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tanaruz
14th January 2025, 02:27 AM
Hi all,

My first post for 2025.

Any info on this wonderful piece greatly appreciated.

Brought home to manila from Basilan during the holidays.

Happy new year friends!
Ian
14th January 2025, 03:04 AM
Hello Yves. Welcome back.

I believe this is a 20th C piece based on the the treatment of the incised designs at the base of the blade and the likelihood (IMHO) that the gangya may not be separated from the rest of the blade--you should be able to tell better with the sword in hand. It looks to be completely Sulu in manufacture. Because you brought it back from Basilan, do you know whether it was made by the Yakan?

The pommel looks somewhat unusual. Has the beak of the kakatua been broken off, or was it made the way it looks now?

Regards,

Ian
Rick
14th January 2025, 05:55 AM
I also thought Sulu, Ian.
The example in the center of the picture below looks like the same era as does the one on the left side.
The blade is thin, but it will cut you if you even look at it in the wrong way.:eek:

The wire work(?) on the grip looks very well done, (maybe silver?).
A handsome kris. :cool:
Battara
17th January 2025, 04:22 AM
I've seen modern Sulu blades made like this.

Unusual scabbard.
tanaruz
17th January 2025, 11:44 AM
Hello Yves. Welcome back.

I believe this is a 20th C piece based on the the treatment of the incised designs at the base of the blade and the likelihood (IMHO) that the gangya may not be separated from the rest of the blade--you should be able to tell better with the sword in hand. It looks to be completely Sulu in manufacture. Because you brought it back from Basilan, do you know whether it was made by the Yakan?

The pommel looks somewhat unusual. Has the beak of the kakatua been broken off, or was it made the way it looks now?

Regards,

Ian

Hello,

1) this kris was a gift from one of my father's Army buddy who lives in Isabela,Basilan. We visited his residence and this was decorated on his wall. No idea if this was Yakan forged or from other parts of the Sulu archipelago and brought back as a skirmish booty;

2) the beak is not broken off. It was really made this way.

Regards

Yves