My latest piece, a Moro? Kris.
 

After a few years of chasing after one of these, I finally got one. Ideas and suggestions as to actual origin, and age are welcome, as are any comments and insights. They are rather fearsome pieces in the hand, are they not. Quite one of the sharpest blades I have ever handled. Pictures are of as it is now, and not of the best focused as I was a little rushed, and using my phone'. Blade cleaning to be done at leisure.

Nice, should clean up well. Is that grip wrapped in leather?

Looks like a good solid fighter to me.

Yes, leather thong. Not my doing, there when I bought it. I suspect it's a replacement for the original wrap.

Hi David.

Nice old kris. The blade is likely 19th C. although you will know more after giving it a clean. The hilt looks like it is late 19th or early 20th C. The hilt might be a replacement. The leather wrap is not rare, I've seen other examples, but I don't know if it was a traditional material or added later by someone not from the culture (perhaps by a US serviceman). The leather appears to have been there for a while.

Ian.

I asked, as my best kris has a leather thong wrapped grip too!

David, I would also add that this looks to be Maguindanao.

Thank you. Exactly what I was hoping for, a more informed opinion as to origin. Moro was a bit of a default description as I am not very knowledgeable about this area of the World. But I am impressed by the variety and quality of the weapons from there..

Replace?
 

The Marlinspike Sailor could be very useful for step by step instructions on how to do a more classic weave for the handles of these swords. Could be a good winter project. :shrug:
The book is cheap used on Amazon; about $8-10 .

I am not going to fiddle with the grip. I will just clean the blade up and perhaps do a test etch, before making any decisions. These things have a history that runs all the way up to when they arrive at a dealers table. It would be a pity to remove its last working wrap just to put on it my idea of what it should have.