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Old 13th August 2015, 03:17 AM   #1
Rafngard
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Default A luzon(?) kris for comment.

Hello all,

A new ebay acquisition. I'm pretty sure it's from the Philippines, and I think, based on the guard that it's from Luzon, but I really don't know much about these.

Seller says that the handle is horn, I'm not certain. The fittings seem like brass.

Clearly it needs some love, and apparently has spent most, if not all of my life time in a box among dozens of other knives. I'm glad it could come out and see the light.

I'm more than happen to hear any comments, opinions, etc that people more knowledgeable than I have on this.

Have fun,
Leif
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Old 13th August 2015, 03:34 AM   #2
Ian
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Yes. This is a Luzon kris. Probably mid-20th C in manufacture. There are quite a few of these around and they were made largely for American service men and others as souvenirs of their visit to the Philippines. The quality of workmanship on the blades and hilts is often good and they are functional daggers, not pieces of junk.

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Old 13th August 2015, 03:38 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian
they were made largely for American service men and others as souvenirs of their visit to the Philippines.
Ian
So not necessarily ethnographic?

Have fun,
Leif
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Old 13th August 2015, 03:57 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rafngard
So not necessarily ethnographic?

Have fun,
Leif
No, Ethnographic .
Horn handle looks nice; the blade is a bit roughly finished, but that's okay .
Maybe the style was influenced by the Southern Philippines; but quite a long time ago .

Definitely Ethnographic .
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Old 13th August 2015, 03:58 AM   #5
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I thought "produced for local use" was one of the criteria. Am I incorrect on this?

Thanks,
Leif
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Old 13th August 2015, 04:01 AM   #6
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Pretty sure someone around here can produce a Katipunan wavy dagger; but it's not me .
That might serve the criteria .
The piece looks pre-wwar II to me .

The interesting thing about your horn handle is that it looks radially cut; not lengthwise as is usual .

If you don't like it .... I'm here .
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Old 13th August 2015, 04:46 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rick
If you don't like it .... I'm here .
Hah! Nice try. I'm super happy with it, and it's very happy here, hanging out with my Vasayan pieces. It's not so sure about the Moro pieces though; they keep talking about revolution.

Have fun,
Leif
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Old 13th August 2015, 01:50 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rick
The piece looks pre-wwar II to me .
Hello Rick,

at this point I disagree, I think that it is a WWII or slightly later Luzon dagger, the cast guard is the giveaway IMHO.
Still a dignified collector item.

Regards,
Detlef
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Old 13th August 2015, 02:57 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sajen
... I think that it is a WWII or slightly later Luzon dagger, the cast guard is the giveaway IMHO. ...
Agree

Ian
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Old 13th August 2015, 03:04 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rafngard

Seller says that the handle is horn, I'm not certain. The fittings seem like brass.

Have fun,
Leif
Hello Leif,

you can check whether horn or not by holding the handle under halogen light or with a flashlight. Horn is often a little translucent like a brown finger nail. Check the edges for this effect.

Regards
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Old 13th August 2015, 03:57 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Roland_M
Hello Leif,

you can check whether horn or not by holding the handle under halogen light or with a flashlight. Horn is often a little translucent like a brown finger nail. Check the edges for this effect.

Regards
Thanks! I'll have to give that a try when I get home tonight.

Thanks,
Leif
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Old 14th August 2015, 12:52 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian
Yes. This is a Luzon kris.
Well, not to stir the pot too much here, but i wouldn't call it a kris.
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Old 14th August 2015, 01:18 AM   #13
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David, you are correct of course. It is a flambé style of dagger which has likely been adapted from the Moro gunong to the south. Unfortunately, it is often referred to as a "Luzon kris," both in Luzon and among collectors. In fact, I have never heard a Tagalog describe it otherwise. Perhaps there is a particular term in Ilocano or one of the other Luzon dialects.

Ian.
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Old 15th August 2015, 04:57 AM   #14
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I agree with Ian and Sajen so far. I might add that usually this type of wavy blade is seen in Ilocos Norte, northwest Luzon.
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