Moro Kris

[Spunjer]

was just wondering if anyone in this forum won this specific kris:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130085470287


i'm interested to know if the pommel is truly ivory, as the buyer described. it looks like kino's kemoh kakatua pommel kris he posted on this thread:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1792&page=2&pp=30


if a member won this, would you be kind enough to post some close up pictures of this kris, especially the pommel?


btw, the moro swords that were auctioned by that auctioneer defied any sense or rhythm, lol. what i thought was going for an easy grand, went for pre ebay price, and what appears to be a more modern kris went for more.



ebay. ya gotta love it... :D

[Rick]

Love the "Cane Knives" ...... :D :D

[kai]

I'm sure Ron will like the Tabas - congrats! :)

Putting these Moro pieces on regular ebay would have resulted in a much better result for the original owner. And with next to no efforts invested, the auction house can easily live from its "buyers premia"... :(

[Spunjer]

thanks. been looking for a pair of cane knives like this in a while :D

[kai]

I could use one of these for splitting giant rattan... :rolleyes:

[kino]

I won that Kris that Spunjer was inquiring about. The pommel is not bone. It might be Kemoh or a tooth of some kind. I'm no expert on Kemoh or teeth. The closeup photo of the pommel will reveal a pattern that doesn't fall into ivory or bone. Perhaps someone with a dental or marine biology can clarify this.

This Kris has it's Baka-baka missing. There's an aluminum band by the pommel which doesn't fit into the makeup of the Kris. Maybe the original one was removed with the Baka-baka. About 90% of the blade inlay is intact.

Thoughts anyone?

[Spunjer]

this was an odd lot... the one i got has a nice ivory pommel with brass grip but has a real cheap looking asang-asang. thanks for the pics, kino. that's the second one i saw with that not too common pommel. i'm sure it's the same like what you got. i kinda dig that kris but saw a familiar name.

[kai]

Wow, you really got a steal on this one, Albert! :eek:

I was eyeing this piece, too... :o


I'd agree that the pommel seems to be carved from giant clam shell.

Regards,
Kai

[kino]

Spunger, You got a good eye for Kemoh. Can you post photos of your
loot?

[Spunjer]

will do, kino, but might take a week or so. another question on that kris: is the ferrule carabao horn? it doesn't look metal.

[Battara]

I think that the material is elephant molar - but not necessarily fossil though darker pictures may help. I can't see the spacer well enough to tell if it is carabao horn or not.

Congratulations in any case - :D

[kino]

Kai, I was gladly surprised that I has won the Kris for that much.

Spunger, The ferrule is brass. The black wood underneath the rattan is showing by ferrule.

Battara, I have been entertaining thoughts of the pommel being elephant molar.

[kai]

Hello Jose,

Certainly not fossil molar. ;)

Is recent elephant molar more translucent than clam shell? I was wondering because the light source in the pic seems rather week and I'm more used to more opaque giant clam shell...

Regards,
Kai

[Battara]

I respectifully have to disagree with you Kai. I do think it is recent elephant molar, again, not fossil molar. It can be translucent. The shell does not look translucent to me, but highly reflective. Again, lighting. :shrug:

[kai]

No need to disagree, Jose - I'm with you... ;)

I have not seen something carved from recent elephant molar, so I was just asking wether it tends to be more translucent. Some clam shell pieces I've seen were not highly reflective (possibly an age issue) but still notably more opaque than shown by the torch light here. Thanks for the pointer!

Regards,
Kai

[Battara]

I must admit, Kai, I had to look hard but I see layers nearly identical to the fossil molar ivory I have on my barong, and some layers are white translucent. Strange stuff. :shrug: Here is a picture of what I mean.

Jose ;)

[Spunjer]

pictures of the 'loot'.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/Spunjer/5c2ff85a.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/Spunjer/de18e5b2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/Spunjer/1c434f09.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/Spunjer/412d38d8.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/Spunjer/66ded456.jpg



in comparison with an older kris:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/Spunjer/4d528916.jpg


once again kino, congrats on that nice snag...

[kino]

You made off like a bandit. That's a big hunk of Ivory.


I have one similar.

[Battara]

Spunjer, very nice. Are the hilt rings made of gold over silver?

Kino, that bottom kris with the dots in the ivory look familiar....... ;)

[Spunjer]

not sure, battara. i thought it's brass. i reckon it'd be another trip to your basement, huh?

kino, one thing i find peculiar is the circumference of the handle; it's smaller than your typical kris. the one you got, reminds me of this piece:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v672/engar/Museo%20Nacional%20Antropologia%20Madrid/Weapons/HPIM2209.jpg

nnniiiice!

[kino]

Battarra, It should look familiar, you made the top 2 replacement bands.
Great work as usual.

Spunjer, this ivory is not carved. It has 134 brass(?), dots peirced/inlaid
throughout the kakatua. BTW, that last photo, that is an amazing work
of art.

[Battara]

Thank you Kino - it was a pleasure.

Just to clarify (and raise the value of your piece a little :) ) the dots in the ivory are actually silver and not brass.

It is a large hunk of ivory as well and very nice.