Moro Kris

kronckew · 23rd January 2008, 01:48 PM

moro kris arrived today, i am quite pleased with it, grip is tight, complete and undamaged except for a couple small pieces of MOP inlay that have been chipped. blade is sharp, had a few black rust spots but nothing active. needed a bit of a clean to get some white metal polish residue off the copper baca-bacas and the gangya nooks and crannies. ran a steel along the edges to clean off a couple small rust spots, the blade 'sings' when its stroked

it has now been oiled with scented mineral oil .

i see that the ebay pics have disappeared, so here are some more.

not shown, the pommel end had two triangular pieces of MOP inlayed either side of a decorative carved transverse groove.

the scabbard is fancy carved on the port side of the scabbard, and not carved at all on the starboard side. the upper corner has in some past trauma had part of the wood knocked off and that has been smoothed and blackened, leaving the upper protrusion of the gangya exposed.

if the scabbard is worn left side to show the carvings, the grip points to the rear and the scabbard must be twisted 90 degrees clockwise in order to grip correctly for a quick draw/strike iado fashion. if the owner was a lefty, and wore it on the right, it would be correct for a european style cross draw.

kronckew · 23rd January 2008, 02:40 PM

some more photos of the gangya, scabbard mouth and grip, pommel end.

i really like this sword...

Rick · 23rd January 2008, 08:40 PM

Wearing the Kris .

kronckew · 23rd January 2008, 09:57 PM

thanks for that, makes a bit more sense of the carry. the only other clear picture i've found was a datu with a fancy ivory hilted kris which looked like it was in the sash with the longer portion of the gangya facing to the rear which is the opposite of the one in your pic & opposite to how mine appears. tribal differences?

Battara · 23rd January 2008, 10:23 PM

I think one is for show wear (datus) and the other is for fighting.

kronckew · 23rd January 2008, 10:39 PM

i found another one with the same placement

good, i'd rather have a battle one than a show one anyway. that datu one above with the fancy ivory looks rather fragile.

Battara · 23rd January 2008, 10:46 PM

Only because he is old and probably survived many battles. It could also be a certain type of kris. I have never seen the cockatua hilted ones looking backward, only forward, and some were battle pieces.

kronckew · 23rd January 2008, 10:59 PM

i meant the hilt looked fragile, not the datu, he looks like he's not someone we'd like to mess with. i'd believe the krag and the ivory hilted .38 were his war souvenirs....

in university my fencing instructor was a little old 70 year old man about 5 ft 2in. tall and maybe 120 pounds. he was also the toughest person i've seen. he was also an ex hungarian army colonel and i gather he was a national sabre champion back in the thirties...you did not mess with him, he was always two steps ahead of you.

23rd January 2008, 01:48 PM	#1
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,239	moro kris arrived today, i am quite pleased with it, grip is tight, complete and undamaged except for a couple small pieces of MOP inlay that have been chipped. blade is sharp, had a few black rust spots but nothing active. needed a bit of a clean to get some white metal polish residue off the copper baca-bacas and the gangya nooks and crannies. ran a steel along the edges to clean off a couple small rust spots, the blade 'sings' when its stroked it has now been oiled with scented mineral oil . i see that the ebay pics have disappeared, so here are some more. not shown, the pommel end had two triangular pieces of MOP inlayed either side of a decorative carved transverse groove. the scabbard is fancy carved on the port side of the scabbard, and not carved at all on the starboard side. the upper corner has in some past trauma had part of the wood knocked off and that has been smoothed and blackened, leaving the upper protrusion of the gangya exposed. if the scabbard is worn left side to show the carvings, the grip points to the rear and the scabbard must be twisted 90 degrees clockwise in order to grip correctly for a quick draw/strike iado fashion. if the owner was a lefty, and wore it on the right, it would be correct for a european style cross draw. Last edited by kronckew; 23rd January 2008 at 02:50 PM.

23rd January 2008, 08:40 PM	#3
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,347	A Tausug Wearing the Kris . Attached Images

23rd January 2008, 02:40 PM	#2
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,239	some more photos of the gangya, scabbard mouth and grip, pommel end. i really like this sword...

23rd January 2008, 09:57 PM	#4
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,239	thanks for that, makes a bit more sense of the carry. the only other clear picture i've found was a datu with a fancy ivory hilted kris which looked like it was in the sash with the longer portion of the gangya facing to the rear which is the opposite of the one in your pic & opposite to how mine appears. tribal differences?

23rd January 2008, 10:23 PM	#5
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,310	I think one is for show wear (datus) and the other is for fighting.

23rd January 2008, 10:39 PM	#6
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,239	i found another one with the same placement good, i'd rather have a battle one than a show one anyway. that datu one above with the fancy ivory looks rather fragile.

23rd January 2008, 10:46 PM	#7
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,310	Only because he is old and probably survived many battles. It could also be a certain type of kris. I have never seen the cockatua hilted ones looking backward, only forward, and some were battle pieces.

23rd January 2008, 10:59 PM	#8
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,239	i meant the hilt looked fragile, not the datu, he looks like he's not someone we'd like to mess with. i'd believe the krag and the ivory hilted .38 were his war souvenirs.... in university my fencing instructor was a little old 70 year old man about 5 ft 2in. tall and maybe 120 pounds. he was also the toughest person i've seen. he was also an ex hungarian army colonel and i gather he was a national sabre champion back in the thirties...you did not mess with him, he was always two steps ahead of you.