Maguindanao Kris with custom made scabbard. Scabbard fittings are made of silver.

Jose Albovias Jr. is a talented artist from Louisville Kentucky. He is a dedicated collector, with an attention to detail that is simply amazing. He is now offering custom scabbard work, as well as fittings, and some restoration.

Here he is with a little more about himself:

"I am a Baptist minister of Filipino, Scots-Irish, and Cherokee heritage. I have a bachelors degree in psychology, a masters degree in Biblical studies, and a second masters degree in World Religions. Some of my interests are martial arts (I’ve studied tae kwon do, judo, shotokan, kenpo, and arnis/escrima), cosmology, physics, ethnology, spirituality and altered states of consciousness, and ethnographic textiles.

Although I have been painting and drawing since childhood, I have only been making and selling ethnic jewelry and paintings for the past few years. My artwork now includes making scabbards.

I began collecting ethnographic bladed weaponry in 1989. My areas of interest are the Middle East, Scotland, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, especially the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia."

Jose can be contacted for further details at: