Kalis / Kris / Keris Sundang / Solot / Sulok / Suluk:

[Amuk Murugul]

Hullo everybody!
Taking advantage of another window of opportunity. Selected representative examples illustrating the basic range.

CAVEAT:
This post is presented as is.
Should any of the labelling become a source of bewilderment/confusion, please do not be concerned. Simply ignore. It is merely for the ease and consistency of taxonomy.
Better photos, examples and other details I’ll leave for the aficionado and those more able than I (if they’re not already available elsewhere in this forum).

Enjoy!



Referring to the photo and going left-right:


1. Kalis Ladja Laoed (Straight blade)
Desc: Kalis Toelid
Blade: LxOALxWxT=45x59x10.07x1.31cm.
Handle: Wood Sarimanoek

2. Kalis Balikoeng/Pililiang (3-wave blade)
Desc: Kalis Teloe Sikoe
Blade: LxOALxWxT=47x59x10.56x2.03cm.
Handle: Ivory Sarimanoek pommel w/ cane-wrap

3. Kalis Piliang (5-wave blade)
Desc: Kalis Naga Galap Lima Sikoe
Blade: LxOALxWxT=45.5x57x9.82x1.15cm.
Handle: Horn Mataangin pommel w/ twine-wrap

4. Kalis Djenia (7-wave blade)
Desc: Kalis Pitoe Sikoe
Blade: LxOALxWxT=48.5x61x10.1x1.27cm.
Handle: Wood Sarimanoek pommel w/ twine-wrap

5. Kalis Lanteh Bandoeh (9-wave blade)
Desc: Kalis Siam Sikoe
Blade: LxOALxWxT=50x63x11.15x1.27cm.
Handle: Wood Sarimanoek pommel w/ twine-wrap

6. Kalis Lanteh Liamai (15-wave blade)
Desc: Kalis Hangpotaglima Sikoe
Blade: LxOALxWxT=56x69x11.83x1.11cm.
Handle: Wood Mataangin pommel w/ twine-wrap

7. Kalis Lanteh Agoeboekoe (21-wave blade)
Desc: Kalis Hangpotagesa Sikoe
Blade: LxOALxWxT=66x72x10.86x1.09cm.
Handle:

8. Kalis Endas (23-wave blade)
Desc: Kalis Naga Kaoehantagteloe Sikoe
Blade: LxOALxWxT=57.5x70.5x13.36x1.41cm.
Handle: Wood Mataangin pommel

9. Kalis Endas (29-wave blade)
Desc: Kalis Naga Kaoehantagsiam Sikoe
Blade: LxOALxWxT=56x68x10.85x1.22cm.
Handle: Ivory Sarimanoek pommel w/ cane-wrap


Best,

[Spunjer]

thanks for sharing!
are those terms the local name where you're from, Amuk?

[Battara]

In addition to Ron's question, are there specific regions that are associated with this nomenclature?

[A. G. Maisey]

These over-size keris-like things are well outside my field of knowledge, but it has always been my understanding that they came from areas that were relatively free of Dutch influence, and that when the spellings of names were romanised, Dutch transliterations were not used to render those names.

Is my understanding incorrect?

Thanks.

[Battara]

Alan, this would be my understanding and observation. Borneo, Malaysia, and the Philippines have these sizes and are outside the Dutch colonial sphere.

[Ian]

Amuk:

I am unfamiliar with many of these terms or the language that you have used. The word kalis is used by the Tausug to describe their kris, and several of the other words you use seem to be transliterations from Tausug. Can you explain a little more where these terms come from (place, language) and what they mean.

For comparison, I have attached a scan from Robert Cato's book, Moro Swords, p. 60, that has the common terms that he collected from Moro communities to describe kris and their various component parts in the Maguindanao, Maranao, and Tausug dialects.

Ian.