This is a classic sword of the Moro people of the southern Philippines and of the Sulu Sea area called a kris. The classic Moro kris is based heavily on the Indonesian keris but is distinctly larger and made purposefully for fighting. The kris has always been the most famous of all Moro weapons and there are a wide set of variation of blade types, handle forms, and materials. Generally all kris blades are wide at the base, double-edged, and can be waved, half-waved half straight, or straight in which case they were more practical in combat. Older kris had fewer waves and the waves were deeper and wider. The higher number of waves meant the more potent the kris was in talismanic power such as this example. Higher quality kris would be made of a special type of forging called twist core by especially skilled Pandays, Moro bladesmiths. Twist core blades were formed through stacking a set of a set of iron rods that would each betwisted, and depending upon the ultimate pattern desired, the rods be twisted either to the left or right or allowed to remain straight along the length of the rod. Rods with matching or complementary twist patterns could be installed side-by-side into an iron billet which was then forged into a sword blade. After grinding away the outer surfaces of the rods this would disclose a pattern in the iron (Jones). Moro swords with twist core blades are uncommon and considered some of the highest quality Moro arms. This example is a fine example of a form Moro kris with a classic Sulu style kakatua form pommel. This form of kris with deeper waved blades, almost always with a kakatua pommel, and often in richly patterned wood with chatoyancy are considered 19th century forms (Cato 1996). Most likely 1st quarter of 20th centuryTotal length (inside scabbard if present) : 28 7/8", Blade length : 23 3/8". ~ . Detailed condition reports are not included in this catalog. For additional information, including condition reports, please contact us at info@sofedesignauctions.com