Title
Kampilan sword
Year/Period
Late 18th century
Region
Maranao or Maguindanao, Southern Mindanao
Object Type
swords
Material
whale bone (bone), steel (alloy)
Technique
metalworking, carving (processes)
Dimension
Object size: H:91.8 x W:13 x D:7 cm
Accession No.
2009-03159
Collection of
NLB Type
Cultural artefact
The kampilan is a massive two-handed sword usually found without a sheath. However, the blade could be wrapped with a sheet of bark or a simple sheath made of two pieces of wood and bound with a thin natural fibre string or rattan lashing which allows the scabbard to be cut through easily and the weapon be drawn more quickly. The hilt is usually forked and may have been thought as representing the opened jaws of a crocodile or the tail of the swiftlet. Kampilan hilts can be completely silver plated, or made of rare materials such as ivory or bone.
