Moro kris for comment
 

Greetings everyone:

I'm lucky to have chanced upon this piece- so far the longest twistcore Moro kris I've encountered (23in blade length, 28in overall), also the heaviest (0.75kg). It's also a nice surprise that it's not as "flexible" or thin-bladed as the other twistcore krises I've had (I could bend the other blades easily with my knee or even hands). This one is rigid, similar to the rigid blade build of late 1800s heavy battle krises. I'm guessing it's two twisted bars at the center, and two non-twisted bars at the outer (correct me if I'm wrong).

A Malay guru told me the pattern is similar to "cindai pamor" among the Malays, and "kurisi aslo" among the Bugis. I'm not familiar with keris stuff, but would be interested in what other forum members think of this assessment. I've only used vinegar to do a light etch.

TIA! :)

Hello Xas,

A beautiful blade, congrats! Are you going to give it back at least one asang asang and the handle the cord?

Regards,
Detlef

Hello Ray,

Thanks for showing your latest beauty! I agree it seems to be late 19th century or around the turn of the century.

All "twistcore" Moro kris I've seen exhibit no real twist core: They have the twisted bars sandwiched on top of the central steel core (independently on each side of the blade); BTW, this 3-layer construction is also typical for keris from other regions with this pamor.

Regards,
Kai

Thanks for the kind words Detlef and Kai!

Detlef, I tried fitting several "extra" asang-asang I have here, but they're all too slim for the blade- the gangya on this one is unnaturally thick. So no asang-asang yet, until I get one that's thicc enough!

The hilt is also more robust than most I've encountered; I like its bare feel and fits my hand exactly already, so I'm keeping it that way.

Kai, thanks for that really informative bit about the blade build of "twistcore" Moro krises and Malay keris!

sorry, do I see this correctly that the patterned part is two thin sheet applied on the two sides?

Yes, when you want to describe it like this. ;)

xasterix, I really like your kris!

I have always been intrigued by the similarities between Moro twist core kris and spears and early to mid medieval European pattern-welded blades. In the European material, the central pattern-welded panels may be full thickness twisted, stacked rods or very frequently applied as a veneer over an untwisted core.

I previously presented an example of a kris, that with the benefit of having it in hand, did appear to be made with twisted, stacked full thickness rods.

I'm glad you like it Lee! It's great to see that straight twistcore kris of yours again...I'll admit, ever since I started collecting blades (around 2018), it's been one of my inspirations in hunting for exemplary krises!

Nice catch Xas. It has a beautiful pattern. Congrats.

Thanks very much sir!!! :D