Budiak with okir

Rick · 10th December 2023, 06:31 AM

Hi Ian,
Yes I have a kris with this style of decoration. There's a picture of it somewhere in the archives. It's not a toy but a serviceable weapon, yet it seems like something made to catch the eye of 'those who travel for pleasure'. There is no subtlety in its decoration, and it seems a bit coarser compared to older Moro swords.
My guess on the era of these design elements would be the 1920s to the early 1950s. I can't offer any concrete proof; it's just the feeling that I get about this style of decoration; it lacks subtlety and refinement. The forging skills are there but the decoration seems like it was done hurriedly.
I have also noticed about these examples is that they lack the pointy curves that we see so often in later Moro work.

Ian · 10th December 2023, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

Hi Ian,
Yes I have a kris with this style of decoration. There's a picture of it somewhere in the archives. It's not a toy but a serviceable weapon, yet it seems like something made to catch the eye of 'those who travel for pleasure'. There is no subtlety in its decoration, and it seems a bit coarser compared to older Moro swords.
My guess on the era of these design elements would be the 1920s to the early 1950s. ... I have also noticed about these examples is that they lack the pointy curves that we see so often in later Moro work.

Thanks Rick. Agree on all of those points. The decorative skill seems lacking compared with the twist core elements or silver inlay work seen on other Moro blades.

I have an unmounted kris blade with similar decoration but it does not have a separate gangya, suggesting mid-20th C work. I've also seen a panabas blade so decorated, and on the kampilan shown above. So the style got around a bit.

Here is another budiak with similar decoration, said to be Sulu in origin, that I found on the web.
.

Ian · 19th December 2023, 03:16 AM

Here is an unmounted kris blade that has similar incised decoration. It has no separate gangya and is probably mid-20th C in manufacture.
.

Battara · 19th December 2023, 11:02 PM

I would lean more toward Maguindanao okir. Also, I have seen more Maguindanao engravings like this on Maguindanao pieces than any other, though not saying that they don't exist on others.

But the okir does not scream "Maranao" to me (though if any blade screams, get an exorcist

).

19th December 2023, 03:16 AM	#3
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,361	Here is an unmounted kris blade that has similar incised decoration. It has no separate gangya and is probably mid-20th C in manufacture. . Attached Images Last edited by Ian; 19th December 2023 at 03:37 AM.

10th December 2023, 06:31 AM	#1
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	Hi Ian, Yes I have a kris with this style of decoration. There's a picture of it somewhere in the archives. It's not a toy but a serviceable weapon, yet it seems like something made to catch the eye of 'those who travel for pleasure'. There is no subtlety in its decoration, and it seems a bit coarser compared to older Moro swords. My guess on the era of these design elements would be the 1920s to the early 1950s. I can't offer any concrete proof; it's just the feeling that I get about this style of decoration; it lacks subtlety and refinement. The forging skills are there but the decoration seems like it was done hurriedly. I have also noticed about these examples is that they lack the pointy curves that we see so often in later Moro work.

19th December 2023, 11:02 PM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,270	I would lean more toward Maguindanao okir. Also, I have seen more Maguindanao engravings like this on Maguindanao pieces than any other, though not saying that they don't exist on others. But the okir does not scream "Maranao" to me (though if any blade screams, get an exorcist ).