MOP pommel kris

[Battara]

Our own Naga Basuki got this puppy - at this price what are your thoughts?:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fine-Moro-Kris-S...QQcmdZViewItem

[Rick]

I like the pace at which my high quality kris collection is appreciating .

[Ian]

Hi battara:

If the general view of MOP on hilts is true, i.e. MOP is a decoration dating mostly to the second half of the 20th C., then the hilt may not be very old, although I think the blade is probably older than that.

The price seems more related to the inscription on this kris than the nice MOP-covered kakatua. If this kris was indeed a gift from a prominent datu (a buf "if' IMO), then the price may be appropriate. I hope Naga B. got a great deal.

Ian.

[Bill M]

Will let y'all know more when I get it. Accidently got in a last minute snipe bump with my good friends Dave and Lonna. They have one of the finest collections of Moro, mandau and Nias swords I have ever seen!

I am hoping the inscriptions prove out, but it was my wife that fell in love with this. I also know the seller and he is a really good guy. He bought this 20 years ago.

Getting more interested in quality Moro kris. Email me if you have some that you would like to sell.

You may see another post here of an older one of mine that Dave thinks may be 17th c.

[mross]

Originally Posted by Bill Marsh

but it was my wife that fell in love with this.

Bill,
On the kris, nice grab. Well worth the price. I was thinking about it but my wife would have killed me. She wants an entertainment center.

On your wife, please tell me what you are feeding her so I can get some
for my wife!!! She just looks at most of my stuff and says "It's just a
piece of steel" Women. You have a gem there, both the kris and the wife!

[kino]

Bill,Here is a Kris of mine that is somewhat similar to yours. I posted it once before. It has MOP scales over ivory. While your inscriptions read "Datu Mupar", my blade has "Datu Mudor", same person perhaps??? The dimensions is somewhat on the small side. Although I'm not very sure, I believe my blade is of one piece construction. It is well made, not touristy at all.

I too have witnessed Dave and Lonna's amazing collection of edged weapons. I think it's the best out there. If any of you ever get a chance to see it, you won't be disappointed.

[Bill M]

Originally Posted by kino

Bill,Here is a Kris of mine that is somewhat similar to yours. I posted it once before. It has MOP scales over ivory. While your inscriptions read "Datu Mupar", my blade has "Datu Mudor", same person perhaps??? The dimensions is somewhat on the small side. Although I'm not very sure, I believe my blade is of one piece construction. It is well made, not touristy at all.

I too have witnessed Dave and Lonna's amazing collection of edged weapons. I think it's the best out there. If any of you ever get a chance to see it, you won't be disappointed.

Thanks Kino,

I hope that mine will be of good quality also. Will post some pictures when I get it.

Dave and Lonna have probably the finest collection of Nias Balatto (Lonna calls them "powerball" swords) in one place I have ever seen. Also a stellar collection of Mandau and Moro. They even have the Moro swords on the COVER of Cato's book!

AND a patterned blade kaskara that must have been made for a king.

BUT they just will not sell their really high end swords. And I don't blame them!

[mross]

Originally Posted by Bill Marsh

Thanks Kino,


Dave and Lonna have probably the finest collection of Nias Balatto (Lonna calls them "powerball" swords) in one place I have ever seen. Also a stellar collection of Mandau and Moro. They even have the Moro swords on the COVER of Cato's book!

Ok, I have to ask so please excuse my ignorance. Who are Dave and Lonna?

[Bill M]

Originally Posted by mross

Ok, I have to ask so please excuse my ignorance. Who are Dave and Lonna?

Dave and Lonna are very big in the ethnographic weapons arena. Particularly with the Nias, Moro, and Dayak.

They have been collecting 30 years or more.

A delightful couple, warm, caring and sharing. Anne and I spent an afternoon with them last year. Our dog, Chumley decided to make a Moro shield they had, all his. They were very gracious about cleaning it off. Dave really fell in love with Chumley, the black, white and tan spaniel.

They know EVERY high end collector and dealer in the world -- well maybe not in the world, but if a high end ethnographic collector or dealer has been around a few years, they willl know each other.

They live near San Fancisco. They travel to local knife and gun shows and set up incredible displays of edged weapons. Museum quality.

Their knowledge of these weapons is encyclopedic.

They sell good, quality pieces, in the $500 to $1,000 range.

They do not have a website, nor catalog, nor gallery. nor studio. I don't think that they travel anywhere outside driving range of San Farncisco. It woud be difficult to carry the load on an ariplane!

You will only be able to see their pieces by going to a gun or knife show. But Anne and I have considered making a trip to California just to see them at a gun show. They are that good.

Some day we hope to have a digital camera in their hands.

I do not have their permission to release their email address, but will ask them how people may contact them.

I hope to see some posts from them on this Forum. You hear that Lonna? Toodles from Bill, Anne and the doggies.

[Battara]

Bill post your new puppy when you get it - I think it is nice.

Kino - are those parts gold or gold overlay on your wonderful kris?

[kino]

Battara, A jewelrer told me it was plated. Is it the same as overlay?

[CharlesS]

I saw this one too, and let it go...but would not have paid that price.

I agree with Ian completely. This is a nice older kriss blade that has been re-hilted mid 20th Cent. or later in my opinion. Nothing unusual about that at all, but that does shock me a little regarding the final price.

We all have different likes and dislikes regarding various elements of the field/hobby we all love. Value has to be relative for each of us since "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". I have come to realize over the last four years, for instance, that some of the dhas I like most are not nearly as old as had orginally been thought(thanks for rocking my world Mark, Ian and Andrew!! )

This piece certainly has its merits as ethnographic art.

[CharlesS]

...btw, Dave and Lonna are "the deal"....great folks. And the seller of the piece is one of the best edged weapons dealers on Ebay in terms of honesty and helpfulness, again IMO.

[Bill M]

Originally Posted by CharlesS

...btw, Dave and Lonna are "the deal"....great folks. And the seller of the piece is one of the best edged weapons dealers on Ebay in terms of honesty and helpfulness, again IMO.

Hi Charles,

Maybe we saw something there that others missed? It has happened before.

[Battara]

Originally Posted by kino

Battara, A jewelrer told me it was plated. Is it the same as overlay?

Actually not. Modern gold plating is a very thin microscopic veneer of gold layer. I consider overlay an actual sheet of gold (obviously much thicker) that is placed on top. You may want to ask the jeweler to clarify what he/she means by "plating". A good question.

[kino]

I have been given permission by Lonna, Dave's boss (sorry Dave but I have
to tell it like it is ), to post a couple of photos of their marvelous display. Sorry folks none of these items are for sale, believe me I tried many times. I get the same answer "maybe in the near future but not now".
This is only a small portion of their display. Somehow I misplaced the other photos. This will give you an idea of what they have. They have great knowledge on ethnographic arms and armor. If you have any questions or just to discuss what you have feel free to contact them at mycuriousthings@aol.com.

[Bill M]

a few more from Dave and Lonna

[Battara]

W W!

Crap....drooled on the keyboard again.

Thank you and them for sharing the pictures (envy, envy, grumble, grumble...)

[ariel]

Even the two with the "Persian" handles are Moro? Any chance to see the entire swords?
Especially the last one, with the T-spine.

[Bill M]

Originally Posted by ariel

Even the two with the "Persian" handles are Moro? Any chance to see the entire swords?

Especially the last one, with the T-spine.

Dave and Lonna collect from many different areas besides Moro. I don't remember much about the individual pieces as I was overwhelmed by the beauty and power of their collection.

It is one chill after another to handle pieces of this quality!

This was not a formal picture shoot. They were just handing me pieces and I was taking pictures. The grey background you see was the hood of their van. The blue background was a towel. I will look through my pictures and see where the "T" Spine is and see if there is an overall of it.