"Malaysian kris/keris"

[F. de Luzon]

Originally Posted by Sajen

Hi F. de Luzon, I don't want to join a discussion about names nor I want discuss the references in relevant literature.
But there is a point at which I'm sure, there are for sure so called pure Malay sundangs/kris which are for sure not coming with pure Moro blades. So they can't be called "rehilted Moro blades", see for example here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...=malay+sundang and here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...=malay+sundang

"The Sundang is fairly well accepted as developing from some form of Indonesian keris."

This point has not been proven at all and is not even discussed in any literature on the keris. I don't think Cato even discussed it in his work on Moro swords.


"In the course of its expansion to nearby lands, this reptilian (naga) was adopted by the Malay peoples, who used it as the pattern for their keris blades. The Malay keris, in turn, eventually became the prototype for the Moro version that figured so prominently in the warface of the Southern Philippines." Moro Swords, Robert Cato, Singapore, 1996, page 61, 62

Best regards,
Detlef

Hi Detlef,

I don't have my copy of Cato right now which is why I expressed my uncertainty in my statement that you quoted. But this is only one statement and not my main argument. Nonetheless, I cited a probable source of information which was Cato.

Aside from that, it seems to me that the sundang in the examples you shared have Moro/Sulu blades.

Kind regards,

F. de Luzon