A less than common Kampilan
 

Moro items have been slow lately so, for your viewing a kampilan, that I picked up early last year.
The tip of the blade is not like the most seen with the sundi, (the protrusion on top of the blade). The cross guard have a double iron hand guard on each side.
I believe the hilt and cross guard is carved from red lauan.
There are some repair work on the hilt, it looks like it was done during the initial carving not at a later time. Probably to save the work that was almost finished, just a thought.
The blade shows evidence of laminations.

That is a beautiful kampilan Albert,
just as I like them to be!
I think you are correct with the repair work. It looks like it has the same old glossy patina as the rest of the hilt.

Lovely piece!
Kind regards,
Maurice

A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE WITH A UNUSUAL BLADE , BEAUTIFUL PATINA TO THE WOOD AND THE LESS COMMON FORM OF CARVING TO THE HANDLE. DEFINITELY A KEEPER IN MY BOOKS. :cool:

Thanks Maurice..BTW, I'm still looking for that elusive Kampilan with the unusual hilt form.

Vandoo, it's a keeper indeed.

You are so lucky to have this Ilanum example!

And everything seems so complete!

Congratulations! :eek: very beautiful kampilan! The hilt is fantastic! I love this type of sword
Thanks
Carlos

Whoa there Jose! Why Ilanum?

Ian

Hi Kino:

Very nice kamp. Looking at the wood, I would have thought banati, especially with the occasional areas of "tiger stripes." What points you towards red lauan?

Ian

Absolutely lovely example. Everything I love in a kampie from the blade to the pommel, and the "repairs" just add more charm!

Congrats on such a lovely piece!

Ian, I base my thoughts on what I have seen of Ilanun kampilans, especially the hilts, which are like this one and do not seem to have "eyes", as well as seemingly slightly truncated pommel with a larger lower "jaw".

Some discussion was done here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...2&page=1&pp=30

Also here is a page from Holstein's book: Iranun and Banalingingi (1860).

Here is an example of what I am talking about:

You know Ian, I look at this sword at least once a week for the past year it sits on top of a flat file cabinet and I've never noticed the striping until you mentioned it. You might be correct on the wood being banate.

Thanks for the positive comments everyone.

Jose:

Thanks for the info and I like that figure from Holstein's book. The short handled panabas is different from the usual Moro examples, and looks more sword-like rather than a short pole arm.

Ian.

You're welcome Ian.

And I also agree with Ian on it being banati. There is also a possibility that it could be a form of narra wood burl.

In any case it is a good example of early repair, especially the way the front repair is skillfully carved into the rest of the okir. Very impressive workmanship!

Very nice example Albert! :eek:

Best regards,
Detlef

Actually only the two inserts look like banati wood, to me.

Gustav, I had to look closely and found other parts burled as well and not just the repairs. Not that easy to see but they are there.

Thanks Albert for letting me examine this and other beauties personally!

I can't really remember the wood of this hilt but I do remember that the hilt and the repair are extremely close. Thus, I'd lean towards all pieces being banati albeit of different qualities.

Regards,
Kai

Hello Jose,

I am seeing a typical old-style hilt (of higher than average quality). While this type of hilt does show up on Borneo (arguably more often than on Mindanao), I'd posit that it is a generic Moro style that is not limited to Ilanum origin: it seems to have been widespread and just run out of fashion throughout Mindanao while being retained by Moro expat communities on Borneo and possibly elsewhere. Despite their relative rarity, there are IMHO way too many kampilan with this type of hilt in old US collections to allow a strict Ilanum connection (and some even come with sound provenance to Mindanao).

The hilts which may be restricted to Borneo are considerably more "blocky" and ideally come with disks and additional hair tassels (cp. some pics in the linked thread).

Regards,
Kai

Thank you Detlef.



Filtered sunlight thru a window with the hilt tilted to capture the nuances.

It was my pleasure Kai.i hope you've reverted back to your sleeping schedule. Too bad our visit with Miguel Diaz was short.

Miguel Diaz being in agreement that the wood is Luaun, perhaps only because of my initial suggestion that it was, my persuasive nature :D and of course his graciousness of not correcting me.

Kai, the Ilanum/Iranun were great sea farers, traveling almost everywhere. Not surprising that their influence or even out posts were in several places at one time.

Hello Jose,

I'm not questioning that.

However, what is the reasoning for declaring this type as Ilanum rather than a more generic Moro style? From museum and other reasonably provenanced pieces, I don't see any clear association that would suggest so.

Best wishes,
Kai

I base this on what research I have seen, plus the fact that unless there was trade, Maranao and Maguindanao kampilans seem to have "eyes" and the "jaws" are longer and, as you say, not as "blocky".

If you find good research to the contrary, please post it for our learning. :)

What a nice kampilan that i want to have in my collections. Congratulations!