Moro kris...which type ?

Freddy · 22nd January 2010, 06:08 PM

I got this Moro kris this week. My guess is that it's an all original piece, though in a somewhat battered state.

The blade is curved (15 luk), a bit rusty and shows some signs of pitting. It's rather slender and still very, very sharp.

The handle is wound with cord and attached to the blade with two metal 'straps' (don't know the proper term, sorry

). The top part of the handle is missing. Perhaps another forum member could show me what the missing part should be.

The sheath is made out of wood, held together with some iron straps near the bottom and two aluminium (?) straps near the top.

Total length of this piece is 62,5 cm when sheathed. The blade itself measures 53,5 cm. The maximum width of the blade is 2,8 cm.

Battara · 22nd January 2010, 09:18 PM

Hi Freddy,

This is a Maguindanao kris and from around the turn of the 20c. Parts are original except for the aluminum parts which were added around WWII.

What was on top was a section made of different layers of horn or turtle shell, chased and stamped silver, and or MOP. Below are pictures of mine with MOP, turtle shell, and swassa (it is like yours in form).

asomotif · 27th February 2010, 09:05 PM

Hello Freddy,

The fittings on the hilt, are they also aluminium ?

Best regards,
Willem

Battara · 28th February 2010, 12:17 AM

The fittings do look aluminum don't they?

ThePepperSkull · 28th February 2010, 06:10 AM

I was about to say. Silver doesn't tarnish to a blue hue. I wonder if these fittings are Aluminum. It definitely appears so.

asomotif · 28th February 2010, 11:14 PM

In that case, what would the top of the hilt has looked like ?

I don't think they would combine aluminium with MOP and turtle shell, would they

ThePepperSkull · 1st March 2010, 12:42 AM

you never know. I saw a WWII piece on a youtube video of someone who found a kris from a relative who brought it back from the war, and it had Swassa and silver on the hilt, with some Aluminum bands on the sheath.

Battara · 1st March 2010, 01:06 AM

I feel that the aluminum was added later or the piece is was later made.

22nd January 2010, 06:08 PM	#1
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Moro kris...which type ? I got this Moro kris this week. My guess is that it's an all original piece, though in a somewhat battered state. The blade is curved (15 luk), a bit rusty and shows some signs of pitting. It's rather slender and still very, very sharp. The handle is wound with cord and attached to the blade with two metal 'straps' (don't know the proper term, sorry ). The top part of the handle is missing. Perhaps another forum member could show me what the missing part should be. The sheath is made out of wood, held together with some iron straps near the bottom and two aluminium (?) straps near the top. Total length of this piece is 62,5 cm when sheathed. The blade itself measures 53,5 cm. The maximum width of the blade is 2,8 cm.

22nd January 2010, 09:18 PM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,139	Hi Freddy, This is a Maguindanao kris and from around the turn of the 20c. Parts are original except for the aluminum parts which were added around WWII. What was on top was a section made of different layers of horn or turtle shell, chased and stamped silver, and or MOP. Below are pictures of mine with MOP, turtle shell, and swassa (it is like yours in form). Attached Images

27th February 2010, 09:05 PM	#3
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,221	Hello Freddy, The fittings on the hilt, are they also aluminium ? Best regards, Willem

28th February 2010, 12:17 AM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,139	The fittings do look aluminum don't they?

28th February 2010, 06:10 AM	#5
ThePepperSkull Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 338	I was about to say. Silver doesn't tarnish to a blue hue. I wonder if these fittings are Aluminum. It definitely appears so.

28th February 2010, 11:14 PM	#6
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,221	In that case, what would the top of the hilt has looked like ? I don't think they would combine aluminium with MOP and turtle shell, would they

1st March 2010, 12:42 AM	#7
ThePepperSkull Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 338	you never know. I saw a WWII piece on a youtube video of someone who found a kris from a relative who brought it back from the war, and it had Swassa and silver on the hilt, with some Aluminum bands on the sheath.

1st March 2010, 01:06 AM	#8
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,139	I feel that the aluminum was added later or the piece is was later made.