Mindanao sundang kris
length: 28 1/2"
This sundang sword kris was originally published on my "Whatsit" page of items to
be identified.
I received answers from two generous and knowledgable fellow collectors,
who's informational debt I'm in. I've left the original "Whatsit" entry and
comments listed here as an insightful exercise for the reader/seeker. The
photographs have been updated since the original publication.
original whatsit note - I'm going to immediately throw myself upon the mercy of the Malaysian
experts and admit that I know diddly-squat about kris. This one's massive.
Looks like glue remains on the pommel end, I presume there was a silver cap
at one time. The white gunk in between the silver bands on the handle can be
picked off to reveal
the wood underneath - I don't know if this gunk was part of the original or
was a repair attempt helping to fill in the gouge on the thumb-side of the
grip.
note received 3/20/01 from Ian Greaves:
note received 4/07/01 from Mike Dandaneau:
Thanks, guys!
blade: 23"
blade width: 1 13/16"
grip: 5 1/2"
width at blade base: 4 5/8"
"Hi Hal:
Just caught up with your mystery kris on your web site. Looks to me like a
classical Moro kris, most likely from the southern part of Mindanao or
Sulu,
although similar forms are found throughout the Malay archipelago. The
upturned blade tip is typical, though, of some of the heavy Moro kris.
The blade looks like it is in reasonable shape apart from some light
surface
rust, no knicks or signs of heavy sharpening, but the hilt is a mess. The
octagonal pommel almost certainly had plates of pearl or ivory at one
time,
and was probably of reasonable quality because the chiseled blade
decoration
is somewhat unusual on Moro weapons, except on better quality pieces."
"you've got a Moro war/battle kris from
southern Mindanao, late 1800's to mid 1900's, definitely of better than
average quality, and most likely on this piece, the handle was originally
covered with thin mother-of-pearl slabs, each glued and lightly pinned, also
ornately engraved.(mine has enough remaining segments that I'm trying to
re-engrave replacements in a restoration attempt)
The blade pattern may be actually a type of makers mark or associated
with a certain area or sect....I have one exactly like it and two other
slightly smaller and more elaborate with very similar blade patterns.( The
markings also make me think maybe early to mid 1900's, but not sure yet)
I have a friend in the Philippines trying to track down more for me, but
he's hesitant, saying non-Muslim merchants have a bad habit of not returning
from the area, even today.........the "gunky" area was probably wrapped in
cording for a secure
battle grip...this may be the underlying glue, but looks like someone tried
to restore it without success...appears too "fresh" to go with the rest of
the piece from the photo."
9/25/01