Two Kris for comment, and a new member who's eager to learn.

[Rick]

Originally Posted by Rafngard

First of all, thank you very much for your welcome and your opinion. This is very helpful. Also, more pics are now posted.

Can I ask what some of the factors that brought to to that opinion are? Is some of it the shape of the gangya, in particular, what on a keris would be called the gerneng and the kembang kecang? Apologies if I'm misusing the terms, I haven't had much luck finding equivalent terms for the kris, though I admit I have yet to read Cato's book (used copies are rather cost prohibitive currently).

I'm eager to learn, and any help you can give this newbie would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again,
Leif

Hi Leif, welcome .
I think you would be well served by checking through the forum archives; there is treasure to be found there in both the Ethnographic and Keris forums .

Yes, the terminology is confusing, and many names for the same feature; what the Javanese would call the Greneng are the notches filed into the tail of the blade where it widens at the hilt .
Kembang Kacang relates to the features found on the opposite side from the Greneng specifically, IIRC, the part that looks like an elephant's trunk .
The differences in this feature area help to identify the tribal or island Moro groups .
I would agree with what Battara has observed about the two examples you have shown us .

[Rafngard]

Thank you both Rick and kronckew for your information.

I'm super happy to hear that the Maguindanao one seems to be early 20th century. I thought it might be latter.

I'm going to try the bleach test on the asang-asang on both of these in the next few days. It turns out there is a silver looking band under the leather.

Any opinions on whether or not it would be worth trying to etch them? The Maranao one in particular has sort of line down the middle that seems to be lighter colored, which makes me suspicious. I've found several recipes/procedures in the archives, but would be more than happy to hear anyone's recommendations.

A question on the Sulu or perhaps faux Sulu scabbard, any thoughts on the carvings? The lower ones seem rather touristy, but the one on the wranga looks stylistically different.

Also, I'm finding so much treasure in the archives here, and I feel like I'm only beginning to scratch the surface. This appears to be a very deep rabbit hole.

Have fun,
Leif