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.)

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f24/hephaestus61/knives/Kampilan-03.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f24/hephaestus61/knives/Kampilan-02.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f24/hephaestus61/knives/Kampilan-handle.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f24/hephaestus61/knives/Kampilan-handle-06.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f24/hephaestus61/knives/Kampilan-point.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f24/hephaestus61/knives/Kampilan-point-04.jpg

I have no idea what the purpose of your knife was, but do salute the bladesmith who made it, the filipino bladesmiths were very creative and this is an example of a well built specialist.

Some similar ones here http://old.blades.free.fr/

Blades of this type were actually for a dual purpose: 1) defense, 2) for harvesting of sugar cane. When I was stationed at Clark A.B. in the 70's you could have them made by the Negritto's on base for about $50.00. The Negritto's were some of the true Philippine natives. They were also one of the native tribes that saved many an American during WWII hiding downed pilots from the Japaneese during the war. I still Have a Philippine fighting knife that I had made by them. Most of the steel was of leaf springs and were made very well.
Curtis Wilson Ret USAF

Neat info Curtis. Thanks for contributing that. How bout a pic of that fighter?

No it's crap, but I'll double your money for it. Just teasing! I would be in hog heaven finding a kampilan like that for $28.00 I'm no authority on Phillipine blades, but have developed a great appreciation for them. I'm thinking that may be one made for the tourist market, due to the minimal imbellishment on the handle. They usually are pretty ornate, but again, I'm really just barely past the novice stage in my knowledge. They were true swords, but may have been used for utilitarian purposes as the other fellow stated. There is a bronze statue of one of the Phillipines heros, Sultan Kudarat, in Makati, Metro-Manila, holding his kampilan in one hand, and his other hand on a kris still sheathed in his waist sash. Nice score!:101

I have a phillipino friend here at work who I made a Phillipine inspired blade for, based on a traditional piece. He'd be very interested in this sword. Let me know if it hits the market.

In 1979, I was the Air Staff Officer with a Marine Amphibious Unit (MAU) aboard the USS Tarawa. During a two week port visit to the Philippines (Subic Bay) I decided to teach some of the ground marines how to control close air support. The Navy had a bombing range up the coast called Wild Horse Canyon. I scheduled some Marine attack aircraft from Iwakuni, Japan to work with us and arranged for one of the MAU’s helos to take us up to the Observation Point at the mouth of the canyon. When scheduling the range I found out that there was a requirement to insure the range of clear of all people. It seems that the local would hide out in the canyon during any bombing practice so they could spot any duds that landed. Afterwards they would dig up the bombs (usually MK82 500lb general purpose and sometimes Snake Eyes (same bomb with retarding fins), drill a hole in the outer case, build a fire under the bomb and melt out the explosive (composition ‘B’ I think). They would then salvage the metal and either sell it or make a variety of tools, knives, etc.

Anyway we cleared the area and announced over a megaphone attached to the chopper that we would just be shooting guns (20mm canon) and rockets (2.75ff rockets). The Philippine Constables that accompanied use said that was the best way to get people out – no salvage value to either 20mm or rockets. We had a successful day of training and left.
A few days later I found some of these folks that made the knives, and purchased a couple for souvenirs (many were made for tourists ;-). See attached photo

There is an unfortunate ending to this TRUE story. Two weeks after our training some Navy A7s used the range for bombing. One A7 dropped a stick of 6 MK82s, one of which went long – still within the range boundaries but at the far edge. It just happened to hit right where 3 locals were hiding in a spider hole. The blast killed the one nearest the mouth of the hole, critically wounded the second and deafened the third.

What some people will do to make knives.