Talismanic repairs??
 

I recently picked up this working mans kris. The blade is inscribed, among other things with the two curving lines that forms an oval in the middle and Sisinga Sulaiman. It is barely visible, probably due to numerous sharpenings.

Clearly you could see the repair work to the tang. Within the repair area are silver inlays, four of them, two on each side of the blade looks like 3 lines joined at at the bottom pointing towards the tip of the blade. Could these be the tines of a trident. There are remnants of the silver inlays surrounding the cut-out of the blade. I believe the silver inlays were placed after the repair work.

Comments??

Just too many of these to be repairs.
Most logical assumption would be the "Jen" failed the last warrior & needed replacement.
According to Cato's definition of Jen: "...a supernatural entity which resides within a sword. It's major functions are to protect the owner and assist him in combat."

The engravings on this last sword (suggest to me) power from the user transfered to the "Jen" & then to the rest of the sword.
The similar markings on the center guard going into the repaired section & the outer guard may be going in opposite directions. The users power going/combining into the Jen & the rest of the sword & the power of the Jen & sword coming back (outer guard) to protect the user.

I recall a story from a captured Spanish Clergy that was forced to assist a smith. He complained of all the rituals involved & waiting for correct signs before proceeding to the next steps in the process.
If all this was done to ensure a powerful "Jen" & the last owner was killed in combat, certainly no one would want or believe in the sword.

Many of the old beliefs & psyche of the old Moro warrior may be lost. My guess is this may be the results of economics. In bad times or when a sword is needed quickly, the tang/Jen replacement would have to suffice. Add in a holy man inscribing the right talismans & the new owner may have felt quite confident in his new Jen.

IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO X RAY A FEW EXAMPLES OF THIS TO SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE INTERNALLY TO SEE HOW IT WAS DONE AND TO SEE IF THERE ARE HIDDEN MARKEINGS OR TAILSMEN INSIDE THE SUSPECTED REPAIR.
CONJECTURE PERHAPS THESE SWORDS AND ONES WITH SYMBOLS ENGRAVED IN THE BLADE DENOTED, SOMEONE WITH SECRET POWERS SUCH AS A SHAMAN OR WITCH DOCTOR (IF MORO HAD SUCH) :shrug:
IN WARRIOR SOCIETYS YOUR REPUTATION AS A WARRIOR DEPENDED ON PAST VICTORIES AND A PERSON OR SWORD REPUTED TO HAVE STRONG MAGIC COULD GIVE AN EDGE AND CAUSE OTHERS TO FEAR YOU MORE.