Unusual Moro Sword for discussion
 

This is another odd one that I've had for 20 years. The blade profile has been referred to as a Sulu pira (nothing to do with the pira of Yakan/Basilan). The dress, however, is distinctly odd.

The hilt may be a variant of the naga form, or perhaps a flower bud, with a brass punto. There is also a small upturned brass guard, which is distinctly odd for a Moro sword. The scabbard has okir carving resembling Maranao work, with remnants of colored paint decoration. There is also a drilled-through belt holder, again unusual for a Moro sword.

Putting this together, the best I can come up with is that we have a Moro blade dressed in Zamboanga, with the contributions of a Maranao carver. The small guard and belt holder have been seen on other Moro pieces believed to come from Zamboanga.

Those are my thoughts. Would be interested to hear what others think.


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Hello Ian,

That's an interesting riddle!

The blade seems roughly forged which doesn't vibe with any old Moro style IMHO. However, with these more modern pieces (around WW2?), this may not be a decisive criterion anymore...

The guard seems to follow the scabbard rather than function, too.

I'd look into other possible Lumad origins across Mindanao.

Regards,
Kai

Received via email:

"Btw regarding your odd Moro sword posted on the forum- it was made in Tugaya, by the Maranao. The clue is in the ferrule (same style/materials as those on gunong), the okir on the scabbard, and the inward-turning guard. They always used that weird misplaced guard on their swords."

Good insights right there casual reader.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=20835

Thanks Gavin. I forgot about that old post eight years ago. Maranao it is.

I have already seen 3 close blades, with a handle of the same general shape (but without detail) which was identified as Minangkabau.
The handle does more Sumatra for me. but there are so many influences that intersect in these regions that it is not always easy to know.

Here is one of the 3 examples of which I found the photo on the internet. The other two had a handle closer to Ian's

That is a beautiful and refined knife. The whole piece looks like Sumatran influence. The tang/handle junction is different than Ian's which seems like it would change how the blade handles.

I beg to differ, Séverin: Neither the hilts nor the blade shapes are really close relatives. And, as mentioned by IP, the bolster is a different construction compared to the guard+ferrule.

What you're referring to is a whole family of antique blades from central Sumatra while Ian's modern piece is made in Tugaya - apparently not based on any specific ancestral Maranao blade. It might have been an early attempt to copy (or mix influences) which ended in the fantasy pieces being produced in Tugaya since the later 20th c.

Regards,
Kai

Have to agree Séverin, I don't see any great resemblance, sorry. :shrug: