Traditional Filipino Weapons Moro Kris 3
Apr 17, 2017 15:12:21 GMT
Post by Kristie on Apr 17, 2017 15:12:21 GMT
Traditional Filipino Weapons Moro Kris Sword 3
Purchased from Kult of Athena for $259.95.
Introduction
The last few years I have really been branching out from collecting primarily European weapons to finding examples more exotic and interesting. These swords had previously looked so strange to me that I thought they were ugly and that I would never want to get one. But an episode of Forged in Fire changed my mind. And I had known of this company for a while and knew some people swore by them, so I thought I’d give this type of sword a go.
Historical Overview
Without having much interest outside Europe, I still currently don’t know much about the history of these swords. Here’s a bit to read up on, if you’d like: mandirigma.org/?p=284
Full Disclosure
I have no affiliations which could in any way bias this review.
Initial Impressions
The first thing you notice about this sword is there are a lot of details to focus on and it is far from plain. From the wavy blade to the patterns worked into the guard, this is a very beautiful sword. The handle is very smooth but the rings allow a more secure grip. It is slightly tip heavy, but not overly much.
Statistics
From KoA:
Overall Length: 30'' Blade: 23 1/2''
Blade: 5160/D2 High Carbon Steel
Weight: 2 lb 0.9 oz
Edge: Sharp
P.O.B.: 6 5/8''
Thickness: 6 mm - 4.3 mm
Width: 58.9 mm
Grip Length: 3 1/4''
Pommel: Integrated
Components
The Blade
This blade has a medium polish and you can see the grind marks in it but I don’t think it looks bad. The Fuller is very shallow, and where it meets the rest of the blade it is smooth. And it also appears to be nice and straight. You do see a secondary bevel from sharpening.
The Handle
The hardwood used is very attractive. In fact, I mostly settled on this particular model from those offered because I liked the dark look of the wood. I do wish that the grip wasn’t round, but so far it hasn’t given me any problems. Like I mentioned earlier, the raised rings do lend some help in keeping it secure in your hand.
The Guard
The guard is my favorite part of this piece. It is so unusual that I previously didn’t like the look of these swords because of it, but I have come to like it. The detail here is crisply executed.
The Pommel
I like the look of the hook which will keep your hand secure on the grip. For myself, I don’t see it helping much because my hands are too small, plus I grip as close to the guard as I can, so there is a gap between the end of my hand and the pommel.
The Scabbard
There is no embellishment here to match the sword, but it is certainly functional. I wonder what it would have looked like if stained to match the handle. The rattan wraps are simply decoration, making it a little less plain. The scabbard doesn’t retain the blade when held upside down, but otherwise is nice enough.
Handling Characteristics
Being that it doesn’t weigh much, it does handle decently. The tip drags the blade down just a tiny bit. The width of the blade makes you think that this might be more of a chopper, but I think it has a little more finesse than that. It kind of feels strange in hand, but not exactly bad. There’s something about the combination of the handle and the balance that just needs to be gotten used to.
Test Cutting
The edge was sharp enough to suit me. It was adequate to slice through milk jugs with ease and at a guess I think it would handle harder targets as well. I didn’t get the usual feel that this one was “fun”, though. Maybe it could be if I spent more time with it.
Conclusions
The quality seems to be what I expected, although this was my first TFW blade. I am glad I purchased it but now that my curiosity for this type of blade has been satisfied, I’m not exactly sure if it will have a permanent place in my collection.
Pros
- Beautiful design
- has a nice medium weight
Cons
- Handling is a little strange
The Bottom Line
I do recommend it, either a as a cutter or a nice-looking show piece.
Purchased from Kult of Athena for $259.95.
Introduction
The last few years I have really been branching out from collecting primarily European weapons to finding examples more exotic and interesting. These swords had previously looked so strange to me that I thought they were ugly and that I would never want to get one. But an episode of Forged in Fire changed my mind. And I had known of this company for a while and knew some people swore by them, so I thought I’d give this type of sword a go.
Historical Overview
Without having much interest outside Europe, I still currently don’t know much about the history of these swords. Here’s a bit to read up on, if you’d like: mandirigma.org/?p=284
Full Disclosure
I have no affiliations which could in any way bias this review.
Initial Impressions
The first thing you notice about this sword is there are a lot of details to focus on and it is far from plain. From the wavy blade to the patterns worked into the guard, this is a very beautiful sword. The handle is very smooth but the rings allow a more secure grip. It is slightly tip heavy, but not overly much.
Statistics
From KoA:
Overall Length: 30'' Blade: 23 1/2''
Blade: 5160/D2 High Carbon Steel
Weight: 2 lb 0.9 oz
Edge: Sharp
P.O.B.: 6 5/8''
Thickness: 6 mm - 4.3 mm
Width: 58.9 mm
Grip Length: 3 1/4''
Pommel: Integrated
Components
The Blade
This blade has a medium polish and you can see the grind marks in it but I don’t think it looks bad. The Fuller is very shallow, and where it meets the rest of the blade it is smooth. And it also appears to be nice and straight. You do see a secondary bevel from sharpening.
The Handle
The hardwood used is very attractive. In fact, I mostly settled on this particular model from those offered because I liked the dark look of the wood. I do wish that the grip wasn’t round, but so far it hasn’t given me any problems. Like I mentioned earlier, the raised rings do lend some help in keeping it secure in your hand.
The Guard
The guard is my favorite part of this piece. It is so unusual that I previously didn’t like the look of these swords because of it, but I have come to like it. The detail here is crisply executed.
The Pommel
I like the look of the hook which will keep your hand secure on the grip. For myself, I don’t see it helping much because my hands are too small, plus I grip as close to the guard as I can, so there is a gap between the end of my hand and the pommel.
The Scabbard
There is no embellishment here to match the sword, but it is certainly functional. I wonder what it would have looked like if stained to match the handle. The rattan wraps are simply decoration, making it a little less plain. The scabbard doesn’t retain the blade when held upside down, but otherwise is nice enough.
Handling Characteristics
Being that it doesn’t weigh much, it does handle decently. The tip drags the blade down just a tiny bit. The width of the blade makes you think that this might be more of a chopper, but I think it has a little more finesse than that. It kind of feels strange in hand, but not exactly bad. There’s something about the combination of the handle and the balance that just needs to be gotten used to.
Test Cutting
The edge was sharp enough to suit me. It was adequate to slice through milk jugs with ease and at a guess I think it would handle harder targets as well. I didn’t get the usual feel that this one was “fun”, though. Maybe it could be if I spent more time with it.
Conclusions
The quality seems to be what I expected, although this was my first TFW blade. I am glad I purchased it but now that my curiosity for this type of blade has been satisfied, I’m not exactly sure if it will have a permanent place in my collection.
Pros
- Beautiful design
- has a nice medium weight
Cons
- Handling is a little strange
The Bottom Line
I do recommend it, either a as a cutter or a nice-looking show piece.