How might a kris blade end up on a hill in Kentucky?

[MacHete]

The "Phillipine Blades" thread made me think of this. When I was in junior high, and probably either boring or disturbing a friend with my interest in cutlery, he said something to the effect of "You should see the sword my Grandma found on a hill in Kentucky." Of course my interest was piqued, so I badgered him for a detailed description. I was thinking it was probably a Civil War relic, but he indicated by holding his fingers apart that it was only about18 or 20 inches long. So I thought perhaps a bayonet, rather than a sword. When we got to his house and he showed it to me, I was amazed to see a badly weathered, distinctively waved kris blade. The handle was long gone, and had been replaced with a turned wooden handle with an iron ferrule from off of a small hand tool of some sort.

 

[hollowdweller]

When I was about 7 I tried to win a kriss dagger at one of those little ring toss things at a local carnival in WV. Maybe the same carnival was passing thru there too.

 

[MacHete]

HD, I would put money (that I don't have right now) on this item being the "real deal". This wasn't a "kris-style" wavy Frost special. It was old and although the cross-section of the blade was rounded from weathering, I could see layering in the steel. I wanted to buy it (didn't have money then either) but my friend didn't think his dad would go for it.

 

[Spectre]

Well, there was this uprising in the Phillipines...

John
I'm betting a war vet brought it back 'round 1900

 

[Nasty]

I'm betting that it was planted to irritate GOLD members enough to get them to open polls that their closest friends can't participate in.

 

[Ferrous Wheel]

The finish, or Pamor, on Keris blades is much rougher than we westerners are use to seeing on pattern welds, so it may have only looked weathered to Western eyes. The surface of the tombak I have is really rough to the touch, and it.s iron content would make it rust quick.

Stranger things have been lost-n-found in the mtns of Kaintuck.
(caution: Semp may ressemble this remark)

Keith

 

[Ferrous Wheel]

There once was a time in BF when basic members coul use polls. I suspect they were the only ones interested in using them.

Keith

 

[MacHete]

:footinmou Oh,dear! I was not aware of the elitist rules of poll participation. I just thought it was cool that I could post one. I'm so embarrassed. I'm so ashamed. I'm so... crestfallen.

Ferrous- I seem to recall hearing the ridges explained as the effect of layering soft iron with meteoric iron (higher nickle) and the look 'took' and became traditional no matter what metals were used. Sound right? I think I've also read that the blade treatment was an elaboate affair using moistened fingertips (ouch) and that may have had hand in incresing the 'relief' between the layers.

But anyway, humor me on its authenticity. What are some likely or possible scenarios for its appearance?

 

[GA LITTLE]

It is a little known fact that during the Spanish American war a group of Moro tribemen sailed their sampan up the Mississippi river in an attempted invasion of mainland America. After they landed the group went into the hills of Kentucky where they chanced upon a 'shine operation. The locals thought they were goverment tax agents and a pitched battle commenced. During the fracus the 'shine was ignited and blew the whole bunch to their great reward and all that was left were a few keris, kampilans and squirril rifles. At least thats how I heard it.

 

[Terr]

GA, your explanation is the only one that makes any sense at all.

 

[Bill Marsh]

In tieing together several of the obscurities with the Filipinos and the Spanish and the KKK --- how is that for rampant? I found this dagger in North Georgia.

I am forced to jion this thread with a link about a dagger I posted on EEW:

http://www.vikingsword.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/002102.html

One of the respondents remarked:

"Though the dagger itself looks very European, the symbol with the triangle with the three stars in the corner and a sun in the center is now a common symbol of the Philippines with the sun representing the whole nation and the three stars the main regions of the nation: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. This symbol appeared around the same time as the Katipunan who also used this symbol. The Katipunan (or "assosciation") was formed around 1892 as a revolutionary movement against Spanish rule in the Philippines. The Katipunans full name Kataastaasan Kagalang-galang na Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan which roughly translates as "the Exalted and Venerable Society of the Sons of the Nation" or K.K.K. for short (not to be confused with the Klan.) If this is indeed a KKK dagger, then we can roughly date it as early as 1892. It doesn't surprise me that a Katipunan dagger looks European since many Katipunan weapons were influenced by European (namely Spanish) military weapons. Many of the Katipunan were well educated and some were Freemasons. Weapons of the Katipunan ranged from european weapons to local weapons converted to look more militaristic. A lot of bolos of this time period had D-guards which you never really see on typical bolos. I have a dagger with a similar scabbard (but not as ornate) with a diety hilt. Anyways, it may be a european dagger, but the symbol looks Katipunan to me.

 

[Daniel Koster]

yikes...2 votes.....stinker of a poll....most are, unfortunately. I wish Spark would enable them for "regular folks". Makes having a poll pointless.



Ain't it about time you ponied up, Nasty?

 

[munk]

I would guess the Spanish brought it. Lost it or had it traded North from Central America holdings.



munk

 

[Nasty]

I was kinda figuring that I should celebrate my 1000th post in gold...but then I look around and and see others at 3000...

Is there a protocol I should be aware of?

 

[BruiseLeee]

Send your password to munk for a couple of days.

 

[Ferrous Wheel]

Nah. But if you want all the power of a gold member (polls, pic posting, access to Pirates Cove, be able to post sales in the sales forums, etc) then ya go fer the gold.

Me, I'm blown on the winds and whims of the mods, since I be a lowly non-payer.

Keith