Moro Kris

rasdan · 21st October 2005, 08:09 PM

Hi guys,

Thanks for your reply. However i am highly unfamiliar with this type of lamination. still re-studying articles of vikingswords etc.

Hi Mick,

What do u mean by the cold shut between the two rods? Is it the crack at the centre of the kris at the base?

Hi Nechesh,

Yes, i also thinks the the piercing style at the ganja is rather new, perhaps in the 19th C. What strikes me that this one is kindda old is that the metal that is used in this blade it seems that it is a bit "grainy".

Btw, the restoration works is not done by me. It is done in Indonesia. If its by me.. i think the ganya would already be lost by now.

Hi Bill,

I think origin is the hardest part of determining the provenance of a keris especially without its propper fittings. Yes, there's a hunch in me that this a bugis origin keris, but i had no proof. What makes me think that is the style of the pamor welding and the ruggedness look of the blade and steel being used. The stirrup is new and will surely be removed when i get the piece.

Best regards,
Rasdan

Mick · 21st October 2005, 08:53 PM

Rasdan

Yes that's it. This occurs when the smith had finished (he thinks) welding up the blade and then finds this fault in the weld when he begins the cutting and finishing of the blade. He removes the part of the weld that covered this fault and is faced with the choice of gong back to the forge (possibly screwing up the piece) or accepting what he has in hand. When the fault is not bad, that is structuraly unsound it is only a blemish on the final product. This will probably cause a reduction in the final price of the piece, but it is not a catastrophe such as when this fault goes all the way through the blade.
The faults on your piece do not seem to go all the way through (based on one view of the pesi) but the are pretty deep and if they were longer in llength (say twice what they are) would probably effect the use (and survival) of the piece in actual warfare.

Battara · 22nd October 2005, 04:26 AM

The Moro did in fact do twist core damascus like this, but it seems to have been at an earlier period. I have noticed that as time moves toward the 20c the ability gets lost or not of intererst anymore. Also, I would tend to go with Cato in that the earlier the period, the smaller the kris becomes.

rasdan · 22nd October 2005, 09:55 AM

Hi Mick,

The cold shut area really makes me think again and again and again (for about one month) before purchasing this keris. But then, i thought it is not really bad (not pierced through) and perhaps it turns out to be something worth keeping (i have very little experience with this type of keris). Mainly, what intrigues me is the weld pattern and reading more literature on this type of blade welding really excites me. Thanks for your explaination.

Hi Battara,

Thanks for your opinion.

I dont have any reference on Moro kris and this really limits my knowledge on this subject. I'm not sure what is the origin of the Moro kris and when it started being used. Can u please shed some light on this?

Regards,
Rasdan

Rick · 22nd October 2005, 05:29 PM

Hi Ras ,
Cato's Moro Swords is often listed on ebay by a Philippine seller at a quite reasonable price . Search under 'moro' .

Bill · 22nd October 2005, 06:31 PM

Bet there is a bookstore somewhere in Singapore that has dusty copies, dirt cheap.

rasdan · 23rd October 2005, 05:30 AM

Hmm.. thanks guys. I'll start looking for the book.

Btw, if anybody have an old kris hilt for sale that would match my piece here, can u please email me? Thanks.

21st October 2005, 08:53 PM	#2
Mick Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Orlando Posts: 104	Rasdan Yes that's it. This occurs when the smith had finished (he thinks) welding up the blade and then finds this fault in the weld when he begins the cutting and finishing of the blade. He removes the part of the weld that covered this fault and is faced with the choice of gong back to the forge (possibly screwing up the piece) or accepting what he has in hand. When the fault is not bad, that is structuraly unsound it is only a blemish on the final product. This will probably cause a reduction in the final price of the piece, but it is not a catastrophe such as when this fault goes all the way through the blade. The faults on your piece do not seem to go all the way through (based on one view of the pesi) but the are pretty deep and if they were longer in llength (say twice what they are) would probably effect the use (and survival) of the piece in actual warfare. Last edited by Mick; 21st October 2005 at 09:06 PM.

22nd October 2005, 05:29 PM	#5
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,366	Cato Hi Ras , Cato's Moro Swords is often listed on ebay by a Philippine seller at a quite reasonable price . Search under 'moro' .

23rd October 2005, 05:30 AM	#7
rasdan Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kuala Lumpur Posts: 369	Hmm.. thanks guys. I'll start looking for the book. Btw, if anybody have an old kris hilt for sale that would match my piece here, can u please email me? Thanks. Last edited by rasdan; 23rd October 2005 at 05:47 AM.

21st October 2005, 08:09 PM	#1
rasdan Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kuala Lumpur Posts: 369	Hi guys, Thanks for your reply. However i am highly unfamiliar with this type of lamination. still re-studying articles of vikingswords etc. Hi Mick, What do u mean by the cold shut between the two rods? Is it the crack at the centre of the kris at the base? Hi Nechesh, Yes, i also thinks the the piercing style at the ganja is rather new, perhaps in the 19th C. What strikes me that this one is kindda old is that the metal that is used in this blade it seems that it is a bit "grainy". Btw, the restoration works is not done by me. It is done in Indonesia. If its by me.. i think the ganya would already be lost by now. Hi Bill, I think origin is the hardest part of determining the provenance of a keris especially without its propper fittings. Yes, there's a hunch in me that this a bugis origin keris, but i had no proof. What makes me think that is the style of the pamor welding and the ruggedness look of the blade and steel being used. The stirrup is new and will surely be removed when i get the piece. Best regards, Rasdan

22nd October 2005, 04:26 AM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,339	The Moro did in fact do twist core damascus like this, but it seems to have been at an earlier period. I have noticed that as time moves toward the 20c the ability gets lost or not of intererst anymore. Also, I would tend to go with Cato in that the earlier the period, the smaller the kris becomes.

22nd October 2005, 09:55 AM	#4
rasdan Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kuala Lumpur Posts: 369	Hi Mick, The cold shut area really makes me think again and again and again (for about one month) before purchasing this keris. But then, i thought it is not really bad (not pierced through) and perhaps it turns out to be something worth keeping (i have very little experience with this type of keris). Mainly, what intrigues me is the weld pattern and reading more literature on this type of blade welding really excites me. Thanks for your explaination. Hi Battara, Thanks for your opinion. I dont have any reference on Moro kris and this really limits my knowledge on this subject. I'm not sure what is the origin of the Moro kris and when it started being used. Can u please shed some light on this? Regards, Rasdan

22nd October 2005, 06:31 PM	#6
Bill Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Chicago area Posts: 327	Bet there is a bookstore somewhere in Singapore that has dusty copies, dirt cheap.