Yet Another Moro Kriss

Jazz · 23rd July 2007, 04:27 AM

Bill, it appears as if the pommels on our kriss is identical; as a matter of fact, it is! what's your humble opinion in regards to the age of your kriss? I would be interested to know if you don't mind.

Kai, very interesting observation. Yes, smaller pommels has been utilized in the 20th century, and by no means I'm inferring that it's an earlier century monopoly, it's just that this certain style somehow are more common with the earlier krisses. As far as the Maranao bulge: this kriss is interesting in that it's angled enough to be mistaken as Sulu, but yet the small bulge (see picture above) kinda threw it off, hence my theory that this is an earlier form of a Maranao bulge, IMHO...

Please keep the comments coming guys. This is indeed a very interesting topic.

kai · 23rd July 2007, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Bill, it appears as if the pommels on our kriss is identical; as a matter of fact, it is!

Just quite - there are subtle differences in both!

Quote:

As far as the Maranao bulge: this kriss is interesting in that it's angled enough to be mistaken as Sulu, but yet the small bulge (see picture above) kinda threw it off, hence my theory that this is an earlier form of a Maranao bulge, IMHO...

It seems to be the other way round: the angled mouth/beak makes it Sulu - (regardless wether there is a bulge or not: it seems that the Maranao modified an already existing design). However, like in all things Moro, there will be probably exceptions...

Regards,
Kai

Battara · 25th July 2007, 05:33 PM

I'm with Kai on this - this is a Sulu blade.

Also the inlay I agree is probably snake scales, but near the top is not jawi but okir decoration - very common on these in this way.

A very nice piece.

Shame some of the inlay is coming out.

On the "elephant" I have seen the exact same thing on those of early 20th century pieces (I even had one once).

As far as the pommels are concerned, it is the very small ones that seem to be older in general.

23rd July 2007, 04:27 AM	#1
Jazz Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 44	Bill, it appears as if the pommels on our kriss is identical; as a matter of fact, it is! what's your humble opinion in regards to the age of your kriss? I would be interested to know if you don't mind. Kai, very interesting observation. Yes, smaller pommels has been utilized in the 20th century, and by no means I'm inferring that it's an earlier century monopoly, it's just that this certain style somehow are more common with the earlier krisses. As far as the Maranao bulge: this kriss is interesting in that it's angled enough to be mistaken as Sulu, but yet the small bulge (see picture above) kinda threw it off, hence my theory that this is an earlier form of a Maranao bulge, IMHO... Please keep the comments coming guys. This is indeed a very interesting topic.

25th July 2007, 05:33 PM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,339	I'm with Kai on this - this is a Sulu blade. Also the inlay I agree is probably snake scales, but near the top is not jawi but okir decoration - very common on these in this way. A very nice piece. Shame some of the inlay is coming out. On the "elephant" I have seen the exact same thing on those of early 20th century pieces (I even had one once). As far as the pommels are concerned, it is the very small ones that seem to be older in general.