"Early" Moro kris

[Ian]

Looking at old fighting versions of Moro kris, I believe this one is a no-frills example from no later than the early-mid 19th C. The gandik area suggests that this is a Maranao blade. There are no sogokan or blumbangan.

The blade length is 48.0 cm (19.0 in) and OAL is 58.8 cm (23.1 in). The ivory kakatua pommel with side panel is diminutive, measuring just under 3.8 cm (1.5 in.) from tip of the "beak" to tip of the "crest."

The scabbard has a nice old banati wood cross piece, but the remainder of the scabbard has been replaced with an unattractive hardwood. The scabbard toe is tilted up and the corresponding smaller back piece has broken off. This is an old scabbard style.

Indicators of age are the relatively short blade, the diminutive pommel, and the scabbard style.
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[Battara]

Looks like silver wire at the bottom that had a silver band over it. And the top looks like it was a later addition, perhaps the whole wrap is, over the silver wire wrap underneath.

Nice honest piece.

[Ian]

Thanks Jose. I think that the fiber cord wrap does cover an underlying silver wire wrap. The handle feels thicker than usual. Unfortunately, the wood core has a break near the middle of the grip and the handle has quite a lot of play in it as a result.

[Battara]

For comparison, here is my twist core early kris. The hilt also has a rattan/silver wire wrap over an earlier wrap.

Notes: 1. the scabbard is not original to the kris but fits well, 2. I made the bottom ferrule to replace a missing one.

[Ian]

Nice example Jose. Your scabbard has a complete version of the one on mine. Another minimal kakatua pommel with "thick" overlapped wrapping on the grip.