Huge Moro kris

[kai]

Hello Flavio,

Congrats, I'm very pleased that Roman's piece found a good new home!

IMHO a very nice Maguindanao kris: the blade is of Mindanao crossover style (according to Cato's classification) and the size of the blade combined with the simple hilt decorations and the one-piece asang-asang pretty much nails it AFAIK.

the greneng is quite unusual, maybe of a simpler type for a "working" piece

It's nice work - I guess the carving style of most kris reflects more what has been agreed upon between panday and future owner (following local traditions and possibly including mystic symbolism) rather than wealth and status per se. BTW, this is one of the few Moro kris I've seen where the scroll work along the longer side of the gangya isn't mirrored or at least reflected at the shorter side.

How should look like a scabbard for this kris? I'd like to try to make one in the future

The scabbard shown is a perfect fit for a Maguindanao kris. The outer side (not shown here) usually has an inserted wood notch which helps to hold the scabbard in the sash.

Regards,
Kai

[Flavio]

Thank you Kai Sorry but I haven't well understand this

Originally Posted by kai

BTW, this is one of the few Moro kris I've seen where the incisions along the longer side of the gangya aren't mirrored or at least reflected at the shorter side.

[kai]

Hello Flavio,

I'm speaking of the carvings at the asymmetrical base of the kris blade (I'm trying to avoid the word "greneng"): Usually, you see the same or very similar motifs along both "edges"...

Regards,
Kai

[Flavio]

Ah, yes Kai, now I understand, you mean the file works on the "head" of the "elefant" and the "greneng" area . Yeah, it's unusual to see different kind of decoration

[Rick]

Originally Posted by kai

Hello Flavio,

I'm speaking of the carvings at the asymmetrical base of the kris blade (I'm trying to avoid the word "greneng"): Usually, you see the same or very similar motifs along both "edges"...

Regards,
Kai

Agreed, a bit unusual that there is no reflection of the style carried over.

It's a shame there is no Moro term (that I know of) to substitute for the word greneng .

Flavio, will you etch this piece ?

[Bill]

Flavio, will you etch this piece ?[/QUOTE]
Have a feeling this blade won't etch. Have a couple of these large Mindanao fighting kriss; they most likely were re-cycled steel. It looks like a rough grit sandpaper was used to clean the blade. I'm also cautious about the hilt & fitting. While hilts from Mindanao often have "knob" hilts, all the big large ones I've seen had "horse's hoof". The fitting looks old but looks like it was cut to fit for the clamp. I'd just use some vineger on the blade to see if it will etch, if nothing else it will take some of the shine off.

[Flavio]

Hello Rick, I'm quite undecided to etch the blade. I can see some lamination in the sunlight, so the blade is not monosteel, but I really like also this shiny finish, so I don't know Bill I think that the handle is original to the blade: the ferrule is casting brass and at some point of its life was broken and not cut to re-fit, at least it's wat I can see. Also the dimension of the handle is good for the huge blade, thank you

[kai]

Hello Flavio,

I was also going to suggest etching.

Leaving the a Moro blade in high polish would be akin to treating a genuine nihonto with warangan...

Regards,
Kai

[Rick]

Originally Posted by Flavio

Hello Rick, I'm quite undecided to etch the blade. I can see some lamination in the sunlight, so the blade is not monosteel, but I really like also this shiny finish, so I don't know Bill I think that the handle is original to the blade: the ferrule is casting brass and at some point of its life was broken and not cut to re-fit, at least it's wat I can see. Also the dimension of the handle is good for the huge blade, thank you

Hi Flavio,

If you can see the lamination in the blade as it is and you like the polish I think you should go with your instincts; after all the sword is yours .