Like your choice in blades. As strange as it sounds both blades may be 18thC, the first from Mindanao (Maguindanao?), the second Sulawesi (my opinion). The first is trying to emulate the style of the second. I have 2 kris in the second type, one is very much like yours, it has a oval tang 3/8 x 5/8"; I would not be surprised if yours did not have the same. (as a side note, mine has a ferrule made of Carabao horn). The original wrap may have dozens of things. Ratten, different grasses, bark cloth, or silk & ratten wraps. If you decide to remove it, it would be nice to see a picture of it, naked. Bet the stirup was made of the same metal as the blade. Does the blade strike you as a bit different than the first blade, like the second has a higher nickle content. The stirup likely started out about 4.5 x .25", split down the center for about 2.5", hammered nicely to hit around the blade, filed & welded back together again to fit over the gangya.
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8th March 2005, 05:21 PM
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