My first kris :)

[migueldiaz]

Originally Posted by apolaki

wow! that hand cannon is interesting.. so we had such a weapon back in the 15th century = 1400's?

Apolaki, that's possible I think.

And that's because the ancient Filipinos were in contact with the Chinese, long before the Spaniards and other Europeans came (in the mid-1500's).

And we all know that gunpowder originated in China.

So yes, we should feel proud that our grandfathers did not confine themselves to blade weapons! Remember also that the Filipino blacksmith Panday Pira (1483-1576) was an established cannon maker in Manila, again long before the Europeans came.

[migueldiaz]

First of all, thanks again to all who have supported my new addiction, I mean addition , to my humble collection

Can I ask a follow up question, please?

Is the number of waves in an authentic kris supposedly odd and not even, or perhaps that is not necessarily the case?

Because in Herbert Krieger's (1926) description of krisses found in the now-Smithsonian Institute, per Krieger's textual description of five krisses, in fact three out of five have even-numbered waves.

Thanks in advance.

[David]

Originally Posted by migueldiaz

Is the number of waves in an authentic kris supposedly odd and not even, or perhaps that is not necessarily the case?

Because in Herbert Krieger's (1926) description of krisses found in the now-Smithsonian Institute, per Krieger's textual description of five krisses, in fact three out of five have even-numbered waves.

Krieger probably did not count correctly or did not take into account blade erosion that would make the kris appear to have one less wave.
As far as i know kris and keris always have an odd wave count.

[migueldiaz]

Originally Posted by David

Krieger probably did not count correctly or did not take into account blade erosion that would make the kris appear to have one less wave.
As far as i know kris and keris always have an odd wave count.

Hi David,

Thanks for the comment.

In the attached pic of one of Krieger's plates, krisses nos. 1 & 3 seem to have even-numbered wave counts. Or would there be another way of counting the waves?

Thanks again.

[Rick]

#1. is 5 waves .

#3. is 13 waves .

Count from the greneng/wide side of the blade .

[David]

I concur, 5 on #1, 13 on #3.

[David]

Originally Posted by Rick

Count from the greneng/wide side of the blade .

Actually Rick, don't you mean to say that you should start your count from the other side, from the first curve just above the "elephant trunk"?

[migueldiaz]

Now I get it.

Thanks Rick and David!

[Rick]

Originally Posted by David

Actually Rick, don't you mean to say that you should start your count from the other side, from the first curve just above the "elephant trunk"?

It's funny how we can both come up with the same # using different ways to count .

I tend to do things backwards ....