Moro Kris?

Kipinga50 · 13th July 2012, 05:41 PM

Hello all,
I just show you one Kris that I bought last week end, for your opinion, I do not know anything about weapons in Southeast Asia, my passion is weapons of Africa. The handle is of horn, the ferrule is silver, the Beca Beca are Brass, and the blade is inlaid with brass square. I await your comments.

Battara · 13th July 2012, 10:47 PM

It looks like a Moro kris from the Sulu region. The pommel is in a simple junggayan style and I suppose the brass squares are perhaps talismanic (brass warding off evil).

It is strange that the brass is in squares instead of the usual dots and the forte is not in the usual elephant figure but a little more simplified.

Nice piece though and thanks for sharing.

kai · 14th July 2012, 02:41 AM

I agree that quite a bit of craftmanship and effort went into making this piece.

However, it just doesn't vibes with me: neither as a traditional Moro piece nor as Malay work. Apart from the weird gandik area, the flow of lines of the blade is as strange as the inlay and the engraved motif at the end of the fullers; the hilt seems to copy a Sulu junggayan but both the pommel as well as the stepped grip area seems kinda off to me; peened over tang or just holding the pommel onto the grip (another unconventional approach)?

If I had to bet, I'd lay my 2 cents on it being a fairly recent reproduction, possibly by those busy Madurese artisans? Any signs of modern glue at the pommel/grip attachment or for setting the blade?

Regards,
Kai

kai · 14th July 2012, 02:53 AM

BTW, where did this sword come from?
(Not locally from Sao Vicente, I guess.)

Regards,
Kai

Rick · 14th July 2012, 04:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kai

I agree that quite a bit of craftmanship and effort went into making this piece.

However, it just doesn't vibes with me: neither as a traditional Moro piece nor as Malay work. Apart from the weird gandik area, the flow of lines of the blade is as strange as the inlay and the engraved motif at the end of the fullers; the hilt seems to copy a Sulu junggayan but both the pommel as well as the stepped grip area seems kinda off to me; peened over tang or just holding the pommel onto the grip (another unconventional approach)?

If I had to bet, I'd lay my 2 cents on it being a fairly recent reproduction, possibly by those busy Madurese artisans? Any signs of modern glue at the pommel/grip attachment or for setting the blade?

Regards,
Kai

Agree, there is something wrong here ...

I think it's maybe post 1950's
Kembang Kacang is all wrong, way too diminuitive .

Battara · 14th July 2012, 05:49 AM

Yes although I stand by what I said, there are more than those things I mentioned that are strange about this.

Kai you have a point - it may have been made recently - hadn't thought of that. Would make more sense.

Kipinga50 · 14th July 2012, 09:34 AM

Hi Kai,
It come from Nederland.

13th July 2012, 05:41 PM	#1
Kipinga50 Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Sao Vicente Posts: 28	Moro Kris? Hello all, I just show you one Kris that I bought last week end, for your opinion, I do not know anything about weapons in Southeast Asia, my passion is weapons of Africa. The handle is of horn, the ferrule is silver, the Beca Beca are Brass, and the blade is inlaid with brass square. I await your comments. Attached Images

13th July 2012, 10:47 PM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,221	It looks like a Moro kris from the Sulu region. The pommel is in a simple junggayan style and I suppose the brass squares are perhaps talismanic (brass warding off evil). It is strange that the brass is in squares instead of the usual dots and the forte is not in the usual elephant figure but a little more simplified. Nice piece though and thanks for sharing.

14th July 2012, 02:41 AM	#3
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,254	I agree that quite a bit of craftmanship and effort went into making this piece. However, it just doesn't vibes with me: neither as a traditional Moro piece nor as Malay work. Apart from the weird gandik area, the flow of lines of the blade is as strange as the inlay and the engraved motif at the end of the fullers; the hilt seems to copy a Sulu junggayan but both the pommel as well as the stepped grip area seems kinda off to me; peened over tang or just holding the pommel onto the grip (another unconventional approach)? If I had to bet, I'd lay my 2 cents on it being a fairly recent reproduction, possibly by those busy Madurese artisans? Any signs of modern glue at the pommel/grip attachment or for setting the blade? Regards, Kai

14th July 2012, 02:53 AM	#4
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,254	BTW, where did this sword come from? (Not locally from Sao Vicente, I guess.) Regards, Kai

14th July 2012, 05:49 AM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,221	Yes although I stand by what I said, there are more than those things I mentioned that are strange about this. Kai you have a point - it may have been made recently - hadn't thought of that. Would make more sense.

14th July 2012, 09:34 AM	#7
Kipinga50 Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Sao Vicente Posts: 28	Hi Kai, It come from Nederland.