Another Moro Kriss. This One with Arabic/Jawi(?) Script On the Blade

CharlesS · 10th February 2016, 05:24 PM

I have come across this unique kriss recently. I was primarily interested in the rarer hilt style, though it's on a later kriss(I believe first third of the 20th century).

The bonus on this was was the script, one side with the name in English and cursive, Walter Salomon. In doing a search for "Walter Salomon" I have found several of some note that would fit the era of the kriss, but no links to the Philippines.

The other side of the blade looks to be Arabic...or is it Jawi?

I have also noticed how closely this one's hilt resembles one Battara posted earlier:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...highlight=jawi

Even the blade inscriptions are in the same style with the name here even clearer, but the Arabic/Jawi script quite different.

The pommel style here was of particular interest to me, but otherwise the fittings are quite plain, with the hilt wrapped in layered black lacquered cording, and not attached one band of cording to another, as we would typically see in Moro cord wrapped hilts. The metal bands are the lower end of silver alloy.

The original scabbard came with this kriss and it was broken to pieces and beyond repair, but definitely in a Maguindanao style. The one you see is its identical replacement.

I'm hoping I will be as lucky as Battara in getting a translation of the Jawi script, but seriously doubt this example can be attributed to Datu Piang.

10th February 2016, 05:24 PM	#1
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,855	Another Moro Kriss. This One with Arabic/Jawi(?) Script On the Blade I have come across this unique kriss recently. I was primarily interested in the rarer hilt style, though it's on a later kriss(I believe first third of the 20th century). The bonus on this was was the script, one side with the name in English and cursive, Walter Salomon. In doing a search for "Walter Salomon" I have found several of some note that would fit the era of the kriss, but no links to the Philippines. The other side of the blade looks to be Arabic...or is it Jawi? I have also noticed how closely this one's hilt resembles one Battara posted earlier: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...highlight=jawi Even the blade inscriptions are in the same style with the name here even clearer, but the Arabic/Jawi script quite different. The pommel style here was of particular interest to me, but otherwise the fittings are quite plain, with the hilt wrapped in layered black lacquered cording, and not attached one band of cording to another, as we would typically see in Moro cord wrapped hilts. The metal bands are the lower end of silver alloy. The original scabbard came with this kriss and it was broken to pieces and beyond repair, but definitely in a Maguindanao style. The one you see is its identical replacement. I'm hoping I will be as lucky as Battara in getting a translation of the Jawi script, but seriously doubt this example can be attributed to Datu Piang. Attached Images