th January 2006, 05:44 PM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Very nice scabbard. Are the decorative dots metal or shell? Any idea as to whether that is goat or human hair? Tim

15th January 2006, 05:37 PM	#9
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	The blade does appear to be quite old. Looking at books the blade could also be from Timor. I may sound like a blasphemer but many blades from the Indonesian archipelago all seem largely variations on a few basic themes and being sure of there origin {and true names} may hinge on the scabbards and handles but even that has its problems. Tim