New Maguindanao Kris Form

[Spunjer]

Originally Posted by kai

Sorry for joining the party that late...

Congrats Jose - I'm very glad you got this spectacular kris to mellow the sorrow earlier this year!

While Jose's kris is very, very similar to Datu Pinang's shown on the well-known pic, I'm sure it's not the same piece: There are several differences in details - most obviously seen in the okir of the wing; also the ring closest to the blade seem to be differently ornamented. You can most easily verify if you check the holes/windows of the open-worked okir along the edge of the wing starting from the curly tip: it goes small-large-small vs. large-small-large. Despite the limited resolution of the Datu Pinang pic, there are some more okir details that are different. It would still be very interesting to hear wether there is any wear detectable that would indicate a similar strap construction.

The kris on Piang's picture is the clearest we've got but unfortunately the minute details are very hard to discern, so I was basing my assumption on the the general outline. The details you mentioned are unfortunately pretty smeared, and we can just again assume that it might or might not be similar. I was looking at the reverse number 7, the three pretzel looking okir to the right of it, another pretzel/bowtie looking okir just above the reverse 7, and the overall motif of the wing appendage okir. But then again Jose mentioned that the top ring is immovable, so I guess it's all moot...

[CCUAL]

Photos from ebay auction. See photo #3 the ring was cut for internal clamp stirrup.

[Battara]

The only problem with this supposition is that there is absolutely no room for internal fitting because the wood core is too tight against the fittings and there no room either next to the tang (yes I took off the hilt).

I find it more likely that the silver strip bend in a way that part went on top and the other part went up the hilt.

However in general I would agree with you.

[CCUAL]

Honestly, I am with Spunjer on this one, if this kris is not the one on the photo there is a stought possibility that this belongs to datu Piang's
personal collections. The extravagance of materials used in your kris
is superlative that only a well off datu can afford or Piang himself.
In the other hand, this might had belonged to a datu influenced by
Piang or blood related.

I was right behind you on that auction, I kind'da bumped a little for you as I wanted it my self, I had the same thoughts about it. I would keep it as is if that was mine, we just do not know for fact what's behind it. Sweet catch Albovias.

I hope you don't get bored with it right away and start monkeying with it.

[Battara]

Here is a picture of what I am talking about: the evidence of a second baka-baka.

[Battara]

And these pictures illustrate evidence of the possibility of another ring - note the cuts in the swassa metal along the lines parallel to the other rings below.

[Battara]

Thus I will try to make a second baka-baka to match the other with metal strips going up the sides. However, I may just leave the top ring alone since it is very tight and I am afraid of breaking it.