Interesting video on the kampilan

ShazamsLaw · 21st November 2018, 10:27 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZYMnqfWDrY&t=18s

I'm sure many of you are familiar with the show "forged by fire" which encompasses the idea that they re-create historical weapons and test them based on how well they were forged by participants.

What's interesting, aside from the comments on whether kampilans were only used by Muslim filipinos, was motion and angles of chopping with the weapon. Very similar to how people would use bolos and even kris swords.
Video mentions "traditonally used by moros", but no mention of
Visayans

David · 22nd November 2018, 04:11 PM

Should we really expect historical accuracy from Forged by Fire?

Rick · 22nd November 2018, 05:11 PM

Probably not.
Did you see how thick that Kampilan on the show was?

A proper Kampilan is a pretty light sword; very fast with a very pronounced distal taper.
F.I.F.'s sword tests can border on the ridiculous; the Moro Kampilan has one purpose and that purpose is dispatching one's fellow man.

kronckew · 22nd November 2018, 06:32 PM

FIF requires them to make approximations of historical weapons 'in their own style', then subjects them to brutal tests that a real historic one would never have passed and would never have been subjected to.

They are usually crudely done, oversized and/or so heavy as to be jokes. One Historical weapons recreation 'expert' 'judge' is obsessed with 'indexing' and will comment negatively on weapons that had round grips historically, or if his large hands find the grip uncomfortable. they chop dry cow thigh bones and complain of flaws in the edge, then fail them for these flaws when they do not slice a cow in half first blow in a 'sharpness test' that did not allow the maker to resharpen the blade.

I've lost count of how many finalists have said 'I've never made a sword before' or 'Maybe I should have tested it before I came back'.

It's an occasionally interesting comedy, not a test of real skill. They must pay the judges a lot of money to spout some of the stuff that comes out of their mouths.

Rick · 22nd November 2018, 10:40 PM

The worst spinoff from that show is Knife or Death; it's just plain silly.

kronckew · 22nd November 2018, 11:13 PM

tonite's FIF offering here was the landknicht zweihander. They made two 8.5 pound dull crowbars. they managed to bruise the deer carcasses, one actually managed to cut their deer a bit. they praised the duller one for having broken the spine, even tho it didn't cut thru. The one using the 'I've never made a sword before' guy lost. Mr. Indexing expert said they were so heavy he could hardly raise the tip up. He broke thru a stand of canes and declared this one can cut., even tho he could run his finger down the edge unharmed. 10 grand doesn't buy much anymore...

ShazamsLaw · 23rd November 2018, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

Probably not.
Did you see how thick that Kampilan on the show was?

A proper Kampilan is a pretty light sword; very fast with a very pronounced distal taper.
F.I.F.'s sword tests can border on the ridiculous; the Moro Kampilan has one purpose and that purpose is dispatching one's fellow man.

maybe they were testing a visayan kampilan, not a moro one

Lee · 23rd November 2018, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

Should we really expect historical accuracy from Forged by Fire?

Not at all.

I watched FiF loyally for several seasons, though I privately called it the 'Bladesmiths' Sadomasochism Hour' to my closest acquaintances. I would regularly wonder from where they picked up the unfamiliar (to me) names for the various ethnographic items the contestants were to make - until I found an old Atlanta Cutlery catalog in a disused magazine rack. Finally, there was an episode where I so strongly disagreed with the judges' choice and treatment of the losers that I ceased watching.

The Discovery Channel has just launched its own version called Master of Arms and at least I do not have to endure the order to 'surrender your weapon" commanded to the losers - they are a bit more diplomatic. The expertise is more oriented towards firearms, but I am not sure that the recent episode where the challenge was to make a US Civil War style bayonet and then to construct a octagonal barreled Pennsylvania-Kentucky style rifle and removably attach said bayonet is a promising portend of what is to come.

21st November 2018, 10:27 PM	#1
ShazamsLaw Member Join Date: May 2018 Location: USA Posts: 26	Interesting video on the kampilan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZYMnqfWDrY&t=18s I'm sure many of you are familiar with the show "forged by fire" which encompasses the idea that they re-create historical weapons and test them based on how well they were forged by participants. What's interesting, aside from the comments on whether kampilans were only used by Muslim filipinos, was motion and angles of chopping with the weapon. Very similar to how people would use bolos and even kris swords. Video mentions "traditonally used by moros", but no mention of Visayans

22nd November 2018, 06:32 PM	#4
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,150	FIF requires them to make approximations of historical weapons 'in their own style', then subjects them to brutal tests that a real historic one would never have passed and would never have been subjected to. They are usually crudely done, oversized and/or so heavy as to be jokes. One Historical weapons recreation 'expert' 'judge' is obsessed with 'indexing' and will comment negatively on weapons that had round grips historically, or if his large hands find the grip uncomfortable. they chop dry cow thigh bones and complain of flaws in the edge, then fail them for these flaws when they do not slice a cow in half first blow in a 'sharpness test' that did not allow the maker to resharpen the blade. I've lost count of how many finalists have said 'I've never made a sword before' or 'Maybe I should have tested it before I came back'. It's an occasionally interesting comedy, not a test of real skill. They must pay the judges a lot of money to spout some of the stuff that comes out of their mouths. Last edited by kronckew; 22nd November 2018 at 06:55 PM.

22nd November 2018, 04:11 PM	#2
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,025	Should we really expect historical accuracy from Forged by Fire?

22nd November 2018, 05:11 PM	#3
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,262	Probably not. Did you see how thick that Kampilan on the show was? A proper Kampilan is a pretty light sword; very fast with a very pronounced distal taper. F.I.F.'s sword tests can border on the ridiculous; the Moro Kampilan has one purpose and that purpose is dispatching one's fellow man.

22nd November 2018, 10:40 PM	#5
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,262	The worst spinoff from that show is Knife or Death; it's just plain silly.

22nd November 2018, 11:13 PM	#6
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,150	tonite's FIF offering here was the landknicht zweihander. They made two 8.5 pound dull crowbars. they managed to bruise the deer carcasses, one actually managed to cut their deer a bit. they praised the duller one for having broken the spine, even tho it didn't cut thru. The one using the 'I've never made a sword before' guy lost. Mr. Indexing expert said they were so heavy he could hardly raise the tip up. He broke thru a stand of canes and declared this one can cut., even tho he could run his finger down the edge unharmed. 10 grand doesn't buy much anymore...