Original 19th Century Philippine Moro Kris Wavy Blade Short Sword with Wood Scabbard Original Items

Original Item: One Only. This is an excellent Kris style short sword from the Philippines, as used by the Moro people. The collective term Moro people or Bangsamoro people refers to the 13 Islamized ethnolinguistic groups of Mindanao, Sulu, and Palawan. They had fought against the United States during the Philippine-American War of 1899 – 1902, in which the Moro tribe rebelled against American rule. The insurrection had been going on since the early 1890s, when the Spanish still claimed the Philippines as their Colony. However, after their defeat by the United States in the Spanish American War, the Philippine islands were ceded to the U.S.. Most of the Moro tribe actually continued the struggle until their final defeat in 1913. 

During WWII, The Moros fought against the Japanese occupation of Mindanao and Sulu during World War II and eventually drove them out. Also when the Japanese occupied the northern Borneo area, they also helped their relatives there in a struggle to fight off the Japanese where many of them, including women and children, were massacred after their revolt with the Chinese had been foiled by the Japanese.

When the U.S. defeated Japan and the Philippines were freed, many U.S. serviceman brought back mementos from the Islands, which sadly had suffered large losses of life due to Japanese occupation.

This short sword is made in the traditional Kris (Kalis) style and form with scabbard. The basic design is the same throughout the area, but only in the Philippine Islands did it evolve into a sword. This example dates to the 1880-1895 period, and has a 23 inch wavy double edged blade. It is 1 1/2 inches wide for most of the blade, and 2 inches across at its widest point. The bottom of the blade has some ornamentation added. The grip is bound with string as well as twisted plant fibers, and has a lovely carved figured wood pommel.

It comes contained in the original wood scabbard bound by plant fibers, which is inlet for the bottom of the blade. There is some wood missing from the scabbard, and it definitely looks crude when compared to the short sword itself.

Please See Stone’s Glossary page 390 to see various styles of these Philippine Moro Swords. From that reference this particular sword may have originated in MINDANAO.

Very interesting and ready to display!

Specifications:
Blade length: 23”
Blade Style: Wavy “Kris”
Overall length: 27 1/2”
Scabbard length: 23 1/2”