Kampilan with Bells

[Sajen]

What a beautiful kampilan after the work you have done on it!
Can you show a close up from the hair attachment? The double guard, the beautiful old bells and the very nice carving at the handle make that it is an outstanding kampy! Congrats.

Best regards,
Detlef

[mariusgmioc]

Another wow as I wouldn't have known it was restored!

[CharlesS]

Very nicely done Battara! I know this was on your wish list for some time, so glad it found a good home!

[Jim McDougall]

Fantastic Kampilan!!!!!
It seems like Gav had one with a guard like this some years back. Also, the bells were I think imported from China (?) but I cant recall the idea or purpose of them.

Question: What was the symbolism/purpose of the wavy extension from the crossguard?

Lately it has been great around here with continued and dynamic discussions on the history and development of various weapon forms. It does not seem that of the kampilan has been attended to that much in recent discussions.

It seems further that the earliest recording of one was I believe Magellan (?) the famed explorer who was said to have been killed with one. The problem, as always, was it just the use of the word 'kampilan' describing an unspecified form of edged weapon.....or was it this form, in use at that early date (16th century)??

[Ian]

Jose:

Nice job on that one! I think you are right that this is most likely Maranao in origin. Do the bells resemble "tiger bells?"

A couple of years ago I picked up a very similar kampilan, also online, with several "tiger bells." There is an interesting site devoted to these bells, http://www.tigerbells.nl/intro.htm, that I think Gavin has mentioned here before. That same site has a page (here) about these bells on kampilan, and shows an example of a Maranao sword with tiger bells taken in combat by US Army Captain JJ Pershing (later General Pershing). Not all of the jingles on that sword were of the tiger bell form, however. Among Muslim groups, the occurrence of tiger bells is thought to be rare.

The significance of these bells on a Maranao sword is something I would like to learn more about. Anyone have any thoughts?

Ian.

[Robert]

Again, wonderful work Jose. I am very happy that you were able to acquire this very nice kampilan and put everything back in order. Congratulation on another great addition to your collection.

Best,
Robert

[carlos]

Beautiful Kampilan, the tiger bells are magnific !!
great work !!
Congratulations
carlos

[Battara]

Originally Posted by Ian

The significance of these bells on a Maranao sword is something I would like to learn more about. Anyone have any thoughts?

Ian.

Ian, it seems to me that wherever these bells (including tiger bells) exist, they were to ward off evil spirits. In this I would include the Philippines. I can also see these as announcing the arrival of a datu when carried by the datu's sword carrier.

I have also seen more tiger bells on Moro and Bagobo stuff than one would think, also again, they must have been traded by way of China.

[Battara]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Question: What was the symbolism/purpose of the wavy extension from the crossguard?

It seems further that the earliest recording of one was I believe Magellan (?) the famed explorer who was said to have been killed with one. The problem, as always, was it just the use of the word 'kampilan' describing an unspecified form of edged weapon.....or was it this form, in use at that early date (16th century)??

First Jim - wavy extensions? Do you mean the iron loops? My understanding that these are for hand protection.

To your second question, there were many forms of kampilan all over the islands. Even the Tagalogs up north had a kampilan version that is now lost. So the only kind left I guess are that of the Moro versions. Unfortunately, those 16th century chronicles do not give detailed description of the type of kampilan the Spanish encountered.

Clear as mud, right?