View Full Version : Show us your kampilan =)
xasterix
18th January 2021, 12:34 PM
I think everyone who's into Bangsamoro traditional blades enjoy the shared pictures and posts on the "...show us your barung" topic. I've been browsing for kampilan pics and info on this site, and I noticed there's no repository for kampilans...so I'm starting one =)
By the way it doesn't have to be Maranao/Maguindanao/Iranun kampilan only...Lumad kampilans are also welcome! Dayak ones as well.
To start of, here are my two kamps. One has a munsala but no scabbard, and has a broken jaw. The other is more "complete" in a sense, with a non-breakable scabbard and grills-guard. TIA for your contributions!
kino
18th January 2021, 05:33 PM
Here’s a couple.
xasterix
18th January 2021, 09:35 PM
Here’s a couple.
Great samples sir Kino! I'm curious about the bottom kampilan. I think it's only the second or third time I've seen that type.
kino
19th January 2021, 01:48 PM
I'm curious about the bottom kampilan. I think it's only the second or third time I've seen that type.
Hi Xas, I don’t believe that it’s BangsaMoro. I haven’t seen others prior to this. Might you have photos of others?
xasterix
20th January 2021, 04:05 AM
Hi Xas, I don’t believe that it’s BangsaMoro. I haven’t seen others prior to this. Might you have photos of others?
I'll try to dig back on the pics. I saw one for sale on ebay I think either 2018 or 2019. Might be swimming around in Worthpoint :)
Battara
23rd January 2021, 02:09 AM
Here are my 3 kampilans:
1. Ivory, silver, and copper/silver alloy with hair. Belonged to Maranao sultan circa 1800 with replacement coin "eyes" and later hilt mounts, and a Maranao cloth mansala.
2. Low silver and silver/copper alloy. Belonged to a datu. Probably Maranao.
3. Wood and 4 bronze bells with hair. Maguindanao.
Oliver Pinchot
23rd January 2021, 04:02 AM
I found this Lumad kampilan really aesthetic.
Is it Bagobo? T'boli?
Battara
23rd January 2021, 11:00 PM
T'boli.
Athanase
25th January 2021, 01:55 PM
Hello,
Here is my only Kampilan, which I think is vintage but not old.
I bought it on a bad photo so I hadn't seen some repair (Fortunately it was not very expensive). Bad photos often lead to good deals, but this time the I lost the bet.
It lacks the sinuous iron bar which serves to hold the bells and coin (here replaced by a brass wire) and a missing part of the guard has been replaced by pine wood with an attempt to continue the missing engravings (I think that the repair was made in France).
The thickness of the blade at the base is 4mm and it is 2mm at the end.
Battara
26th January 2021, 12:35 AM
Nice ceremonial Iranian/Ilanun kampilan with bells!
Shame the wood repair does not match.
kino
26th January 2021, 01:25 AM
Another Kampilan to share.
Published in Arts of Asia Jan.-Feb. ‘91
Athanase
26th January 2021, 02:58 PM
Nice ceremonial Iranian/Ilanun kampilan with bells!
Shame the wood repair does not match.
Thank you very much for the informations.
Can you estimate the age?
Rick
26th January 2021, 03:48 PM
Another Kampilan to share.
Published in Arts of Asia Jan.-Feb. ‘91
Kino, do you have any guesses as to the age of this blade? I have a Kris (no gonjo) with almost the same okir work running down the center; I'm pretty sure it's 20thC work but pre-WW2 or post?
Rick
26th January 2021, 04:22 PM
N/T
Ian
26th January 2021, 09:35 PM
Kino, do you have any guesses as to the age of this blade? I have a Kris (no gonjo) with almost the same okir work running down the center; I'm pretty sure it's 20thC work but pre-WW2 or post?Rick, I also had a kris (without hilt) that had similar okir work. IIRC, my blade did not have a separate gangya and was not high quality. I estimated my example as being mid-20th C, probably post-WWII. Will try to find a file picture.
P.S. Rick, for comparison I tried to send you a (poor quality) picture of mine via PM -- but PM does not allow attachments :( So it's attached here for comparison. Not sure that it adds much to discussion of the kampilan posted by Kino. It's an old file pic and poor quality, but I think it shows the engraving on the blade OK.
.
Rick
26th January 2021, 11:08 PM
Ian, yes. but the okir runs all the way to the point.
I wonder if the two krisses and the Kampilan came from the same maker.
kino
27th January 2021, 12:08 AM
Kino, do you have any guesses as to the age of this blade? I have a Kris (no gonjo) with almost the same okir work running down the center; I'm pretty sure it's 20thC work but pre-WW2 or post?
No idea Rick. Several years ago I contacted Claremont College to inquire about the okirred Kampilan blade, since it has an acquisition number and the donors name, I thought I could at least get an acquisition date. I never got anywhere. If I had to guess, early 20th century.
The one pictured above has an old Spanish colonial coins, but that doesn’t really tells the swords age, just the coins age.
DaveS had a similar bladed Kampilan that showed lamination patterns.
Here’s a bare blade that DaveS gifted over 10 yrs ago.
Battara
27th January 2021, 12:25 AM
Thank you very much for the informations.
Can you estimate the age?
Probably mid to late 19c
xasterix
1st February 2021, 03:49 AM
Here are my 3 kampilans:
1. Ivory, silver, and copper/silver alloy with hair. Belonged to Maranao sultan circa 1800 with replacement coin "eyes" and later hilt mounts, and a Maranao cloth mansala.
2. Low silver and silver/copper alloy. Belonged to a datu. Probably Maranao.
3. Wood and 4 bronze bells with hair. Maguindanao.
Those are really fine samples! Especially the first one, there's a similar one like it in the PH National Museum.
Battara
2nd February 2021, 04:17 AM
Those are really fine samples! Especially the first one, there's a similar one like it in the PH National Museum.
Thank you. I wish mine had gold on it like the PH National Museum. Still I have only seen these two, unless someone else has an example.
I was very fortunate to get all 3 kampilans.
Athanase
17th February 2021, 06:17 PM
Hello,
Here is my second Kampilan, unfortunately it's only a blade (engraved) without handle.
Battara
17th February 2021, 11:20 PM
However your blade has nice Maranao okir.
carlos
18th February 2021, 10:27 AM
Two more examples...
xasterix
18th February 2021, 11:58 AM
Two more examples...
That last sample - kampinegre - is a wonderful Frakenstein of a blade!
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