My Maguindanao Kris

milandro · 30th January 2023, 01:55 PM

I have acquired this Kris some time ago, it is one of my favourite pieces in my Kris collection but the only kris from the Philippines.

I believe this is a Maguindanao kris.

It is a large blade, measuring 62cm the blade alone (77 from tip to heft finial ).

It has 13 luks and shows signs of laminations ( which may be brought to show more but I am unsure on how to go about staining this kris).

Weight about 1,1Kg (without the scabbard)

It would have required a warrior to be well built to wield this sword.

David · 30th January 2023, 07:41 PM

Does this blade have a separate gangya? In the photos it appears to just be a well incised line.
If you want to try to bring out the lamination i believe most folks use vinegar for a light etch.

milandro · 30th January 2023, 07:53 PM

No the ganja is not separated.

Ian · 31st January 2023, 03:02 AM

Milandro,

I think you will find that the gangya is, in fact, separate. It can be hard to tell without taking the piece apart. Almost all of the ones I have seen without a separate gangya were made of monosteel and the asang asang were either missing or very crudely made--definitely lower grade examples for the most part. Your kris is a nice one, and first half 20th C. IMO.

David · 31st January 2023, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milandro

No the ganja is not separated.

Can you confirm this one way or the other. To me i see a dark incised line on one side of the first hole in the "greneng" area, but it does not seem to continue on the other side of the hole. Close-ups of the area would be helpful.

Battara · 31st January 2023, 04:59 AM

I'll agree with Ian, with one addition - at the mounts appear a little more recent that that, and might even be later Maranao (Marawi) made mounts on this Maguindanao piece.

milandro · 31st January 2023, 09:18 AM

Thank you all!

The " cutting" line appears to go through the last hole too, but this may be completely vestigial (I will ad up a picture at some point). Certainly cannot figure how to detach it , and the hilt is firm in place. So, I'd go with a vestigial line.

If this was made into two different pieces fitting it together with such a precision would have been a work of art in itself.

While researching this kris, on the forum and elsewhere, I found a large number of krises such as mine (or so they look to me) all indicated as Maguindanao from several auction houses (although the style of the picture taking appears to be very similar).

Most if not all seemed (to me) to have some age to it and showed what appears to be a vestigial incision of the ganja. (am I at liberty to post pictures of these krises since all the auctions seem to have been completed?)

I have seen that on previous thread here too there is a debate on the meaning of this cutting line ( real or vestigial) in terms of timeline.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=22272

In this one there was a blade without even a vestigial line and it was probably bought in the '30

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...separate+ganja

Whichever the period when my kris was made, it wasn't made yesterday. I am very happy with my kris anyway, whether this was made early in the 20th century or later in the same century.

David · 31st January 2023, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

I'll agree with Ian, with one addition - at the mounts appear a little more recent that that, and might even be later Maranao (Marawi) made mounts on this Maguindanao piece.

I think i know what you mean by this José. The mounts appear to be post WWII to me, especially the one closest to the pommel. There may well have been added later.

30th January 2023, 01:55 PM	#1
milandro Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Netherlands Posts: 476	My Maguindanao Kris I have acquired this Kris some time ago, it is one of my favourite pieces in my Kris collection but the only kris from the Philippines. I believe this is a Maguindanao kris. It is a large blade, measuring 62cm the blade alone (77 from tip to heft finial ). It has 13 luks and shows signs of laminations ( which may be brought to show more but I am unsure on how to go about staining this kris). Weight about 1,1Kg (without the scabbard) It would have required a warrior to be well built to wield this sword. Attached Images

30th January 2023, 07:41 PM	#2
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,125	Does this blade have a separate gangya? In the photos it appears to just be a well incised line. If you want to try to bring out the lamination i believe most folks use vinegar for a light etch.

30th January 2023, 07:53 PM	#3
milandro Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Netherlands Posts: 476	No the ganja is not separated.

31st January 2023, 03:02 AM	#4
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,203	Milandro, I think you will find that the gangya is, in fact, separate. It can be hard to tell without taking the piece apart. Almost all of the ones I have seen without a separate gangya were made of monosteel and the asang asang were either missing or very crudely made--definitely lower grade examples for the most part. Your kris is a nice one, and first half 20th C. IMO.

31st January 2023, 04:59 AM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,225	I'll agree with Ian, with one addition - at the mounts appear a little more recent that that, and might even be later Maranao (Marawi) made mounts on this Maguindanao piece.

31st January 2023, 09:18 AM	#7
milandro Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Netherlands Posts: 476	Thank you all! The " cutting" line appears to go through the last hole too, but this may be completely vestigial (I will ad up a picture at some point). Certainly cannot figure how to detach it , and the hilt is firm in place. So, I'd go with a vestigial line. If this was made into two different pieces fitting it together with such a precision would have been a work of art in itself. While researching this kris, on the forum and elsewhere, I found a large number of krises such as mine (or so they look to me) all indicated as Maguindanao from several auction houses (although the style of the picture taking appears to be very similar). Most if not all seemed (to me) to have some age to it and showed what appears to be a vestigial incision of the ganja. (am I at liberty to post pictures of these krises since all the auctions seem to have been completed?) I have seen that on previous thread here too there is a debate on the meaning of this cutting line ( real or vestigial) in terms of timeline. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=22272 In this one there was a blade without even a vestigial line and it was probably bought in the '30 http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...separate+ganja Whichever the period when my kris was made, it wasn't made yesterday. I am very happy with my kris anyway, whether this was made early in the 20th century or later in the same century.