maranao kris

[tanaruz]

Hello friends,

Sharing this Maguindanao kris. Previous owner claims c. late 19th century.
Any thoughts?
Thanks in advance

Yves

[Ian]

Hello Yves,

I agree that this is likely a late 19th C Mindanao kris.

[Sajen]

Hello Yves,

I agree that this is likely a late 19th C Mindanao kris.

Agreed! :)

[RobT]

Yves,

From what I can see, it appears to me that your kris has a one piece baca baca. This is of interest to me because I have eight such kris but, in all of my examples, the separation between the ganja and the blade is so tight as to be almost imperceptible or it is a ganja iras. Your kris shows a ganja that is separate and distinct from the blade. Could it be that the kris is older than the hilt and baca baca? A possible scenario is that the hilt needed replacement and the owner opted to have a one piece baca baca installed also. The other thing that is odd is the four segment area above the elephant’s trunk. I can’t recall ever having seen that before.

Sincerely,
RobT