A luzon(?) kris for comment.

[Rafngard]

Hello all,

A new ebay acquisition. I'm pretty sure it's from the Philippines, and I think, based on the guard that it's from Luzon, but I really don't know much about these.

Seller says that the handle is horn, I'm not certain. The fittings seem like brass.

Clearly it needs some love, and apparently has spent most, if not all of my life time in a box among dozens of other knives. I'm glad it could come out and see the light.

I'm more than happen to hear any comments, opinions, etc that people more knowledgeable than I have on this.

Have fun,
Leif

[Ian]

Yes. This is a Luzon kris. Probably mid-20th C in manufacture. There are quite a few of these around and they were made largely for American service men and others as souvenirs of their visit to the Philippines. The quality of workmanship on the blades and hilts is often good and they are functional daggers, not pieces of junk.

Ian

[Rafngard]

Originally Posted by Ian

they were made largely for American service men and others as souvenirs of their visit to the Philippines.
Ian

So not necessarily ethnographic?

Have fun,
Leif

[Rick]

Originally Posted by Rafngard

So not necessarily ethnographic?

Have fun,
Leif

No, Ethnographic .
Horn handle looks nice; the blade is a bit roughly finished, but that's okay .
Maybe the style was influenced by the Southern Philippines; but quite a long time ago .

Definitely Ethnographic .

[Rafngard]

I thought "produced for local use" was one of the criteria. Am I incorrect on this?

Thanks,
Leif

[Rick]

Pretty sure someone around here can produce a Katipunan wavy dagger; but it's not me .
That might serve the criteria .
The piece looks pre-wwar II to me .

The interesting thing about your horn handle is that it looks radially cut; not lengthwise as is usual .

If you don't like it .... I'm here .

[Rafngard]

Originally Posted by Rick

If you don't like it .... I'm here .

Hah! Nice try. I'm super happy with it, and it's very happy here, hanging out with my Vasayan pieces. It's not so sure about the Moro pieces though; they keep talking about revolution.

Have fun,
Leif

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Rick

The piece looks pre-wwar II to me .

Hello Rick,

at this point I disagree, I think that it is a WWII or slightly later Luzon dagger, the cast guard is the giveaway IMHO.
Still a dignified collector item.

Regards,
Detlef

[Ian]

Originally Posted by Sajen

... I think that it is a WWII or slightly later Luzon dagger, the cast guard is the giveaway IMHO. ...

Agree

Ian

[Roland_M]

Originally Posted by Rafngard

Seller says that the handle is horn, I'm not certain. The fittings seem like brass.

Have fun,
Leif

Hello Leif,

you can check whether horn or not by holding the handle under halogen light or with a flashlight. Horn is often a little translucent like a brown finger nail. Check the edges for this effect.

Regards

[Rafngard]

Originally Posted by Roland_M

Hello Leif,

you can check whether horn or not by holding the handle under halogen light or with a flashlight. Horn is often a little translucent like a brown finger nail. Check the edges for this effect.

Regards

Thanks! I'll have to give that a try when I get home tonight.

Thanks,
Leif

[David]

Originally Posted by Ian

Yes. This is a Luzon kris.

Well, not to stir the pot too much here, but i wouldn't call it a kris.

[Ian]

David, you are correct of course. It is a flambé style of dagger which has likely been adapted from the Moro gunong to the south. Unfortunately, it is often referred to as a "Luzon kris," both in Luzon and among collectors. In fact, I have never heard a Tagalog describe it otherwise. Perhaps there is a particular term in Ilocano or one of the other Luzon dialects.

Ian.

[Battara]

I agree with Ian and Sajen so far. I might add that usually this type of wavy blade is seen in Ilocos Norte, northwest Luzon.