Description

Blade Length:27.25″

Overall Length: 37.5″

One must understand and study the various blades of any culture to understand what truly lies
within its heart and soul. The Philippines archipelago has been home to a lot of legendary and
fierce warriors for hundreds of years. This is why we feel so intrigued to examine and study the
mighty arms they put their faith in. One sword, one blade and one strike set the difference
between life and death. One swing could set a warrior on a proud path of being carried on
shoulders or could send him directly to his coffin.

The Kampilan is a mighty sword that is so distinctive from a lot of blades. It has always had a
special place in the Filipino history. Forged with pride, the Kampilan is believed to be the sword
that struck down the famous explorer, Ferdinand Magellan, at the hands of the legendary Chief,
Lapu-lapu.
Lapu- lapu

Lapu-Lapu was a ruler of Mactan in the Visayas. Modern Philippine society regards him as the
first Filipino hero because he was the first native to resist Imperial Spanish colonization.

He is best known for the Battle of Mactan that happened at dawn on April 27, 1521, where he
and his soldiers defeated Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan. The battle ended up in the
killing of Magellan and the end of his expedition and it delayed the Spanish occupation of the
islands by over forty years until the expedition of Miguel López de Legazpi in 1564.
The Maranao kampilan or sword is a single-edged bicuspid weapon that has an ornate handle
made of brass and ivory. There are strands of human hair hanging at the bottom of the handle
to decorate the sword handle. It is believed that the Maranao of Lanao del Sur used this sword
as a weapon to “cut off heads and for splitting the body from top to toe.”

They are considered the national weapon of the Moros of Sulu & Mindanao. History shows a
single swinging motion (like a baseball bat swing), can chop two heads ( what these swords are
designed for) at a time. It is believed to be the longest sword carried by the Filipino warriors.

The handle is shaped like a jaw of reptile lizards and alligator makes this sword unique in
appearance. Nobody is really quite sure whether the serpent on these weapons represents a
crocodile, a dragon, a snake, Bakunawa (a mythical creature known to eat the moon), or other
mythical Naga (Baybayin word for a deity or class of entity, taking the form of a very great snake
or serpent).

Today, the kampilan is used among the datu and sultan as a symbol of power, wealth and status
and is manufactured purely as a commercialized item.