Antique kalis for comment

[Ian]

Originally Posted by xasterix

Halloo, sorry for neglecting to respond to this- I agree that's a late 1800s/early 1900s Maguindanao kris-blade but I think the hilt and fittings (including asang-asang) are pre-WW2 Maranao, possibly replacements or upgrades. The scabbard is interesting- there are brass pins, so I'm curious to see what the other side looks like. The Yakan sometimes place brass pins on weapons that they either make or appropriate; if the scabbard-plate also has brass pins, that would point to a previous Yakan ownership; the Yakan owner would've called that 'kalis.' The esoteric symbols on the butt are a divination star within the Ring of Solomon, those two symbols usually go together.

Thanks Xas. Unfortunately, this sword was bought by somebody else! I dropped out early in the bidding. We will not know what the other side of the scabbard looks like.