Bolo knife
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A bolo is a general term for traditional pre-colonial small to medium-sized single-edged swords or large knives of the Philippines that function both as tools and weapons. They are characterized by a wide curved blade that narrows down to the hilt, and comes with a pointed or a blunt tip. Bolos are common tools in the Philippines and are often compared to the machete.
Top: A typical bolo from Luzon; Bottom: Lumad bolos with sheaths from Mindanao in the National Museum of Anthropology
Bolos and related tools: (1) An all-purpose bolo; (2) A haras or lampas scythe; (3) A punyál knife; (4) A small bolo; (5) A guna; (6) A garab sickle; (7) A pinutî sword; (8) A súndang or iták sword (also "tip bolo")
The Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan depicting the Katipunan and the Philippine Revolution
Bolo given to Captain Lewis A. Kimberly, Commander of USS Beneica by the Governor of Cebu
Kampilan
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The kampilan is a type of single-edged sword, traditionally used by various ethnic groups in the Philippine archipelago. It has a distinct profile, with the tapered blade being much broader and thinner at the point than at its base, sometimes with a protruding spikelet along the flat side of the tip. The design of the pommel varies between ethnic groups, but it usually depicts either a buaya (crocodile), a bakunawa, a kalaw (hornbill), or a kakatua (cockatoo)..
Parts of a kampílan, written in Maguindanao and Maranao languages of Mindanao.
A kampilan with a crocodile pommel shown with the shorter kalis for comparison. The sheaths are also displayed.
The lamination (pattern welding) of the blade of this kampílan is clearly visible. A close-up view of the characteristic spikelet on the blade's tip is also shown.
Detail of the hilts of Moro kampílan, which typically have kalaw (hornbill) pommel designs.