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Originally Posted by Ian
Hello Maurice,
Interesting kris you show. I think there are some style features that reflect different Moro groups, but mainly Sulu. The blade has shallow waves and is not very long (~19.5 in.). The shallow waves suggest second half of the 19th C, but the somewhat short blade would be consistent with a little earlier. So mid- to late-19th C seems about right.
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Hello Ian,
thank you for adding your expertise on my moro kris. Good to now that the features probably tend towards Sulu, and the kris is about 160 years old.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian
The shallow waves suggest a possible Sulu origin because my own research has found that such blades are more commonly in Sulu dress than Mindanao, at least on the examples I have found from various sources on the internet.
The elephant trunk area is consistent with some older Sulu kris. I can see why Detlef thought it might be Maranao/Mindanao because of the slight bulge to the gandhik, but Maranao "tusks" are horizontal while this one is tilted down somewhat. Nevertheless, Detlef could be correct. The engraved asang asang is usually a Maranao trait but is seen also on a few Sulu kris.
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Ok, I will add this information in my database concerning this kris. I handled not enough moro krisses and didn't study them well to come to these conclusions. So therefore your info is of great value to me. I have seen engraved silver 'asang asang' before on (what I thought) was a Sulu kris. It also had a diminutive 'kakatua' pommel like this, and also silver woven bands around the handle.
How can I differentiate 'shallow waves' from 'deeper waves'?
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Originally Posted by Ian
The diminutive kakatua pommel with side panels is found widely on Moro kris during the 19th C, including Sulu and Mindanao examples. This small style seems to have been favored on combat weapons rather than weapons to display your self-importance. A small pommel likely had some practical value.
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I can imagine that larger pommels could not be very convenient and 'userfriendly' when in a combat, though the Yungayan types of pommels are huge, they still where made for the real deal (though a bit clumsy).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian
The grip of the hilt is mostly in a basket-weave pattern, and I believe this style is mainly used on Sulu kris. The silver wire work looks oversize for the rest of the hilt (especially the pommel), and I suspect it was a replacement.The break to the wooden core of the grip is a fairly common finding. I have several examples. Perhaps the silver wire wrap was intended to provide some splinting for the break.
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That's something I could remember from Cato's work about the silver wire work being Sulu specialty. I'm not ure that the silver wire wrap was intended to provide some splinting for the beak. I could imagine that when they removed the fiber binding, they would not replace it for silver wire without repairing the broken handle itself. And also I've seen silver wired moro kris handles without broken handles, but with a similar diminutive pommel like this one.
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Originally Posted by Ian
The scabbard is a later replacement from the 20th C when MOP inlays were fashionable, especially post WWII. You note that the kris does not fit very well in the scabbard and I suspect that it was not made for this sword.
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Yes, that is what I thought also. Probably not made for this sword because of the bad fit, but added somewhere in the middle of the 20th century, or matched more recent with a 20thC scabbard.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian
Overall, this looks a well made kris for someone of modest wealth. It was made for use and not for show, although the addition of the silver wrap to the hilt may have been for bling as well as function.
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I'm glad with your expertise. Thank you very much for your help. I like old warrior blades!
Kind regards,
Maurice