Antique kalis for comment

[Battara]

I find it interesting that the inner core of the blade is very wavy whereas the edges are shallower and not matching as much.

I agree that this is probably earlier than mid-19c and the smith was a true master. Also, I noticed that the engraved lines going down both sides of the blade once had silver inlay.

Thanks for posting this Ray!

[Ian]

Originally Posted by Battara

I find it interesting that the inner core of the blade is very wavy whereas the edges are shallower and not matching as much. ...!

It's almost as though there has been an attempt to obliterate the waves and convert it to a straight blade.

[xasterix]

Originally Posted by Battara

I find it interesting that the inner core of the blade is very wavy whereas the edges are shallower and not matching as much.

I agree that this is probably earlier than mid-19c and the smith was a true master. Also, I noticed that the engraved lines going down both sides of the blade once had silver inlay.

Thanks for posting this Ray!

Thanks for the assessment! Sirs Jose and Ian, I think the shallower-than-usual form of the blade profile may likely be due to: 1) extensive sharpening; 2) owner's preference; 3) era- or area-specific signature.

It can also be a combination of those factors. I've seen at least 3 other Sulu kalis from the late 1800s-early 1900s era which also had shallow waves (and one of them was also twistcore). But admittedly, mine is the shallowest of them all

[Ian]

Originally Posted by xasterix

Thanks for the assessment! Sirs Jose and Ian, I think the shallower-than-usual form of the blade profile may likely be due to: 1) extensive sharpening; 2) owner's preference; 3) era- or area-specific signature.

It can also be a combination of those factors. I've seen at least 3 other Sulu kalis from the late 1800s-early 1900s era which also had shallow waves (and one of them was also twistcore). But admittedly, mine is the shallowest of them all

Ray, I think your example is more marked than many similar blades. Very shallow waves are a fairly common feature on some of the long, broad-bladed examples of the era you mentioned. I've seen them in Maguindanao and Maranao dress also.

[Battara]

Originally Posted by Ian

I've seen them in Maguindanao and Maranao dress also.

Same here. I've seen these too.

[xasterix]

Originally Posted by Battara

Same here. I've seen these too.

From a functional POV, I favor the shallow-waved; they're easier to sharpen and cut with, as opposed to the curvy-wavy types

[Ian]

Hi xas,

Here is another Sulu kalis of roughly the same time period as yours. It sold at auction recently for a surprising high amount IMHO. It also shows shallow waves and edge hardening, with a tall gangya. The blade appears to be Maguindanao in manufacture, based on the arrangement of the secar kacang/gandhik and the horizontal jalen. The silver mounted hilt has a circular pommel with an interesting design engraved on its silver butte plate—two squares enclosing a pentagram.

It looks to me that this kris started out with one asang asang (two-piece construction) and had a second asang asang added later (no protrusion along the hilt visible and the engraving is different). I think it started life as a Maguindnao kris and at some point was redressed with a Sulu hilt and an extra asang asang was added.

.

[xasterix]

Originally Posted by Ian

Hi xas,

Here is another Sulu kalis of roughly the same time period as yours. It sold at auction recently for a surprising high amount IMHO. It also shows shallow waves and edge hardening, with a tall gangya. The blade appears to be Maguindanao in manufacture, based on the arrangement of the secar kacang/gandhik and the horizontal jalen. The silver mounted hilt has a circular pommel with an interesting design engraved on its silver butte plate—two squares enclosing a pentagram.

It looks to me that this kris started out with one asang asang (two-piece construction) and had a second asang asang added later (no protrusion along the hilt visible and the engraving is different). I think it started life as a Maguindnao kris and at some point was redressed with a Sulu hilt and an extra asang asang was added.

.

Halloo, sorry for neglecting to respond to this- I agree that's a late 1800s/early 1900s Maguindanao kris-blade but I think the hilt and fittings (including asang-asang) are pre-WW2 Maranao, possibly replacements or upgrades. The scabbard is interesting- there are brass pins, so I'm curious to see what the other side looks like. The Yakan sometimes place brass pins on weapons that they either make or appropriate; if the scabbard-plate also has brass pins, that would point to a previous Yakan ownership; the Yakan owner would've called that 'kalis.' The esoteric symbols on the butt are a divination star within the Ring of Solomon, those two symbols usually go together.