Opinions: large Kris w/ intricate inlay

Rick · 19th March 2026, 09:05 PM

I also notice that the ganja has been bashed pretty hard on its side near where the tang passes through. Is there evidence of the same on the other side?
I think we're looking at a repair here; no self-respecting Pande would have done that during manufacture.

another_rick · 19th March 2026, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

I also notice that the ganja has been bashed pretty hard on its side near where the tang passes through. Is there evidence of the same on the other side?
I think we're looking at a repair here; no self-respecting Pande would have done that during manufacture.

Yes, but I'm quite sure those are wear marks from the baca baca. Hopefully this shows up clearly:

Battara · Yesterday, 01:51 AM

This blade is from the Maguindanao tribe. They make a lot of (if not all of) these blades. It looks like a separate ganga to me, but many times the fit is so tight that lines practically disappear.

Looks like there was one baka-baka.

The tang seems to have been broken off later, thus being short.

And they often did silver inlay on these naga blades.

Ian · Yesterday, 10:57 AM

I would need an X-ray to convince me that this gangya is separate rather than a couple of engraved lines with an extensive gap between. The most recent picture shows inlaid silver work passing across where a line of separation would be expected and there is no discontinuity of the inlaid sections to suggest any separation underneath. Speculation about the existence or not of a separation line is best answered with an X-ray, and that is a simple test. Kris without separate gangya are sometimes fitted with asang asang.

Gustav · Yesterday, 01:55 PM

It makes no sense to create a design, which goes over the separation line between blade and Gangya, and at the same time incise this separation line, in case blade wouldn't have a separate Gangya.

The Kris, which Detlef posted in this thread, also has a design going over the separation line, and has a separate Gangya (according to the owner), even better hidden.

A very thight fit on Maguindanao and Maranao blades from early 20th cent. is nothing unusual. I guess the Gangya in such cases was fitted when everything was still hot.

Gustav · Yesterday, 01:59 PM

The Baca-Baca probably was of this type:

Ian · Yesterday, 10:45 PM

Thanks Gustav. Short of pulling the kris apart and physically separating the gangya to confirm that it is indeed a separate construction, the only way to show conclusively that it is separate is via X-ray. I have done this many times and confirmed that a line of separation is readily visible when present. This is much easier than taking the hilt off.

As far as the inlaid silver decoration crossing a possible line of separation without interruption on at least two examples of this style of kris, this seems to be evidence that there is no line of separation present. Until I can find another example and X-ray it, I remain skeptical that these relatively modern kris actually have separate gangya.

Regards, Ian.

Yesterday, 01:55 PM	#5
Gustav Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,318	It makes no sense to create a design, which goes over the separation line between blade and Gangya, and at the same time incise this separation line, in case blade wouldn't have a separate Gangya. The Kris, which Detlef posted in this thread, also has a design going over the separation line, and has a separate Gangya (according to the owner), even better hidden. A very thight fit on Maguindanao and Maranao blades from early 20th cent. is nothing unusual. I guess the Gangya in such cases was fitted when everything was still hot. Attached Images

Yesterday, 01:59 PM	#6
Gustav Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,318	The Baca-Baca probably was of this type: Attached Images

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19th March 2026, 09:05 PM	#1
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,414	I also notice that the ganja has been bashed pretty hard on its side near where the tang passes through. Is there evidence of the same on the other side? I think we're looking at a repair here; no self-respecting Pande would have done that during manufacture.

Yesterday, 01:51 AM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,382	This blade is from the Maguindanao tribe. They make a lot of (if not all of) these blades. It looks like a separate ganga to me, but many times the fit is so tight that lines practically disappear. Looks like there was one baka-baka. The tang seems to have been broken off later, thus being short. And they often did silver inlay on these naga blades.

Yesterday, 10:57 AM	#4
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,679	I would need an X-ray to convince me that this gangya is separate rather than a couple of engraved lines with an extensive gap between. The most recent picture shows inlaid silver work passing across where a line of separation would be expected and there is no discontinuity of the inlaid sections to suggest any separation underneath. Speculation about the existence or not of a separation line is best answered with an X-ray, and that is a simple test. Kris without separate gangya are sometimes fitted with asang asang.

Yesterday, 10:45 PM	#7
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,679	Thanks Gustav. Short of pulling the kris apart and physically separating the gangya to confirm that it is indeed a separate construction, the only way to show conclusively that it is separate is via X-ray. I have done this many times and confirmed that a line of separation is readily visible when present. This is much easier than taking the hilt off. As far as the inlaid silver decoration crossing a possible line of separation without interruption on at least two examples of this style of kris, this seems to be evidence that there is no line of separation present. Until I can find another example and X-ray it, I remain skeptical that these relatively modern kris actually have separate gangya. Regards, Ian.