Moro Kris

kronckew · 23rd January 2008, 09:57 PM

thanks for that, makes a bit more sense of the carry. the only other clear picture i've found was a datu with a fancy ivory hilted kris which looked like it was in the sash with the longer portion of the gangya facing to the rear which is the opposite of the one in your pic & opposite to how mine appears. tribal differences?

Battara · 23rd January 2008, 10:23 PM

I think one is for show wear (datus) and the other is for fighting.

kronckew · 23rd January 2008, 10:39 PM

i found another one with the same placement

good, i'd rather have a battle one than a show one anyway. that datu one above with the fancy ivory looks rather fragile.

Battara · 23rd January 2008, 10:46 PM

Only because he is old and probably survived many battles. It could also be a certain type of kris. I have never seen the cockatua hilted ones looking backward, only forward, and some were battle pieces.

kronckew · 23rd January 2008, 10:59 PM

i meant the hilt looked fragile, not the datu, he looks like he's not someone we'd like to mess with. i'd believe the krag and the ivory hilted .38 were his war souvenirs....

in university my fencing instructor was a little old 70 year old man about 5 ft 2in. tall and maybe 120 pounds. he was also the toughest person i've seen. he was also an ex hungarian army colonel and i gather he was a national sabre champion back in the thirties...you did not mess with him, he was always two steps ahead of you.

Battara · 24th January 2008, 01:21 AM

OH.......boy did I misunderstand....

...

Yes that hilt is a little more fragile since it is ceremonial. His battle kris would not sport such a large ivory head. They always had several kris, at least one for ceremonial purposes and one for combat.

My Filipino grandfather sounds like he would be at home with those folk upon which you spoke. He was a tough "old bird" and an escrimador as well as being a retired cop.

RobT · 24th January 2008, 01:31 AM

Hi All,
Could the difference in carry styles be the result of Japanese influence? The two older photos look to be pre WWII while the newer photo looks like it could be post WWII. If that's true, the iado draw style (along with the necessary sheath carry change) could have been picked up from the Japanese invaders.
Sincerely,
RobT

Battara · 24th January 2008, 01:43 AM

Not a bad idea except that the second old photo has the kris facing "backwards" like the one in the new photo.

kai · 24th January 2008, 07:36 AM

The edge-up carry mode (most are single-edged swords) is also pretty common throughout the Southeast Asian archipelagos.

The vast majority of early Moro pics also shows this orientation which is also confirmed by scabbard decorations or the carry notch on Maguindanao style scabbards.

Regards,
Kai

24th January 2008, 01:31 AM	#7
RobT Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 535	Pre & Post WWII draw? Hi All, Could the difference in carry styles be the result of Japanese influence? The two older photos look to be pre WWII while the newer photo looks like it could be post WWII. If that's true, the iado draw style (along with the necessary sheath carry change) could have been picked up from the Japanese invaders. Sincerely, RobT

23rd January 2008, 09:57 PM	#1
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	thanks for that, makes a bit more sense of the carry. the only other clear picture i've found was a datu with a fancy ivory hilted kris which looked like it was in the sash with the longer portion of the gangya facing to the rear which is the opposite of the one in your pic & opposite to how mine appears. tribal differences?

23rd January 2008, 10:23 PM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	I think one is for show wear (datus) and the other is for fighting.

23rd January 2008, 10:39 PM	#3
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	i found another one with the same placement good, i'd rather have a battle one than a show one anyway. that datu one above with the fancy ivory looks rather fragile.

23rd January 2008, 10:46 PM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	Only because he is old and probably survived many battles. It could also be a certain type of kris. I have never seen the cockatua hilted ones looking backward, only forward, and some were battle pieces.

23rd January 2008, 10:59 PM	#5
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	i meant the hilt looked fragile, not the datu, he looks like he's not someone we'd like to mess with. i'd believe the krag and the ivory hilted .38 were his war souvenirs.... in university my fencing instructor was a little old 70 year old man about 5 ft 2in. tall and maybe 120 pounds. he was also the toughest person i've seen. he was also an ex hungarian army colonel and i gather he was a national sabre champion back in the thirties...you did not mess with him, he was always two steps ahead of you.

24th January 2008, 01:21 AM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	OH.......boy did I misunderstand.... ... Yes that hilt is a little more fragile since it is ceremonial. His battle kris would not sport such a large ivory head. They always had several kris, at least one for ceremonial purposes and one for combat. My Filipino grandfather sounds like he would be at home with those folk upon which you spoke. He was a tough "old bird" and an escrimador as well as being a retired cop.

24th January 2008, 01:43 AM	#8
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	Not a bad idea except that the second old photo has the kris facing "backwards" like the one in the new photo.

24th January 2008, 07:36 AM	#9
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	The edge-up carry mode (most are single-edged swords) is also pretty common throughout the Southeast Asian archipelagos. The vast majority of early Moro pics also shows this orientation which is also confirmed by scabbard decorations or the carry notch on Maguindanao style scabbards. Regards, Kai