LUMAD KRIS

[Ian]

Yves,

Thanks for the additional pictures. They are quite dark and with the heavy patina on the blade it is hard to see details. I've taken a coupe of your pictures and lightened them up by adjusting their contrast and exposure properties. This shows a laminated pattern towards the tip and what appears to be a hardened edge. Near the hilt one can see a general dark patina and some very fine pitting which suggests to me that this blade has some age, consistent with my earlier estimate of 19th C.

In looking at these new pictures, I'm debating whether this blade is Sulu in manufacture, rather than Maguindanao. The dark patina and some corrosion make it difficult to determine details of the gangya area and confidently say where it is from. Twin asang asang are more commonly seen on Sulu than Maguindanao kris.

The fine rattan found on this hilt is, I believe, also used in wrapping some of the scabbards coming from Zamboanga.

Ian
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