Kampilan

[Chris Meyer]

Hello everyone,

I just picked up this Kampilan at my local flea market last Sunday. It’s about 32.375” in overall length, with a 23” blade. The blade is about 2.125” at its widest. The handle is made of two different kinds (or at least colors) of wood, with an insert set into the left side of the handle. This insert seems to conceal or aid the means of handle attachment. Unlike most of the Filipino stuff that I’ve seen, the blade seems to be pretty solid in the handle.

The seller at the market claimed to know nothing about the blade. He said that he was selling it for a woman he knows, and all she told him was that her husband had had it for about 40 years. I bought it for $28.00. I like it, but did I get a good deal? I don’t know much about Filipino blades, so I would greatly appreciate any information that anyone can provide. Thanks.

(Sorry about the crappy pictures but it was too big for my light box.)

 

[raylaconico]

Although I'm Filipino, I don't know much about our swords. I think you have a very nice piece there and you got a great deal. I don't know of it's value but I'm sure it's worth more than what you paid. Even just to display. It sure looks like an old sword. It also looks well made and authentic. You should try to find out more about it from someone who knows. Try www.swordforum.com or go to the filipino martial arts section. Let us know if you find out anything.:thumbup:

 

[Chris Meyer]

...Try www.swordforum.com or go to the filipino martial arts section. Let us know if you find out anything.:thumbup:

Thanks, I tried swordforum.com already, but after about a week I only had two replies. One person guesses that it was made before WWII, the other after WWII. I appreciate their effort, but it doesn't really nail anything down for me. I was hoping that someone would have a little more precise information.

 

[cerulean]

I don’t know much about Filipino weapons, but I like your sword! It looks really solid. You definitely got a good deal on it, even if it turns out that it's not terribly old.

You might want to post about your Kampilan on the Ethnographic Edged Weapon Forum at http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/ . Some people there are experts on weapons from the Philippines.

 

[Chris Meyer]

You might want to post about your Kampilan on the Ethnographic Edged Weapon Forum at http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/ . Some people there are experts on weapons from the Philippines.

Thanks, I had forgotten about them. I'll try posting there too.

 

[saint o'killers]

hi Chris...that's a great find find, but it is not that old...older pieces are much longer in length, and looking at the fork or tip end of the blade, the two little things that stick out on top are much to perfect...older pieces will have a slight diamond shape. there are variants of kampilans: ones without the fork and look much more like Dayak swords of Malay/Indonesia. the carvings on the handles look modern...lack of carving doesn't necessarily indicate new some are very simple...but this guard is missing staples or iron guards on the side of the wooden guard. considering that the handle is two different types of wood...it may have been refurbished. this is a fairly common thing being that the climate and types of chores these weapons go thru is not exactly that forgiving.

i hope this helps and here's a photo of my old kampilan.


btw...mine recently sold $575 which is a fair price for a complete sword-meaning with scabbard. the "break-away" scabbards are almost non-existant for most of these swords.