Philippine? ID, Please

[Ian]

Agree with Tom and Derek -- recent work from Mindanao. The brass on the hilt and scabbard are typical of late 20th C. work coming from Lanao del Sur and perhaps other areas in Muslim Mindanao. The scabbard and blade are a poor fit; possibly a marriage. The crooked hilt (of bone) is reminiscent of a kawali from Sulawesi. Bugis hilts are often similarly angled.

This style of crooked hilt is seen commonly on recent "Sultan's" kris from Mindanao, some of them quite well made and with decent materials. I have heard of two brothers in Lanao del Sur who specialize in making high end small kris, often using ivory and gold decorations. Some unscrupulous dealers in Manila attempt to sell their work as antiques for several thousands of dollars. Poor quality blades are the norm on these recently made pieces, and an important indicator for the careful buyer that these are not the real deal. Nice examples of modern craftmanship on the hilts and scabbards, just not antiques. Caveat emptor!