The Making of a Moro Kris
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Despite the adoption of strict Quranic laws by the Moro's,
like most Filipino's native animistic beliefs were, and to
some extent still are today, strong features within their
culture/society. Like the Malay keris it was believed that
only men of great strength and character could properly
make a kris infusing it with a jen (spirit). Only after much prayer and meditation and dependent
on certain astrological factors the kris blade would be made.
Again, like their Malay cousin the antique Moro kris blade consisted of two
parts, that of the blade proper and the seperate gangya (guard). On
Kris made before the late 19th century this seperate gangya
was evident by a straight line parallel to the guard,
however at some point in the late 19th century the line went to a sharp angle when nearing
the outer end of the guard. After the 1930s the seperate gangya
dissappeared and the blades were made in one piece. On some modern kris there is an engraved line to symbolize the gangya
but on many there is no de-marcation of any kind.
A kris
broken down into its various parts.
Like the Malay keris Moro kris blades were made in a laminate
construction in which steel and iron (though ocassionally nickel)
was combined to form the blade. Stories
of leaf springs being used in their construction while true for
some more modern blades is not applicable to those kris
that are truly antique and certain modern blades. Various ingots were heated in a charcoal
fueled fire that was fed air manually via bamboo bellows. Occasionally some Moro
pandays (sword-smiths) would twist the metal billets during forging
to create a pamor like textured center, but this was not typical. The
Moro kris blade was generally triple-laminated consisting of softer
metals in the thicker inner core and harder steel for the edges.
Unlike their Malay cousins the Moro kris blade has a larger
thicker rectangular tang versus the skinny cylnderical tang
found on the Malay Keris.
Typical Moro Forge
After the pattern welding was complete
the kris would then be sent to a different craftsmen so the forge scale
and hammer marks could be removed. This was traditionally done
using a draw-knife, but now is often done with a file. After the blade
was sufficiently shaped it would be sent for hardening. Generally
only the edges of most kris are hardened while the inner core
is relatively soft. After hardening decorative filework was done
to the blade before it was sent to other craftsment for hilting.
Other craftsmen would then carve out the handle and sheath out of
various indegenous hardwoods or other material such as water buffalo
horn and ivory. After the completion of
the handle and sheath fittings such as baca-baca (clamps) were made. Now
the blade was ready to be merged with the handle. Some have thought
that the baca-baca (clamps) served to secure the blade to the handle.
While partially true in the sense that they do give support, the primary
purpose of the baca-baca was to insure the mating of the ganya
and the blade. It is possible that this was important as to
make sure that the Jen (spirit) that inhabited the blade and gave it
its superior abilities would not escape. The primary means of securing
the blade to the handle was through natural resin. After the blade was
attached to the hilt it was ready for sharpening. A kris was always
maintained to have a keen edge and be functional as a weapon. Even
the most beautiful Datu kris could be used in battle.
After sharpening the kris was then set in the hot sun to warm the
blade. After a certain amount of time the blade was ready to be
etched using various acidic citrus fruits. This etch would darken
the blade as well as revealing the damascene pattern created by the
Panday. It is said that the darkened blade was preferred as it
would not glint in the sun thereby revealing a concealed Warrior.
Now the kris was finally completed and ready to be sent to the owner.
Each kris was the product of many craftsmen, and individually made
to suit the needs of the customer.
