Very unusual presentation kris/keris—Malay?

[Ian]

This one appears on the Oriental-Arms old web site as sold item number 10593. Here is how Artrzi Yarom described it:

The blade of this Kris sword is early, probably late 18 C, Straight, 18 inches long, nicely fullered and show its age. The handle is carved from a single massive honey colored horn, mounted with white metal bands and collar. Later made scabbard, probably early 20 C., nicely carved wood with chased brass bands and a silver monogram. Two silver plates at the top of the scabbard show faint engraving in Arabic letters. Total length 28 inches. Very good condition. Good age patina on the blade. A small hole in the center of the fuller.

Artzi is very conservative with his dating of Moro kris, and late 18th C is as early as he dates any Moro kris on this site. Thus, a very experienced dealer thinks this is an old kris from direct inspection of the item.

However, I don't believe this is a Moro example. The pommel is similar to many Moro hilts of the 19th C, although the same style of hilt is seen on Malay kris. There are other features of this sword, however, that are atypical of a Moro kris, and I won't go into great detail about why it is not a Moro kris. Here are some features that seem atypical to me for a Moro kris:

• absence of asang-asang (never had one)
• very narrow curved ferrule
• sekar kasang abuts directly on to the gandhik (a feature more in keeping with Balinese keris I believe, and I don't recall seeing this on a Moro kris)
• an elliptical hole through the blade just above the sogokan
• uncommonly long sogokan
• atypical scabbard and carving

I think this is more likely a Malay kris, but I'm interested to hear the opinions of our keris/Malay experts. I'm very interested in hearing age estimates for this blade given Artzi's assessment.

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