BAGOBO DATU CLASS

tanaruz · 12th September 2020, 08:32 AM

Hi friends,

A Bagobo kampilan datu class.

Regards

Yves

Note: with a t'nalak abaca weave cloth (scabbard)

Ian · 12th September 2020, 09:43 AM

Hi Yves. Nice example.
.

tanaruz · 12th September 2020, 12:32 PM

Hi Sir Ian,

Many thanks!

Yves

Marbel · 12th September 2020, 02:54 PM

Hello,

Very nice example.

Just to clarify, ‘t’nalak’ is very specific to the Tboli. Bagobo weaving is generally known as ‘inabal’. Both utilize abaca and the ikat method and while there are many similarities, they are unique styles. Therefor we should say that the textile on your scabbard is inabal.

Rick · 12th September 2020, 04:29 PM

I know I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer; but how is this classified as a kampilan? This begs the question: how is a kampilan defined these days? Is it now just a term for a large Philippine sword?

Battara · 13th September 2020, 12:19 AM

I would agree Rick that this is not a kampilan nor a datu class piece.

Datu glass pieces usually distinguish themselves by having lots of bead work on the scabbard.

Here is my example for comparison:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ht=datu+bagobo

Battara · 13th September 2020, 12:22 AM

Your example is nice. Hard to find these complete. The only thing is that your's is missing the other silver bands on the scabbard.

Still a nice example and thank you for posting it.

ariel · 13th September 2020, 03:29 AM

I am a bit confused: is it a split pommel or a split chape of the scabbard? Reminds me of a pakayun.

Ian · 13th September 2020, 03:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

I know I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer; but how is this classified as a kampilan? This begs the question: how is a kampilan defined these days? Is it now just a term for a large Philippine sword?

Rick,

You are correct. This is not a kampilan-like blade. I don't know what this blade profile is called by the Bagobo, but we should not give it an incorrect name here. AFAIK, the kampilan is still defined by the traditional Moro blade. Similar blade styles among the Lumad tribes have different names. The T'boli call their traditional kampilan-like sword a tok. [This should not be confused with the general name for a sword in T'boli, which is kafilan--and awfully close to kampilan so as to be confusing).

I will try to search out Bagobo names for their swords, or maybe one of our members can tell us.

Ian · 13th September 2020, 04:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

I am a bit confused: is it a split pommel or a split chape of the scabbard? Reminds me of a pakayun.

Hi ariel,

It's a split chape you are seeing. And yes, I also think it looks like a Pakayun hilt. The pattern of tying the two sides of the fork and bridging the space is similar.

kai · 13th September 2020, 04:06 AM

Hello Ariel,

The wooden tip of this Bagobo scabbard has 2 decorated metal tidbits attached while the 2-pronged pommel of a pakayun/parapat/pelepet is carved from a single piece of wood. I don't think there is any historic relationship...

Regards,
Kai

Ian · 13th September 2020, 04:08 AM

Jose,

I think what Yves was referring to as "datu class" was the style of hilt. Some would say that this style is reserved for swords of distinction, while more ordinary swords have a simpler style such as shown on this sword, which also has an ikat wrap. Perhaps Marbel could tell us if the textile is T'boli or Bagabo in origin.

Ian

.

Marbel · 13th September 2020, 04:19 AM

Hi Ian,

It’s always a bit hard to identify a textile when it’s only a small piece, but the scabbard you’ve shown appears to be wrapped in Tboli t’nalak.

Ian · 13th September 2020, 04:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marbel

Hi Ian,

It’s always a bit hard to identify a textile when it’s only a small piece, but the scabbard you’ve shown appears to be wrapped in Tboli t’nalak.

Thanks Craig. I thought it was probably T'boli, but I am far from an expert like yourself on the T'boli and Bagobo textiles.

Marbel · 13th September 2020, 05:17 AM

Hi Ian,

I feel like quite a few of these lumad scabbards (like the one you showed, not the nice old Bagobo and sometimes Blaan/Tagakaolo examples with great ‘mounds’ of textiles and sometimes beads wrapped at the tops of the scabbard) had textiles added to them later on in their lives. Maybe they were added to make them appear more interesting or indigenous. As you know, the old wooden Tboli and Blaan scabbards can often be beautifully carved. I suppose it’s a bit blasphemous on some level (maybe not), but I’m often tempted to cut the textile off what appears to likely be an old scabbard just to see what’s underneath.

12th September 2020, 08:32 AM	#1
tanaruz Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 267	BAGOBO DATU CLASS Hi friends, A Bagobo kampilan datu class. Regards Yves Note: with a t'nalak abaca weave cloth (scabbard) Attached Images

12th September 2020, 09:43 AM	#2
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,194	Hi Yves. Nice example. . Attached Images

12th September 2020, 12:32 PM	#3
tanaruz Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 267	BAGOBO DATU CLASS Hi Sir Ian, Many thanks! Yves

12th September 2020, 02:54 PM	#4
Marbel Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 66	Bagobo Hello, Very nice example. Just to clarify, ‘t’nalak’ is very specific to the Tboli. Bagobo weaving is generally known as ‘inabal’. Both utilize abaca and the ikat method and while there are many similarities, they are unique styles. Therefor we should say that the textile on your scabbard is inabal.

13th September 2020, 12:19 AM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,217	I would agree Rick that this is not a kampilan nor a datu class piece. Datu glass pieces usually distinguish themselves by having lots of bead work on the scabbard. Here is my example for comparison: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ht=datu+bagobo Attached Images

12th September 2020, 04:29 PM	#5
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,290	I know I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer; but how is this classified as a kampilan? This begs the question: how is a kampilan defined these days? Is it now just a term for a large Philippine sword?

13th September 2020, 12:22 AM	#7
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,217	Your example is nice. Hard to find these complete. The only thing is that your's is missing the other silver bands on the scabbard. Still a nice example and thank you for posting it.

13th September 2020, 03:29 AM	#8
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	I am a bit confused: is it a split pommel or a split chape of the scabbard? Reminds me of a pakayun.

13th September 2020, 04:06 AM	#11
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,254	Hello Ariel, The wooden tip of this Bagobo scabbard has 2 decorated metal tidbits attached while the 2-pronged pommel of a pakayun/parapat/pelepet is carved from a single piece of wood. I don't think there is any historic relationship... Regards, Kai

13th September 2020, 04:08 AM	#12
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,194	Jose, I think what Yves was referring to as "datu class" was the style of hilt. Some would say that this style is reserved for swords of distinction, while more ordinary swords have a simpler style such as shown on this sword, which also has an ikat wrap. Perhaps Marbel could tell us if the textile is T'boli or Bagabo in origin. Ian . Attached Images

13th September 2020, 04:19 AM	#13
Marbel Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 66	Textile Hi Ian, It’s always a bit hard to identify a textile when it’s only a small piece, but the scabbard you’ve shown appears to be wrapped in Tboli t’nalak.

13th September 2020, 05:17 AM	#15
Marbel Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 66	Textile Hi Ian, I feel like quite a few of these lumad scabbards (like the one you showed, not the nice old Bagobo and sometimes Blaan/Tagakaolo examples with great ‘mounds’ of textiles and sometimes beads wrapped at the tops of the scabbard) had textiles added to them later on in their lives. Maybe they were added to make them appear more interesting or indigenous. As you know, the old wooden Tboli and Blaan scabbards can often be beautifully carved. I suppose it’s a bit blasphemous on some level (maybe not), but I’m often tempted to cut the textile off what appears to likely be an old scabbard just to see what’s underneath.