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Another Filipino hand cannon (Phil.-Am. War)

The above is another Filipino hand cannon used during the Philippine-American War.

The Smithsonian Institute's description of the firearm is as follows:

Dimensions: 5" (12.7 cm) height x 49" (124.5 cm) width x 1.75" (4.4 cm) depth

Physical Description: Handmade Filipino gun

General History: Filipinos fighting the United State Army resorted to making their own firearms. This handmade gun harkens back to the earliest of firearms, the hand cannon. The gun was muzzle-loaded and the charge was set off by applying fire to a touch hole in the side of the barrel.

Related post: Filipino hand cannon (Phil.-Am. War)

Filipino hand cannon (Phil.-Am. War)

During the Philippine-American War, Filipino troops had a severe lack of firearms.

The American historian, Robert Fulton, estimated that only one out of four had firearms. Those without firearms fought with blades, which is not as bad as it looks given that most of the war was guerilla warfare fought in dense forest and fields.

Of those that had firearms, the weapons would mostly be Krag-Jørgensen, Springfield, and Mauser rifles. Occasionally, there were oddballs like the hand-cannon above.

The subject Filipino hand-cannon (on permanent display at the West Point Museum) was captured by the dismounted squadron of the 4th US Cavalry, on 10 April 1899 at Sta. Cruz, Laguna, Philippines.

Above are illustrations of 16th century European hand cannons. The source of the design of the 19th century Filipino hand cannon is obvious.

Related post: Another Filipino hand cannon (Phil.-Am. War)

Moro barung (barong) sword parts

Click on the image for a larger version.

A higher resolution version can be found HERE.

The reference used is the Tausug-English Dictionary (1994) by Irene Hassan, et al.

The sample barung's dimensions are -- overall length: 562 mm (22.1 inches); blade length: 410 mm (16.1 inches); and maximum blade thickness: 7 mm (1/4 inches).

Related posts: Moro kris parts and Moro kampilan sword parts

Moro kampilan sword parts

Click on the image for a larger version.

For an even higher resolution, please click HERE.

The reference used is Robert Cato's Moro Swords (1996).

The sample Moro kampilan's dimensions are -- overall length: 943 mm (37.1 inches); blade length: 689 mm (27.1 inches); and maximum blade thickness 7 mm (1/4" inch). The blade's lamination pattern can clearly be seen.

Related posts: Moro kris parts and Moro barung (barong) sword parts

Moro kris parts

Click on the above to view a larger image.

The higher resolution image can also be found HERE.

The references used are Moro Swords (1996) by Robert Cato and the Tausug-English Dictionary (1994) by Irene Hassan, et al.

The sample Moro kris' dimensions are -- overall length: 630 mm (24.8 inches) and blade length: 512 mm (20.1 inches).

The kakatua (cockatoo) shaped pommel is ivory and the hilt is made of pressed gold.

Related posts: Moro kampilan sword parts and Moro barung (barong) sword parts

The Iranun's (Ilanun) kampilan, Part 2

 

Like a few other Moro kampilans, the Iranuns' kampilan has no "eye" on the hilt.

Please refer to the earlier post, The Iranun's (Ilanun) kampilan.

Additionally, it appears that the hilts of Iranun kampilans are not typically wrapped in rattan or braided vine. Like all Moro swords however, the hilts are intricately designed with ukkil (okir) carvings.

 

 

 

In the present example, the blade tip does not have the typical spikelet. Rather, it has a multilateral spine as it terminates to the tip:

 

With regard to the holes and brass plugs on the kampilan's tip, various theories have been propounded on the matter.

Some say that they refer to the 'kills' made by the warrior. Others say they are for decoration. Perhaps another possibility is that they are made to lighten the sword and thereby improve its balance.

Yet another theory is that the holes being plugged with brass or bronze, it may have been believed that these alloys having been concocted by man would have power over evil spirits. This theory is from Prof. Nabayra of UP-Mindanao.

Or perhaps it is a combination of all of the above.

As for the series of S-shaped carvings on the edges of the hilt, they represent the naga or serpent. The combination of sun-bird and naga motifs are commonly found in Philippine pre-Islam and pre-Christian traditional design.

Related posts: [a] The Iranun's (Ilanun) kampilan; [b] The Iranuns' kampilan & panabas; [c] The Iranuns' kampilan & panabas, Part 2; and [d] The Iranun (Ilanun) Moro pirate

 

The Iranun's (Ilanun) kampilan

The Iranuns' (Ilanuns) kampilan has a unique hilt (above).

The more common kampilan hilt has an "eye" near the gaping mouth of the surmised creature representing the bifurcated hilt:

One theory on the bifurcated hilt's representation is that it is a crocodile's wide open mouth.

This author believes that the bifurcated hilt represents the tail of a swift. The circle on the hilt sometimes comes with what appears to be a sunburst inside it. In Maranaw, bird tail is also called korona. Hence there seems to be a congruence in the interpretation of the bifurcated hilt being a bird tail, because the bird represents the sun god in pre-Islam Philippines.

Additionally, the hilts of the other Moro swords all represent the head of a bird, whether it's a kris, barung, pira, or bangkung. Thus, why would the kampilan be any different?

Related posts: [a] The Iranun (Ilanun) Moro pirate; [b] The Iranuns' kampilan & panabas; [c] The Iranuns' kampilan & panabas, Part 2; and [d] The Iranun's (Ilanun) kampilan, Part 2

The Iranuns' kampilan & panabas, Part 2

The above image shows clearer details of the Iranuns' kampilan, panabas, and shield.

Note the ornate carvings on the kampilan's hilt. The wood carvings are known in the Mindanao dialect as okir (ukkil). The sheathed kampilan on the left shows a tiger bell in the center of the plume of decorative hair.

The image below shows one type of Iranun sea raider boat.

The Iranun pirate was described as follows:

 

 

"Above the cabin is the fighting deck, upon which their heroes are placed, and upon any chance of action, they dress themselves in scarlet, and are equipped very much in the style of the armour furnished for the stage property of theatres, varying from steel plate to ring chain, or mail shirt. Their personal arms are generally the kris and spear, but they have also a huge sword, well known as the 'Lanoon sword', which has a handle sufficiently large to be wielded with two hands."

 

 

The 'Lanoon sword' is a kampilan.

Related posts: [a] The Iranun (Ilanun) Moro pirate; [b] The Iranuns' kampilan & panabas; [c] The Iranuns' (Ilanun) kampilan; [d] The Iranun's (Ilanun) kampilan, Part 2

The Iranuns' kampilan & panabas

One of the Iranun sea raiders' principal weapons is the kampilan. The Iranuns' beheading sword on the other hand is the traditional Moro panabas.

The Iranun kampilan above [from James Warren's Iranun and Balangingi: Globalization, Maritime Raiding and the Birth of Ethnicity] shows the typical kampilan traits: a bifurcated and ukkil-decorated hilt, and a blade point with spikelet that has two little protrusions.

The image originally appeared in Edward Belcher's Narrative of the voyage of HMS Samarang (1848):

 

Related posts: [a] The Iranun (Ilanun) pirate; [b] The Iranuns' kampilan & panabas, Part 2; [c] The Iranun's (Ilanun) kampilan; and [d] The Iranun's (Ilanun) kampilan, Part 2

The Iranun (Ilanun) Moro 'pirate'

 

The Iranun (Ilanun) 'pirates' of the mid-18th to early-19th century must have been the best during the outburst of sea raiding on the said period.

It has been said that these Iranun 'pirate-kidnapper's were so accomplished that they even kidnapped from time to time the notorious Bugis 'pirate-kidnappers' of southeast Asia (which area is now part of Malaysia).

It is also believed that the Malaysian word lanun for pirate originated from the word Ilanun.

Based in Ilana Bay in Mindanao, these Moro sea raiders have been variously called as Ilanun, Iranun, Illano, Ilano, Ilana, Hilalones, Illanum, Illanun, Ilanon, Illanoan, Illanoon, Iranon Maranao, Iranum, Lanoon, Lanun, Ylano, or simply Moros or Mohametanas.

Prof. James Warren devoted an entire book on the Iranuns' exploits -- Iranun and Balangingi: Globalization, Maritime Raiding and the Birth of Ethnicity (2002).

The Iranun sea raider's image above was lifted from Warren's book. It originally appeared in Frank Marryat's Borneo and the Indian Archipelago: with drawings of costume and scenery (1848).

The Iranun has on his right hand a sword that is yet to be identifed. Note that the sword has a curious kris-like crossguard.

On his waist is strapped a traditional Moro short sword, the kris, sheathed on its scabbard. On his left hand is the traditional Moro spear, the budiak (bujak).

Related posts: [a] The Iranuns' kampilan & panabas; [b] The Iranuns' kampilan & panabas, Part 2; [c] The Iranun's (Ilanun) kampilan; and [d] The Iranun's (Ilanun) kampilan, Part 2