A Special Kampillan

[CharlesS]

Many thanks, guys. I am humbled to have the piece, and by your kind comments!

[Jim McDougall]

While I of course join in the consensus that this is an incredibly beautiful blade on this kampilan,, I realize just how little is typically known of the history this weapon form by myself and perhaps many others not well versed in this field of study. It seems it is of course well established in the Philippines, but that it had wider distribution in Borneo and numbers of other regions.

Just how old is this form known to be? and do the blades vary in shape and of course as suggested here (in this type of metal) in character regionally?

I recall reading some time ago that Magellan was killed in the Philippines by warriors and while some narratives use nebulous terms such as 'scimitar' or 'cutlass' to describe the sword(s) used by them, it seems some accounts use the term 'kampilan'. Since this was in the 16th c. is this just a modern known term for 'sword' in the Philippines, or could this form have been in use that early?

While very much enjoying the beauty of this magnificent example of Charles' I cannot help but wonder more on the form itself.

[CharlesS]

Jim,

For this info, I believe we would have to go to Spanish sources. I believe the Spanish may not have been quite as detail oriented about their conquered territories as some of the other European colonialists, but I may very well be wrong.

Are there detailed Spanish records on the Philippines regarding the terrain and the varied peoples? Perhaps someone on the forum knows.

[Battara]

My understanding is the there were a variety of kampilan forms among different tribes in the Philippines, even a Tagalog variant. What these looked like, however, is a good question. I forget the name, but there are some Spanish codex miniature paintings have some folks with kampilans in their hands.

[Aslan Paladin]

Originally Posted by Battara

My understanding is the there were a variety of kampilan forms among different tribes in the Philippines, even a Tagalog variant. What these looked like, however, is a good question. I forget the name, but there are some Spanish codex miniature paintings have some folks with kampilans in their hands.

I think you're referring to the Boxer Codex or the Manila Manuscript, supposedly written around 1590. By the way that's one magnificent kampilan indeed.

[MaharlikaTimawa]

Originally Posted by Battara

My understanding is the there were a variety of kampilan forms among different tribes in the Philippines, even a Tagalog variant. What these looked like, however, is a good question. I forget the name, but there are some Spanish codex miniature paintings have some folks with kampilans in their hands.

Isn't the general consensus that Filipino non-muslim metal smiths were incapable of making longer weapons such as the kampilan or the panabas,
which is why they were only used farmer tools such as the bolo as opposed to swords that were mostly exclusive for fighting.

[xasterix]

Originally Posted by MaharlikaTimawa

Isn't the general consensus that Filipino non-muslim metal smiths were incapable of making longer weapons such as the kampilan or the panabas,
which is why they were only used farmer tools such as the bolo as opposed to swords that were mostly exclusive for fighting.

My apologies, am not aware of such a consensus...there are documented antique pinuti, sansibar, talibong, tabak, and minasbad that reach up to 30 inches blade length and more. Some of them are featured here somewhere. The longest non-kampilan traditional Filipino blade that I know of is the Ilokano talunasan. It has a 36-inch long blade.

[xasterix]

In the pics:

GM Giron with his family's antique Talunasan, blade length at 36 inches
A 100-year old Pinuti (Lawihan variant), blade length at 31 inches

[David]

Originally Posted by xasterix

My apologies, am not aware of such a consensus...there are documented antique pinuti, sansibar, talibong, tabak, and minasbad that reach up to 30 inches blade length and more. Some of them are featured here somewhere. The longest non-kampilan traditional Filipino blade that I know of is the Ilokano talunasan. It has a 36-inch long blade.

What you say is undoubtably true over starting at some point in historic past, but my sense of what MaharlikaTimawa was questioning was whether they were capable of forging such swords at the time of Magellan. So showing an 100 year-old antique Talunasan from GM Giron family does not really answer the question of whether or not the blades that Magellan was finally hacked down with in 1521 were indeed kamplian. Does anyone have an evidence of kampilian that are actually THAT old. Not saying they didn't exist, but i have never seen the empirical evidence to support the claim.

[Ian]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

...

Just how old is this form known to be? and do the blades vary in shape and of course as suggested here (in this type of metal) in character regionally?


I recall reading some time ago that Magellan was killed in the Philippines by warriors and while some narratives use nebulous terms such as 'scimitar' or 'cutlass' to describe the sword(s) used by them, it seems some accounts use the term 'kampilan'. Since this was in the 16th c. is this just a modern known term for 'sword' in the Philippines, or could this form have been in use that early?

While very much enjoying the beauty of this magnificent example of Charles' I cannot help but wonder more on the form itself.

Hi Jim:

Good questions! The kampilan as a weapon seems to go back some time. As you noted, Magellan is said to have been killed with a sword that some termed a kampilan.

The famous Maguindanao leader, Sultan Dipatuan Kudarat (CE 1581-1671), is said to have been proficient with a kampilan and to have been instructed in the use of the kampilan and kalis martial arts by Rajah Buayan Silongang. Statues of Sultan Kudarat can be find in Manila and elsewhere in Luzon, and he is renowned widely for his strong leadership and resistance to Spanish influence during his time. All the statues I have seen show him with a kampilan, consistent with the historical narrative of him using this weapon.

Ian.

[CharlesS]

I believe this is the most famous of several statues of Sultan Dipatuan Kudarat. Looks like he is holding a kampillan in a carved scabbard. ...and I see a kriss hilt, but nothing else of it. It seems to be tucked in at a rather "uncomfortable" location!

[Rafngard]

I think I recall a number of images of Philippine weapons in Spanish museums.

Has anyone done a study of the Spanish museum collections? Perhaps some sort of developmental timeline could be established?

Thanks,
Leif