Kampilan

The "kampilan" is a long sword widely used in the pre-conquest Philippine Archipelago and still in use by many Filipino Muslims today, especially by the Maguindanao and Maranao "moros". The term "kampilan" is known all over the archipelago, but it describes various types of swords. Mactan chieftain Lapu-Lapu and his warriors were reported to have wielded this weapon to great effect when they fought against Ferdinand Magellan in the Battle of Mactan on April 27, 1521. The sword is mentioned in ancient Filipino epics such as the Hinilawod of the Hiligaynons.

The "kampilan" is single-edged and about 34 to 40 inches long. The hilt is quite long to counterbalance the weight and length of the blade. Most hilts are of hardwood, invariably with the same shape: a cross guard ("sampak") and a pommel shaped in an animal's wide open mouth, be it a crocodile or "bakonawa", with "okir" carvings. Some "kampilan" have goat hair tassels attached to the hilt.

The blade is thick and narrow at its base but gets thinner and wider to the truncated point. Some blades have a spike at the point. Original "kampilan" have a laminated blade with a central layer of steel; some older examples show a "pamor" specific to the Moro pattern-welding process. A competently-forged "kampilan" has a blade tough and versatile enough to hack off limbs, cut through vegetation and even lumber.

ee also

*Kris
*Klewang
*Kalis

References

*http://perso.wanadoo.fr/taman.sari/swords/klewang/kampilan/kampilan.htm

External links

* [http://www.traditionalfilipinoweapons.com/filipino.Kampilan.htm Traditional Filipino Weapons]