Weird kris sold by ebay
 

This weird kris was recently sold by ebay, relative small, 20 inch overall with a blade from 13 inch. The piece seems to have age.
Would be interested what others think about this kris. Origin? Age?

Detlef

I saw this too, and wondered about this strange thing. Some effort went into its construction and it looks to have seen considerable use. My immediate thought was that it was a tourist piece. Now I am not as sure, though it still lacks many of the Moro asethetics we find so attractive.

I am eager to see what some other forumites think.

Hello Charles,

my first thought as well but when I looked again to this dagger I have been sure that it was in use. But still a real weird dagger IMHO.

Regards,
Detlef

I am very leery of Ebay these days. I did a "dagger" search a while back. Found a neat little knife, that looked like a WWII theater made dagger. Heavy patina, and lots of rust. Then I found another, and another. All using the same photo, but different sellers in India. It was bad enough when the Chinese started making "antiques". Now the Indians? I'm not saying that's what this but... There are many swords, daggers, and bayonets being made in China, that kinda-sorta look like historical pieces, but are off in many respects. And they look old, and well used. This knife looks like a cross between a Kris, a Gonong, and a Barong.

I am aware of this but in this case the seller was from the States. :shrug:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/OLD-ASIAN-ST...#ht_665wt_1153

somebody put the grip on upside down. :eek:

:shrug: Handle is attached in the correct way IMHO!?

I THINK THIS WAS MADE IN THE PHILIPPINES AND SAW LOCAL USE, BUT WAS NOT NECESSARILY MORO MADE. MY GRANDFATHERS, UNCLES AND DAD ALL MADE THEIR OWN KNIVES OFTEN BASED ON WHAT THEY HAD SEEN. IT IS NOT UNCOMMON THE WORLD OVER FOR PEOPLE TO MAKE A DO IT YOURSELF KNIFE AND SOMETIMES THEY CAN BE QUITE GOOD. IF GOOD ENOUGH THEY MAY MAKE SEVERAL FOR OTHERS OR SELL A FEW. I THINK YOUR KNIFE MAY FALL INTO THIS CATEGORY AND THE PRICE WAS RIGHT. :)
THE BLADE AND FILE WORK WAS SOMEONES INTERPRETATION OF WHAT A MORO KRIS WOULD LOOK LIKE AND IS NICELY DONE BUT IS QUITE A BIT DIFFERENT THAN THE NORM. THE HANDLE AND SCABBARD IS MADE FOR USE AND NOTHING FANCY. IT COULD BE MORO MADE OR MADE IN LUZON OR EVEN MADE BY AN OUTSIDER DURING THE WAR. PERHAPS ONE OF A KIND OR THE MAKER MAY HAVE MADE MORE TO SELL?? EITHER WAY I LIKE IT. :D
A ETCH OF THE BLADE OR FORGEING FLAWS CAN TELL YOU IF IT WAS FOLDED AND FORGED OR MADE FROM MONO STEEL. MOST SELF MADE KNIVES FROM WW2 AND BEFORE ARE SHAPED FROM MONO STEEL. IF ITS A GOOD WATERED STEEL BLADE ITS LIKELY A PROFESSIONAL MADE THE BLADE.

Hello Barry,

thank you for comment. Your thoughts about this piece are similar as mine.
But I haven't bought this piece, maybe someone else from the forum?

Regards,
Detlef