[Battara]

Greetings folks!

I just picked up this Maguindanao kris on eBay. The seller says it came from a WWII vet stationed in the Philippines. Unfortunately that is all he will say and the vet died.

In any case this kris has a silver dot near the tip on both sides. The blade is laminated, but what is amazing is what I found:

1. the ganga is solid silver

2. the front under the ganga is made of inserted silver with a copper tongue

3. the hilt weighs about a pound by itself

4. the hilt is made of solid cast/chased orange swassa (9k), cast/chased/filigree yellow gold (10k+), and silver

The Maguindanao label is based in part on the blade, in part on the scabbard (which I will have to make a new one since this one is in pieces and missing some pieces). However this unique hilt has never been documented or seen as far as I know, except for something similar in the hands of none other than Datu Piang.

Enjoy.