Opinions: large keris w/ intricate inlay

another_rick · Today, 04:15 AM

Hi all. New here and looking for advice/opinions on my keris. I inherited this from my father several years ago, and despite much research, I cannot find any published examples that are truly comparable - particularly the inlay. I'm hoping someone here has some insight. If nothing else, I hope you all find this half as fascinating as I have.

Details:
1) Luk-11, blade-only (no ukiran, waranga, etc.)
2) Weight: 1,023 g
3) Length: 57.3 cm (not including pesi)
4) Blade Width: 5.4 cm at luk-1, tapering to 4.6 cm at luk-11
5) Blade Thickness: 0.60 cm at luk-1, tapering to 0.44 cm at luk-11
6) Ganja Width: 15.8 cm
7) Ganja Thickness: 1.60 cm (at center)
8) Inlay: Both sides of the blade contain the same, intricate inlay (kinitah?) that extends from ganja to tip. Inlay material is almost entirely present, but the few voids present reveal deeply cut channels (~1.5 mm).

I believe this to be from central Java, possibly late 18th century, but that's I brave to speculate at this point. Any info or questions are welcome.
(Note: Final photo a sketch-over, intending to show the full inlay design clearly.)

Thank you,
another_rick

Rick · Today, 04:48 PM

Hi Rick, welcome to the forums. As noted at the bottom of your post this has been moved to the Ethnographic forum.
This Kris is from the Philippines, not Indonesia and is from one of the Muslim Moro tribes.
An Ethnographic forum search using KRIS will provide lots of examples and information on of this type of sword.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ight=kris+moro

The Keris Warung forum is for discussions of the Keris of Indonesia.

It's a handsome blade, someone here may be able to restore the inlays for you.

Sajen · Today, 06:12 PM

Hi Rick,

Welcome to the forum!

Like Rick noted, it's a kris from the Philippines, around 1900 would be my guess. I think it's from Mindanao but I am not sure but we have members here who will be able to tell you more.
You need to clean the blade from rust, the blade will benefit from a good clean-up. To restore it to a complete kris would be what the most of us here would do, adding a fitting handle and clamps would make this a beautiful kris, the blade has beautiful inlays! The inlays have a talismanic purpose. See here for kris with talismanic inlays: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ght=kris+inlay
Attached is a very similar blade from one of our members.

Regards,
Detlef

Ian · Today, 06:19 PM

Hello another_rick.

Welcome to the Ethnographic Forum! As Rick has noted, this is an example of a Moro kris. It has a complicated inlaid pattern that is very unusual.

I don't think this is an 18th C blade, but rather late 19th or even early 20th C. judging from its width and the way the terminal luk and tip have been constructed. The dark patina and mild surface pitting suggest that the blade has not been well maintained over the last century or so.

Of note is the very short tang. It is possible that this is a broken tang, but short tangs such as this one were made that way on some early 20th C kris. I do n ot see a separate gangya, and the tang has been welded directly to the gangya rather than passing through it. Again, this suggests 20th C work.

We need some help from our Filipino colleagues to explain the significance of the motifs on this blade. Some of them appear to be influenced by a naga (snake).

Regards, Ian

P.S. My post and Detlef's crossed. I'm pleased we agree on the dating. I also agree that the blade would benefit greatly from cleaning.

Gustav · Today, 06:40 PM

I agree with the dating and everything, except with the Gangya issue - this blade has a separate Gangya.

A very nice blade for its type.

another_rick · Today, 07:19 PM

Thanks all for the feedback.
I too thought the ganya was separate and agree with the naga influence, hence, my original assessment.
More photos of the underside with different lighting. I don't see evidence of modern welding but forging, perhaps.
The closeup (60X) is the face of the pesi/tang, at juction/joint with blade/ganya.
Thanks again,
Rick

Today, 04:15 AM	#1
another_rick Member Join Date: Jan 2026 Location: Washington state, USA Posts: 2	Opinions: large keris w/ intricate inlay Hi all. New here and looking for advice/opinions on my keris. I inherited this from my father several years ago, and despite much research, I cannot find any published examples that are truly comparable - particularly the inlay. I'm hoping someone here has some insight. If nothing else, I hope you all find this half as fascinating as I have. Details: 1) Luk-11, blade-only (no ukiran, waranga, etc.) 2) Weight: 1,023 g 3) Length: 57.3 cm (not including pesi) 4) Blade Width: 5.4 cm at luk-1, tapering to 4.6 cm at luk-11 5) Blade Thickness: 0.60 cm at luk-1, tapering to 0.44 cm at luk-11 6) Ganja Width: 15.8 cm 7) Ganja Thickness: 1.60 cm (at center) 8) Inlay: Both sides of the blade contain the same, intricate inlay (kinitah?) that extends from ganja to tip. Inlay material is almost entirely present, but the few voids present reveal deeply cut channels (~1.5 mm). I believe this to be from central Java, possibly late 18th century, but that's I brave to speculate at this point. Any info or questions are welcome. (Note: Final photo a sketch-over, intending to show the full inlay design clearly.) Thank you, another_rick Attached Images Last edited by Rick; Today at 04:33 PM. Reason: Moved to Ethnographic forum, Kris not Keris

Today, 04:48 PM	#2
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,410	Hi Rick, welcome to the forums. As noted at the bottom of your post this has been moved to the Ethnographic forum. This Kris is from the Philippines, not Indonesia and is from one of the Muslim Moro tribes. An Ethnographic forum search using KRIS will provide lots of examples and information on of this type of sword. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ight=kris+moro The Keris Warung forum is for discussions of the Keris of Indonesia. It's a handsome blade, someone here may be able to restore the inlays for you. Last edited by Rick; Today at 05:02 PM.

Today, 06:12 PM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,654	Hi Rick, Welcome to the forum! Like Rick noted, it's a kris from the Philippines, around 1900 would be my guess. I think it's from Mindanao but I am not sure but we have members here who will be able to tell you more. You need to clean the blade from rust, the blade will benefit from a good clean-up. To restore it to a complete kris would be what the most of us here would do, adding a fitting handle and clamps would make this a beautiful kris, the blade has beautiful inlays! The inlays have a talismanic purpose. See here for kris with talismanic inlays: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ght=kris+inlay Attached is a very similar blade from one of our members. Regards, Detlef Attached Images

Today, 06:19 PM	#4
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,677	Hello another_rick. Welcome to the Ethnographic Forum! As Rick has noted, this is an example of a Moro kris. It has a complicated inlaid pattern that is very unusual. I don't think this is an 18th C blade, but rather late 19th or even early 20th C. judging from its width and the way the terminal luk and tip have been constructed. The dark patina and mild surface pitting suggest that the blade has not been well maintained over the last century or so. Of note is the very short tang. It is possible that this is a broken tang, but short tangs such as this one were made that way on some early 20th C kris. I do n ot see a separate gangya, and the tang has been welded directly to the gangya rather than passing through it. Again, this suggests 20th C work. We need some help from our Filipino colleagues to explain the significance of the motifs on this blade. Some of them appear to be influenced by a naga (snake). Regards, Ian P.S. My post and Detlef's crossed. I'm pleased we agree on the dating. I also agree that the blade would benefit greatly from cleaning. Last edited by Ian; Today at 06:29 PM.

Today, 07:19 PM	#6
another_rick Member Join Date: Jan 2026 Location: Washington state, USA Posts: 2	Thanks all for the feedback. I too thought the ganya was separate and agree with the naga influence, hence, my original assessment. More photos of the underside with different lighting. I don't see evidence of modern welding but forging, perhaps. The closeup (60X) is the face of the pesi/tang, at juction/joint with blade/ganya. Thanks again, Rick Attached Images

Today, 06:40 PM	#5
Gustav Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,313	I agree with the dating and everything, except with the Gangya issue - this blade has a separate Gangya. A very nice blade for its type.