- Joined
- Jan 26, 2000
- Messages
- 2,573
I put off getting a Kris for years. Back in the early 2000s Kris Cutlery sold a Sundang Kris (similar style to the CS Kris but only wavy near the handle) for $120.00 and it was always on my list until it was discontinued. Then last year or the year before they stopped making all their swords.
Back in 1999 I made my biggest knife/sword mistake and decided against purchasing a very nice antique Kris for $300.00 when visiting the Philippines. This one had maybe a 23" blade, was very light, and had a dark patina, and it was in good enough condition to actually use.
My dad gave me his Kris an aunt gave him, which was in the family for a few generations. The tang is broken either due to rust or a previous owner (before any of my relatives who just used it for decoration) believing superstitious nonsense about the kris. According to this really bad superstition, the kris' power is in the tang, so when someone sold or gave the kris he might be greedy and want to keep the power so he'd break off the tang and wear it as a necklace while the new owner doesn't know the tang is broken. Either way it is now useless as a weapon.
While I can't swing it, I can hold it and move it slowly without the blade falling off, giving me a clue to the balance. It is extremely light and can make cuts (if not broken) by wrist power alone. The balance is similar to that of a good dueling Bowie.
The grind really isn't defined. gradually tapering to either edge from the middle.
I got my CS Kris yesterday.
The scabbard is well made, not traditional, but it looks nice with a leather wrap in the middle. Unlike the old CS barong, the kris scabbard is shaped correctly so it can easily be put in a sash without falling out. The fit is tight but not in the way the barong's fit is. It doesn't feel like it will break.
The sword is heavier and the balance is not as good as my antique kris. The grind is different, and the blade is thicker. It is only a little longer, but I've seen even longer kris.
Due to the weight and balance, it won't work the same as the antique.
It isn't heavy or poorly balanced, but just not the same as a traditional model. This probably wouldn't be an issue for those not training in Filipino Martial Arts, and probably wouldn't be an issue for most people who train in FMA who don't have a traditional kris.
I'm just mentioning this part in case FMA practitioners who own traditional kris are thinking of buying it.
The above might sound negative, but it is comparing an affordable and available sword to a difficult to find antique and I want to mention the differences. The CS kris is a good buy.
I'm satisfied with my purchase and will probably buy two or three more over the next few years, and also the smaller one when it comes out.
I recommend it to anyone in FMA or who wants something different than the far more readily available Japanese and European style swords.
If training with it, be careful of the sharp guard, but that is a warning when using any kris of this type. Don't attempt to spin it like some do with a stick in FMA. Maybe that is why none of my FMA instructors advocated spinning - they saw the stick as a training substitute for a blade.
It is made in India, which probably means it is from Windlass (although it is sharp) and contradicts the statement I read earlier that all CS sword production was moved to China.
Back in 1999 I made my biggest knife/sword mistake and decided against purchasing a very nice antique Kris for $300.00 when visiting the Philippines. This one had maybe a 23" blade, was very light, and had a dark patina, and it was in good enough condition to actually use.
My dad gave me his Kris an aunt gave him, which was in the family for a few generations. The tang is broken either due to rust or a previous owner (before any of my relatives who just used it for decoration) believing superstitious nonsense about the kris. According to this really bad superstition, the kris' power is in the tang, so when someone sold or gave the kris he might be greedy and want to keep the power so he'd break off the tang and wear it as a necklace while the new owner doesn't know the tang is broken. Either way it is now useless as a weapon.
While I can't swing it, I can hold it and move it slowly without the blade falling off, giving me a clue to the balance. It is extremely light and can make cuts (if not broken) by wrist power alone. The balance is similar to that of a good dueling Bowie.
The grind really isn't defined. gradually tapering to either edge from the middle.
I got my CS Kris yesterday.
The scabbard is well made, not traditional, but it looks nice with a leather wrap in the middle. Unlike the old CS barong, the kris scabbard is shaped correctly so it can easily be put in a sash without falling out. The fit is tight but not in the way the barong's fit is. It doesn't feel like it will break.
The sword is heavier and the balance is not as good as my antique kris. The grind is different, and the blade is thicker. It is only a little longer, but I've seen even longer kris.
Due to the weight and balance, it won't work the same as the antique.
It isn't heavy or poorly balanced, but just not the same as a traditional model. This probably wouldn't be an issue for those not training in Filipino Martial Arts, and probably wouldn't be an issue for most people who train in FMA who don't have a traditional kris.
I'm just mentioning this part in case FMA practitioners who own traditional kris are thinking of buying it.
The above might sound negative, but it is comparing an affordable and available sword to a difficult to find antique and I want to mention the differences. The CS kris is a good buy.
I'm satisfied with my purchase and will probably buy two or three more over the next few years, and also the smaller one when it comes out.
I recommend it to anyone in FMA or who wants something different than the far more readily available Japanese and European style swords.
If training with it, be careful of the sharp guard, but that is a warning when using any kris of this type. Don't attempt to spin it like some do with a stick in FMA. Maybe that is why none of my FMA instructors advocated spinning - they saw the stick as a training substitute for a blade.
It is made in India, which probably means it is from Windlass (although it is sharp) and contradicts the statement I read earlier that all CS sword production was moved to China.
