Another Odd Moro Kriss
 

This Moro kriss will not win any awards for its age or asthetics, but is an interesting piece nonetheless. Likely from the first third of the 20th century this is a long, heavy, bulky kriss. The blade is not extraordinary, but decently forged.

It's the hilt's garuda design that drew my interest because it is not often seen. The hilt is hardwood I believe, but could be horn. It is embellished with silver alloy medallions that are nailed into it. These medallions are not particularly well executed and I do not recognise them as talismanic symbols....need your help here Battara. I think they are just for blingy decoration.

The scabbard is new.

Interesting piece, if not of superb quality, and was curious about your thoughts.

Interesting piece. Blade maybe Maguindanao. The designs on the plates are just okir, nothing more talismanic. Yes I think the pommel is wood.

The ferrule and band under pommel may be later additions.

A very rare piece!
I have seen only a few of the Garuda-hilted kris and they have had the Garuda made in bone or ivory. Those seems to originally have been Sumatran keris hilt's but yours seems to be made for this kris.
Some good reference pictures of this hilt variation are found in Sejr Jensen's Kris disk, the Borneo chapter.

Michael

Nice lines Charles. Very much like the way the angles of the blade grinding look like they continue into Garuda.

Nice kris with a very rare hilt form! :eek:

Regards,

Detlef

Nice!!!
can't believe you already got a scabbard for it, lol...

You know I don't play, Spunjer! :p