A Spectacular Moro Blade With a Not-So-Spectacular Hilt

Lee · 25th September 2019, 09:20 AM

Really nice and exactly how I like them! Whatever the reason for the unassuming hilt - and Ian's thoughts about it being mounted for serious use as a weapon make sense to me - I much prefer a great blade so hidden than the opposite situation of very fancy dress over a blade capable of only holding hilt and scabbard together for show.

Battara · 27th September 2019, 06:01 AM

I forgot to mention that this appears to be a Maguindanao kris.

ariel · 28th September 2019, 01:42 PM

Ian, Lee and Jose’s perspective is valuable. We often assume that “ not pretty” is a sign of “not authentic”, or worse, - “not worthy”. In any fighting sword it was the blade that counted first and foremost. Handles reflected ethnicity of the object , fighting style and financial state of the owner.Elaborate and richly decorated handles were only rarely intended for the battlefield, and often lack historical significance. Not for nothing did Elgood noticed that Indian swords from the V&A collection assembled early have incompatible handles and blades, whereas in Wallace collection, assembled after ~1870 they are perfectly contemporaneous betraying their late court manufacture.The al Sabah collection is in fact a collection of late rich and beautiful jewellery.
That being said, everything depends on the wishes and preferences of the collector. Some go for the historical significance and practical authenticity, other go for the esthetic impact. To each his own.

Lee’s “how I like them” sums it up.

25th September 2019, 09:20 AM	#1
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 970	exactly how I like them Really nice and exactly how I like them! Whatever the reason for the unassuming hilt - and Ian's thoughts about it being mounted for serious use as a weapon make sense to me - I much prefer a great blade so hidden than the opposite situation of very fancy dress over a blade capable of only holding hilt and scabbard together for show.

27th September 2019, 06:01 AM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,345	I forgot to mention that this appears to be a Maguindanao kris.

28th September 2019, 01:42 PM	#3
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Ian, Lee and Jose’s perspective is valuable. We often assume that “ not pretty” is a sign of “not authentic”, or worse, - “not worthy”. In any fighting sword it was the blade that counted first and foremost. Handles reflected ethnicity of the object , fighting style and financial state of the owner.Elaborate and richly decorated handles were only rarely intended for the battlefield, and often lack historical significance. Not for nothing did Elgood noticed that Indian swords from the V&A collection assembled early have incompatible handles and blades, whereas in Wallace collection, assembled after ~1870 they are perfectly contemporaneous betraying their late court manufacture.The al Sabah collection is in fact a collection of late rich and beautiful jewellery. That being said, everything depends on the wishes and preferences of the collector. Some go for the historical significance and practical authenticity, other go for the esthetic impact. To each his own. Lee’s “how I like them” sums it up.