A Moro Kris

[tanaruz]

Hi all,

Great to be back...and still alive and kicking.

I have acquired this lovely kris days ago. Offhand, my impression is that this is a Maranao piece (based on the hilt- as I have one similar to this one). The gangya (IMHO) points to it being a Maguindanao piece.

Or perhaps another Moro group?

Appreciate info on this piece. And thank u very much in advance,

Be safe everyone

Yves

[Ian]

Yves,

I think this one is Maguindanao. The hilt style is reasonably common on 20th C Maguindanao kris, as well as Maranao. That said, the blade on this one could be late 19th C, with a later hilt replacement. The hilt looks WWII era, or a little before, to me.

Ian.

[tanaruz]

Hello Sir,

Many thanks for the info.

Kind regards

Yves

PS: what do you think it that 'yellow' substance on the hilt? the purpose of which is to make the hilt more 'waterproof."?

[Ian]

Yves,

I think the yellow may simply be the color of dye used on the thread wrap. Attached is one of mine that was exhibited in the Museum of Macau's "History of Steel." It has a Maguindanao inscription featuring the name of Datu Piang (very faint but discussed on the Forum previously), the name of the person to whom it was presented (Dr W.A. Christenson), and the place of presentation (Reina Regente). Note the color of the thread wrap is similar to yours.

Dr Christenson was a medical doctor attached to U.S. forces in the early 1900s. Reina Regente was an old Spanish fort on the Cotabato River in South Cotabato (later taken over by the Americans), just a few miles from the compound of Datu Piang.

This kris has a provenance in that it came from the estate of Dr Christenson's daughter.

Ian
.

[tanaruz]

Hi Sir Ian,

First of all- that's a lovely kris of yours!

Secondly, again- many thanks for the information on the dye of the thread wrap.

Regars from Manila. Keep safe always

Yves

[Battara]

I agree totally with Ian. Maguindanao. The hilt and front of the ganga are indicators. The aluminum mount on top (at least from the pictures) was later placed. The clamps might also be aluminum or silver - hard to tell from the pictures.