Original 19th Century / Early 20th Century Philippines T’Boli People Kampilan Sword With Scabbard – Rare Variation Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a wonderful example of a rare variant of the Filipino Kampilan sword. This type of variation was seen being used by the T’Boli People, an Austronesian ethnic group native to South Cotabato in the southern Mindanao region of the Philippines. T’bolis currently reside on the mountain slopes on either side of the upper Alah Valley and the coastal area of Maitum, Maasim and Kiamba in the province of Sarangani. In former times, the T’bolis also resided in the upper floor of the Alah Valley. After World War II and the arrival of settlers from other parts of the Philippines, they have been gradually pushed to the mountain slopes. As of now, they have almost been expelled from the fertile valley floor.

“Kampilan” is the term most commonly used for the sword in the Tagalog, Ilocano and Visayan languages. It simply means “sword”. It is known by other names in other ethnic groups in the Philippines including Kapampangan talibong or talibon; Maranao kifing; Iranun parang kampilan; and T’boli tok and kafilan.

The laminated steel blade of the kampílan is single-edged, and usually made from Damascus steel pattern welding process, though not this example, and is easily identified by its tapered profile, narrowest near the hilt and gently widening until its truncated point. The blade’s spikelet has led to the description of the kampílan in some documents as “dual-tipped” or “double-tipped” and can be clearly seen at the end of the blade.

The hilt is quite long in order to counterbalance the weight and length of the blade and is made of hardwood. As with the blade, the design of the hilt’s profile is relatively consistent from blade to blade. The hilt is sometimes wrapped with rattan to improve the grip. At times the hilt was bound to the hand by a talismanic piece of cloth to prevent slippage. Sometimes a chain mail covering was attached to prevent the hand from injury. Almost all kampílan originally had large metal staples protruding from the cross guard above the grip.

Kampilan hilts are typically made from hardwood, but expensive examples that belonged to datu are covered in silver sheet or are entirely manufactured out of expensive materials such as horn or bone. Like the blade, they may possess small holes at the tips and edges which can have attachments like the bells you see on this example, metal chains, or animal or human hair tassels. Some kampilan hilts, especially among the Lumad, can also be made entirely of brass. The hilt on this example is of very ornate brass.

The scabbard is usually made of cheap wood and is bound with simple rattan or fiber lashings. When the sword needs to be used immediately, the sword bearer will simply strike with the sheathed sword and the blade will cut through the lashings, thereby effecting a quick, tactical strike without the need to unsheathe the sword.

Scabbards are unadorned and are often disposable when going into battle. Some scabbards were also made of bamboo or were made with a handle that allowed half of the scabbard to serve as a small shield.

This scabbard however is also very ornate with beautiful carvings, a gold colored chain as a means of wearing the sword, what appears to be horse hair and just like the hilt of the kampilan it also has bells. This was most likely a ceremonial Kampilan or a status figure.

The overall condition of this beautiful set is quite nice. There is a light coating of rust present on the blade and tarnishing on the hilt but is otherwise in very nice condition.

A lovely example that comes more than ready for further research and display.

Dimensions:
Blade length: 20”
Blade Style: Single Edged “machete” style
Overall length: 26 3/4”
Scabbard length: 21 1/2″