Whistlinbill's Collection #1: Kris

[Lee]

I expect that most younger collectors, at least those in the USA, will have heard those of us with graying hair speak of times past when ethnographic arms and armour were cheap and abundant, showing up regularly at local gun shows, and consisting largely of 'orphaned' soldier and tourist bring-backs. In those times, the ethnographic arms collector likely had only one reference - Stone's Glossary.

I have received a CD of photos of one collection built up over the past forty years by a member new to these forums, but not to the world of edged weapons. The user name, whistlinbill, substitutes for a name many would recognize as an author in the field whose works we have relied upon and I suspect that will be revealed in due course.

There are dozens of group photos on the CD which, rather than to put out all at once as an overwhelming bolus, I will trickle out in a hope of maximizing comment and discussion.

[Rick]

Maranao ? , I like the multiple fullers on the left hand example; not to mention the sepokal-like curve to the blade; wonder if that one might be Sulu ... .

Nice start .

[VANDOO]

ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO LOOK AT NICE KRIS
AT FIRST GLANCE A NOVICE MIGHT CONSIDER THESE 5 EXAMPLES TO BE MUCH ALIKE. BUT ON CLOSER OBSERVATION THERE ARE A LOT OF VARIABLES REPRESENTED HERE.
FROM THE TOP DOWN,4 EXAMPLES HAVE COCATOOA POMELS AND M5 HAS A HORSEHOOF POMMEL.
M3 AND M4 HAVE METAL COLLARS BETWEEN THE POMMEL AND GRIP IS THIS A MARANO FEATURE?.
M1 AND M5 HAVE ROUND GRIPS WHILE M2,M3,M4 HAVE ROUGHLY RETANGULAR GRIPS.
M3, M4, M5 HAVE METAL FERRULES THE OTHER 2 DO NOT.
M5 STILL HAS 2 BACA BACA STRAPS, M2 HAS ONE BACA BACA AND EITHER A WIRE OR FIBER STRAP.
ALL KRIS APEAR TO HAVE SEPARATE GAURD OR GANJA.
THE FILE WORK ON THE GAURD SIDE (GANGYA) THOUGH SIMULAR IS A BIT DIFFERENT ON EACH KRIS M5 BEING THE MOST ELABORATE.
THE OTHER SIDE (GANGYA, SAME NAME) HAS WHAT IS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS THE ELEPHANTS HEAD AND THE CURLED PART BEING THE TRUNK. THERE IS QUITE A VARIATY OF FORM AND WORKMANSHIP SHOWN HERE. I OFTEN WONDER IF THERE IS ANY RELATION IN THIS DESIGN TO THE VERY SIMPLE BY COMPARISON KAUDI IN KUKRI FROM NEPAL AND INDIA. ?
THE BLADES M1 AND M5 STRAIGHT I LIKE THE FULLERS AND DECORATIONS ON THESE TWO BLADES. THE OTHER THREE M2 FULL WAVED BLADE, M3 HALF WAVED HALF STRAIGHT AND M4 PERHAPS 1 THIRD WAVED.
PERHAPS SOMEONE NEW TO THE MORO KRIS CAN LEARN FROM SUCH SIMPLE OBSERVATIONS. SORRY TO RAMBLE ON BUT I JUST COULDN'T SAY COOL AND LEAVE IT AT THAT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING SOME MORE OF THESE BEAUTYS.

[Spunjer]

beautiful krisses! these are the ones that worn daily by the common man. really like those ones with rattan grips

[whistlinbill]

Rick, thanks for your kind comments!
Bill Adams

Originally Posted by Rick

Maranao ? , I like the multiple fullers on the left hand example; not to mention the sepokal-like curve to the blade; wonder if that one might be Sulu ... .

Nice start .

[Sajen]

Very nice krisses! Have they sheaths?
Like the M1 with the fullers and the last one even if it not so old.

Regards,

Detlef

[Rick]

D'you suppose we could call this featurless Kakatua pommel unique to the Maranao group ?

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Rick

D'you suppose we could call this featurless Kakatua pommel unique to the Maranao group ?

Hi Rick,

I don't think that this are all Maranao kris. The "M" staying for Moro. Try to download the picture and you will see. I think the most are Maguindanao.

Regards,

Detlef