Moro Swords

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Federico

Federico's Moro Swords

Kris Luma

KRIS Luma. Maguindanao (Moro), west coast of Mindanao Island. (1) Early 1800s. (2) Kris belonged to datu (see hilt and scabbard sections) and is ceremonial or for status, denoting the owner as one of "power, authority and high rank."(3) meant to be seen at a distance.

The blade symbolizes the naga or serpent(3). Blade is 18" long w/middle ridge. Top half straight to triangular point with bottom half near guard having 5 waves. Blade is laminated in a pile construction w/tempering on the edges, having lightly engraved naga design along length of both sides of blade w/in the temper lines. There is deep chiseling on base near guard. Ganja is distinctly carved and complete. Some original polish remains along w/some staining, some aged gray-black patina (especially on guard) and traces of some brown patina on ganja and near white metal stirrups. Some micro-pitting present in places. The ferrule is of white metal. Hilt is wood wrapped lacquered jute cord with silver alloy(4) extensions of stirrup systems showing, wrapped again in 5 braided and lacquered jute bands with low grade silver alloy(4) band on top beneath the pommel. The band is chased w/a kiyanoko (fingernail-like) design on top and a tiyli-tali (rope-like) design on the bottom.(5) This band denotes datu rank.(6) Pommel is in the form of a shortened burled teak kinadangag (parrot's head form) (7) with silver band originally outlining the edge on top and back of pommel. What was left of aluminum replacement came apart. I restored the missing piece with silver (9/1999).

Around hilt is a braided and knotted cloth cord. It is probably an anting-anting, a talisman blessed by imam or priest.

Scabbard is narra wood with one large check at back and notch hanger to hold it in place in sash. It has 5 spaced bands, 4 of low grade silver alloy,(4) and one of sterling silver that I replaced in 11/3/97 (originally had beaten up aluminum replacement in WWII). The silver bands are a sign of nobility (along with the other silver adornments)(8).

Collection Credit: Jose Albovias
Description Credit: Jose Albovias

  1. refer to Moro Swords by Robert Cato, pp. 68 (design of guard mouth is un-angled and perpendicular), 80 (a Maguindanao scabbard variant does not have a crossguard but fits neatly into the stirrups).
  2. ibid, p.71 (oldest krises are "diminutive in size" overall), p.74 (oldest krises have "diminutive" kakatua pommels). Owner told dealer that it was from 1870s. Most likely was brought over from PI in 1870s, however.
  3. Peter Gowing, Muslim Filipino, (Quezon City: New Day Publishers, 1979, p.139).
  4. Tim Holbert using nitric acid tested these 4/25/97 at Moore Jewelry. The silver chased band probably contains zinc (turned dark gray foam), the stirrup extentions - close to 90% pure silver, and the 4 silver bands on the scabbard contain higher amounts of copper alloy (turned white-green foam).
  5. Refer to Mamitua Saber and Dionisio G. Orellana, Maranao Folk Art: Survey of Forms, Designs and Meanings, (Marawi: University Research Center, 1981), p.29, p.42-43 fig.10 and 12. There has been a certain amount of sharing of motifs and style due to the close proximity of the Maguindanaos next to the Maranao.
  6. Cato, Moro Swords, p.73, "A decorative upper band, usually made of silver, was an important part of some high status kris handles."
  7. Gowing, Muslim Filipinos, p.152.
  8. According to Robert Cato, ("The Moros and Their Swords," Inside Kung-fu, vol.16 #12, December 1989, pp52-55, 82.) "Scabbards of more mundane krises were wrapped with woven cane. Nobility owned kris scabbards were scured with bands of valuable metals." (p.55).
  9. NOTE: a) $ appears higher for engraved pieces. Compare plain blades of later era Maranao with engraved and chiseled blade of same tribe and era in Cecil Quirino's Sandata Catalog #9:11,13,14 vs. 12. Item 12 is 25-43% higher than the others. Also, in conversations with Fred Coluzzi, he has stated that 1700s-no later than mid-1800s krises are rare and a little more valuable. b) see eBay auction results on identical piece.