kris Maranao named

Ian · 11th September 2025, 10:56 AM

Hi Detlef.

A separate gangya occurred on some Moro kris blades made in the second half of the 20th C, and even on blades made today by traditional panday. Malayan blades still preserve a separate gangya on their large kris form.

I suspect that Yves' blade may date from the 1930s-1940s. The markedly V-shaped tip is a post-1900 feature. The "arrow head" carved areas have flat grooves with square shoulders, suggesting to me the use of power tools to create them. A similar arrow head appearance occurs sometimes on Malayan kris blades from the mid-1900s and later (I am using kris to refer to the large, Moro-like, Malayan kris, not to Malayan keris).

Despite being relatively recent, the various styles of 20th C Moro kris have not been dated precisely.

tanaruz · 13th September 2025, 11:59 PM

Hi friends,

much thanks for these inputs. Appreciate it.

Yves

David · 14th September 2025, 03:20 PM

I also feel this one is older than 70 years old. I used to have a very similar kris to this that was once Federico's Moro Sword website. I have always thought this one was at least pre-WWII.

Battara · 16th September 2025, 12:53 AM

I once owned this piece, with a separate ganga, so yes I'd put it at early 1900s, and Maguindanao in origin.

David · 16th September 2025, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

I once owned this piece, with a separate ganga, so yes I'd put it at early 1900s, and Maguindanao in origin.

Yes, i knew that. I bought it from Ron (Spunjer) many years ago and sold it 7 or 8 years ago, possibly to someone else on these forums (i can't quite remember). It really gets around.
I do remember how freakin' sharp the edge was on this blade was. It cut my palm rather deeply when i first met it as i first withdrew it from its sheath. Felt i really had to buy it at that point. LOL!

Battara · 18th September 2025, 03:31 AM

Yes - "freakishly sharp"!

In fact, I twirled it with another sharp kris in a sword demonstration and it cut a piece of paper hanging freely from a string in the ceiling.

DaveF · 26th September 2025, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

Yes, i knew that. I bought it from Ron (Spunjer) many years ago and sold it 7 or 8 years ago, possibly to someone else on these forums (i can't quite remember). It really gets around.
I do remember how freakin' sharp the edge was on this blade was. It cut my palm rather deeply when i first met it as i first withdrew it from its sheath. Felt i really had to buy it at that point. LOL!

You sold it to me and I still have it.

I think you warned me to take care when withdrawing it from its sheath, which has probably saved me some bloodshed. It's certainly sharp!

werecow · 26th September 2025, 08:40 PM

Kevlar working gloves are your friends.

13th September 2025, 11:59 PM	#2
tanaruz Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 282	Kris Maranao named Hi friends, much thanks for these inputs. Appreciate it. Yves

14th September 2025, 03:20 PM	#3
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,240	I also feel this one is older than 70 years old. I used to have a very similar kris to this that was once Federico's Moro Sword website. I have always thought this one was at least pre-WWII. Attached Images

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11th September 2025, 10:56 AM	#1
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,478	Hi Detlef. A separate gangya occurred on some Moro kris blades made in the second half of the 20th C, and even on blades made today by traditional panday. Malayan blades still preserve a separate gangya on their large kris form. I suspect that Yves' blade may date from the 1930s-1940s. The markedly V-shaped tip is a post-1900 feature. The "arrow head" carved areas have flat grooves with square shoulders, suggesting to me the use of power tools to create them. A similar arrow head appearance occurs sometimes on Malayan kris blades from the mid-1900s and later (I am using kris to refer to the large, Moro-like, Malayan kris, not to Malayan keris). Despite being relatively recent, the various styles of 20th C Moro kris have not been dated precisely.

16th September 2025, 12:53 AM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,339	I once owned this piece, with a separate ganga, so yes I'd put it at early 1900s, and Maguindanao in origin.

18th September 2025, 03:31 AM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,339	Yes - "freakishly sharp"! In fact, I twirled it with another sharp kris in a sword demonstration and it cut a piece of paper hanging freely from a string in the ceiling.

26th September 2025, 08:40 PM	#8
werecow Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Leiden, NL Posts: 612	Kevlar working gloves are your friends.