Moro Swords

a webpage by

Federico

Federico's Moro Swords

Kris Lanti

KRIS Lanti. Maguindanao tribe, west coast of Mindanao. Hilt and baca-baca clamp are circa 1850 (5). Belonged to prominent datu nobility. 17" blade is from the 1920s to 1940s. It has 9 waves with light okir engraving. Light lines are engraved down the length of blade. Ganja is not separate, but front part carved in form of eagle mouth. Back part carved in okir design. Baca-baca clamp on blade is made of copper with talismanic engravings. There are several nicks, scratches and imperfections on blade surface. Blade looks like it has seen some battle and old sharpening (some brown patina in parts of sharpened areas).

6-inch wooden hilt is bound in alternating swasaa (1) bands (2) (30g reinforced with copper) and braided silver bands. Top and bottom swasaa bands are chased in intricate okir designs. Below bottom of lower end of hilt is cast ornate silver band. Top of hilt ends in a solid ivory pommel in the form of a cockatoo head with yellow patina. There is a chip on one side of pommel. Based on the above descriptions, this sword altogether is in danganan style (6)

Original scabbard was lost. I made replacement scabbard finished with help of Ron Hatch (rough cut wood) and Tim Holbert (silver solder and swasaa fabrication). Replacement scabbard top made of solid piece of burled walnut and bottom of walnut. There are 3 bands of chased silver sheet with 2 small bands of swasaa in between each band. Scabbard was finished on 10/12/00. Also re-glued hilt to be flush on blade and replaced brass band around clamp (matching original one inside hilt).

Collection Credit: Jose Albovias
Description Credit: Jose Albovias

  2. tested by Tim Holbert on 1/20/00; Tim estimates this as 7-8K gold.
  3. Based on evaluation of Mike Cartlidge, 6/99, who stated that the hilt alone would go for 600.00 at auction in Great Britain.
  5. 5. This was the last period of wealth for the west coast of Mindanao. Other determining factors include the honey color of the ivory due to prolonged age. The fact that Maranao do not use ordinarily use braided silver as fittings and the Sulu region do not ordinarily have the same skill for repousse and chasing as that on Mindanao indicate a mixture of influences generally found in the Maguindanao region. Large junggayan hilts that are featured on Maguindanao and Sulu datu hilts appeared late in the 19th century. This pommel therefore indicates a pre-1870s origin. Refer to Cato's Moro Swords, pp.74, 80-82.
  6. 6. Cato, Moro Swords, pp.73, 82-83, 86. Danganan swords from Mindanao would have precious metals on the hilts, and okir designs on the blades. The pommel fits the minimum size requirements for a danganan hilt. The blade has okir designs on it. Although it is a recent blade, it is not tourist because it is not unusually thin nor is the baca-baca clamp cheaply and thinly made but is chased with ornate designs. It was therefore made for this hilt and to be a replacement blade, to continue to be a ceremonial datu piece.