Kris sundang in London

[Ian]

Hello Adam,

This is a Malayan sword rather than a Filipino Moro blade. As you know, Malaya was under British rule for some time, and this probably explains why it ended up in London. It has a nice clean blade and patina suggesting it has some age. The "stirrups" (asang asang, baca baca) occur on some Malayan sundang, similar to what are found on Moro kris. Another Malayan feature is the small silver (?) ferrule which resembles a mendak seen on keris. Comparable Moro ferrules on kris are short and cylindrical, without the bulge seen on this hilt. I'm not sure if the rest of the hilt is original.

Age is hard to assess from pictures. I would guess 19th C or first half of 20th C. Malayan sundang are still being made.

Regard, Ian