Questions about a Moro Kris

kai · 18th November 2010, 08:00 PM

Hello Joe,

That's a genuine Moro kris from Mindanao; the hilt makes me think it may be Maranao. The wirework looks like silver, indeed, and I guess the metal sheet is silver-plated brass. The pommel may be a bit loose and/or its core may have shrunk a bit.

Heavily engraved blades tend to be later and this is also supported by the lesser quality of the scrollwork at the gangya area. Most of these blades don't have a seperate gangya and I believe this example also has an integral gangya. While there are a few blades of the latter style from the late 19th c., this one is IMHO from the 20th c. and I'd estimate it to date from 1920-1940. Same-o for the hilt which seems to be original to the blade.

This kris most likely was primarily a status piece (datu or affluent member of the Moro society) but still be useable as a weapon. AFAIK these were crafted for local use but I'm not sure wether some of these swords may have found a short-cut into some US soldier's collection (during the later years of the US occupation trade/presentation was a more likely source than battlefield pick-ups).

Regards,
Kai

18th November 2010, 08:00 PM	#2
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Hello Joe, That's a genuine Moro kris from Mindanao; the hilt makes me think it may be Maranao. The wirework looks like silver, indeed, and I guess the metal sheet is silver-plated brass. The pommel may be a bit loose and/or its core may have shrunk a bit. Heavily engraved blades tend to be later and this is also supported by the lesser quality of the scrollwork at the gangya area. Most of these blades don't have a seperate gangya and I believe this example also has an integral gangya. While there are a few blades of the latter style from the late 19th c., this one is IMHO from the 20th c. and I'd estimate it to date from 1920-1940. Same-o for the hilt which seems to be original to the blade. This kris most likely was primarily a status piece (datu or affluent member of the Moro society) but still be useable as a weapon. AFAIK these were crafted for local use but I'm not sure wether some of these swords may have found a short-cut into some US soldier's collection (during the later years of the US occupation trade/presentation was a more likely source than battlefield pick-ups). Regards, Kai