The "kriss" style blade doesn't really serve any function, does it?

I think I remeber someone telling me a very long time ago that the swerve of the blade would make a odd wound upon stabbing someone.

The shape of the wound made by the kriss blade wouldn't heal clean, and it would promote severe bleeding. (This is more than likely a tall tale though).

My guess is that that blade shape was just for looks and for fear factor used by persian (or malaysian? or what? *shrug*) assassins or mercinaries. Who knows. :P

Of course, Im just talking out of my tailpipe here. :rolleyes:
 
Kriss style blades have been around for centuries, a knife design doesn't last that long on looks.

The Kriss style blades are excellent slashers, if you straightened out the curves that would be one long knife, the serpentine blade acts much like a serrated blade offering more area or cutting edge, making it a more efficient slicer.
 
The Kris style blade is actually optimized more for stabbing than slashing. When you take a knife like a bowie, for example, and stab with it, when you it an obstruction like, oh, say, a bone, the blade tends to stop and, perhaps, embed itself in the obstruction. A kris, on the other hand, because of its wavey shape, tends to deflect off of and find its way around the obstruction thus continuing in deeper.

If you look at many older, traditional Filipino or Indonesian kris blades, they are attacted to a small handle that's at a right angle. They're almost a sort of exagerated push dagger. And, in fact, they are intended to be held almost like a push dagger with the blade emereging often between the index and middle finger. This is definitely a stabbing configuration.
 
The Kris in my dad's collection has a blunt tip (profile) but the whole blade is thin and sharp. It seems more of a slasher IMO. It is similar to the Kris Cutlery Sundang http://www.kriscutlery.com/Kris/philippine/sundang.html except that the whole blade is wavy. As someone already mentioned, the waves give the blade more sharpened surface than would be typical in a blade of that length, much like what you'll see on the Cold Steel Vaquero series. Other designs I've seen do look like they are more designed for stabbing. IMO a kris is better as a sword than a knife but if you like the kris style knife there probably won't be any problems with a good one except that it might be harder to sharpen. I do not think it is a good utilitarian blade if anyone is thinking of using one for an EDC.:D
 
apparently
i say apparently because it's not firsthand knowledge
i dont think it's second or third hand either :rolleyes:

but apparently the shape of the kris makes for a fearsome disemboweling weapon
 
A kris-style blade slashes well and leaves a very nasty wound channel on slash or thrust. It is effective in a light and fast blade. I don't think it would be helpful in a heavy chopping blade. It seems like a good close-quarters design for a light weight person.
 
I was under the understanding that the curves (on a sword ) provided alternating points of contact therefor increasing the force/area of a blow enabling the blade to penetrate the woven fiber armor that indonesian wore into battle. I think I read that at a museum once.
 
I am not sure that the waves were made for any utilitarian reason at all. Some books I have read state that the waves were to emulate the shape of a snake or naga. The truth be told, there are more Krisses with straight blades or with blades that only have a few waves near the guard than there are ones with complete wavy blades. If the waves produced a distinct advantage in battle, you would think they would all have this feature.
 
From physical form, Chuck's reply is downright correct. It makes very good slasher and stabber. Hower, it doesn't stop there as Keith brought up a very valid point: it is more mystical than utility, at least for Indonesian Keris and specially the Javanese style(spelled that way). The number of curve has significant meaning, and usually it would be odd numbered. Some has no curve (and thus called 'single curve') at all.

Traditionally, bladesmith has to go deeper in spirituality (fasting, meditating and prayer) to make an excellent keris. Each would be made to order (usually for specific owner) and have it's own soul, and it would be having special 'characteristic' as required. Some of the higher rank bladesmith would forge and form the steel by hand (without any tools) in meditative way. Ritually the sacred keris would go through regular cleansing ceremony by the owner with holy water, incense and flowers.

The above statement applies for properly traditionally made keris meant to 'enhance' the personality and charisma of the bearer, and not to display item sold to tourists.
 
A kriss blade like a spear type blade isn't flat or even, therefore the cut isn't clean. Although a spear point you can actually use for cutting (utility purposes).
 
Mr. BaliSwinger has taken the history of these knives even further for you. This is out of my area of depth, but I have a good friend who collects kris blades, so I've learned a bit and seen some very excellent examples. Belive it or not, the finest Indonesian and Filipino kris blades are made by hand... without tools. You can actually -- I kid you not. I have seen this with my own eyes. -- see the maker's fingerprints molded into the blade. No, this is not some patterned Damascus trick or something. This is the guy's fingerprints stamped into the hot steel. They are able to get themselves into a sort of meditative trance such that they are able to handle and work the steel by hand. And these are the most sought-after collectible kris blades.

Most Indonesian kris blades have 13 undulations. In our western world, the number 13 is often seen as "unlucky." But, in traditional Indonesian culture, 13 is seen as a magical number.
 
But, even if one were able to handle the hot steel and mold it by hand within a meditative trance, you would still suffer some extremely serious burns, would you not?

And to think of the pain following emergence from the trance...:eek: :eek: :eek:

I would love to see a blade like that before I die. Are there any museums that display such blades?
 
I suppose I might be thread crapping.
At least in Hong Kong, 13 is considered lucky because it sounds like "must live" or eternity.
I've heard that a Y shaped dagger (meant for stabbing only) would leave a wound that makes it very hard to suture. Suture 2 sides and you won't be able to suture the third. Perhaps one could stab while twist the blade leaving a very unclean cut? I suppose it might take some imagination to see what I mean.
 
OT:

As far as stabbing implements go, an effective tool (causing the most blood loss) would be a cyclindrical shank made of metal, hollowed out, and the top of the pipe sharpened. Ascorbic acid in powder form could be rubbed onto the sharpened section, and the hollow core could be dusted with it as well (as vitamin C acts as an anti-coagulant). Very effective, and very cheap, although very nasty as well.

A person stabbed three times with such an implement would have some serious health complications; the individual would not be able to stem the flow of blood as two hands would not be sufficient.
 
But, even if one were able to handle the hot steel and mold it by hand within a meditative trance, you would still suffer some extremely serious burns, would you not?
Click to expand...

The answer is no. Ever seen some Hindu pilgrim in India walking over burning coal without a burnt? And i think some years ago there are organization teaching healing meditative method that was sort of 'scientific tested' (i.e. repeatable by others and witnessed, albeit cannot be explained by theory of physics) to do such thing.

And Chuck is right. Thank you. The most common is 13 ..
 
Quote from http://www.pitt.edu/~dwilley/fire.html regarding firewalking:

In the 1930's the University of London Council for Psychical Research organized two firewalks to study the phenomena scientifically. In 1935 an Indian, Kuda Bux, and two British scientists walked across a 12 foot fire pit, containing mainly oak embers at about 800 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, in April of 1937, another firewalk was performed for the Council, this time by a Moslem man, Ahmed Hussain, an Englishman, Reginald Adcock, and several others. Neither Kuda Bux, Hussain nor Adcock were burned at all, and the others received minor blisters at worst. Pursuant to these events the council issued reports stating that neither religious faith, nor supernatural powers had anything to do with the performance of the feat, and then went on to conclude that the secret of the firewalk lies in the low thermal conductivity of the burning wood and that the time of contact between the hot coals and feet is short.
Click to expand...

Doesn't metal have a high thermal conductivity? And combined with the time of contact between metal and hand needed to manipulate the metal to shape, wouldn't you get burned, regardless of how fast you worked?


:confused:

Off to do a Google search...

Thanks for the interesting info., though! :D
 
Yes, The firewalk might not be that amazing .. but some uncharted domain we go:

if you ever seen a Balinese Barong dance in life, you'd notice that they stab themselves without being punctured with live blades (in a trance of course).

Also i did witness some demonstrator fried eggs on top of the head (the head becomes the stove, with firewood piled on top and burnt) of his partner, without burnt.

on another occasion, a Qigong practitioner lies on top of a 5"x5" wood block with nails (point facing the man) spaced at 1" grid (not too narrow) and 2 adults stand on his body opposite to the nail .. no puncture ...

Thus, a notion that a bladesmith upon fasting and meditating (sometimes even for 40 days straight) performing such thing is not much beyond imagination ...
 
It has been noted that the kris blade had mystical qualities as well as making a nasty wound.It was believed that if you stuck a kris blade into the footprints of an enemy they would die or pull up lame.It was primarily designed as a stabbing knife,like the stiletto but much older.
 
I am a very rational, very "scientific," very "western," person and I would not have believed that one could form a blade by hand in this way except that I have examples of these knives with my eyes and seen the fingerprints and the impressions of fingers and palms in the steel.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top