A Puzzle
xasterix,
I have a couple of Moro kris with that floating panel feature. I think it sits slightly proud of the surrounding hilt and is designed to grip the tang more tightly when the rattan banding or cord wrap is added. As your garab shows, the technique was used in both north and south. Were it not for the lack of a ghost of any additional wrap on the hilt, I would agree with Battara and Sajen that the hilt was originally bound up to the end of the rebate. On the kris examples I have, the floating panel was completely covered with cord wrap. A full wrap would certainly be more advantageous mechanically than to have just one end bound. I also wonder whether someone in the culture would have been willing to have a hilt pin showing so visibly. But, as your photos show, there is no ghost of additional hilt wrap.
Sincerely,
RobT
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