Kalis

Kalis
Moro kris (kalis) nomenclature, given in Tausūg, Meranaw, and Maguindanao.
Type	Sword
Place of origin	Philippines (Sulu archipelago, Mindanao), Indonesia (Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Talaud Islands), Malaysia, Brunei
Service history
Used by	Moro people (Maguindanao people, Maranao people, Sulu people), Bugis people
Specifications
Length	80-90cm

Blade type	Double edged
Hilt type	Wood, ivroy
Scabbard/sheath	Wood

For the municipality in Albania, see Kalis, Albania. For villages in Poland, see Kalis, Poland and Kaliś.

A kalis is a type of double-edged Filipino sword, often with a "wavy" section, similar to a keris. Just like the keris, the Kalis's double-edged blade can be used for both cutting and thrusting; except that the Kalis is much larger than most Kerises, making it a sword rather than a dagger.

The wavy portion of the kalis is said to be meant to facilitate easier slashing in battle - since a straight edge tends to get stuck in the opponent's bones, the wavy portion allows the kalis' bearer to more easily pull the weapon out of his opponent's body.^[1]

History

Two Filipino swords, a Kampilan (longer) and a Kris (shorter), photographed side by side to demonstrate their size relative to each other.

It is believed that the predecessor of the keris first appeared in the 13th century, originally from the island of Java in Indonesia. In Indonesia, versions of the kris can be found in Kalimantan and Sulawesi, where is it known as Sundang, Sondang or Sulu Keris.^[2] From there the kalis migrated to the Philippines. Countries in which the kalis is considered to be one of the main weapons including Malaysia and some other countries in Southeast Asia.

The kris is available in different shapes and sizes. Usually, the kris has a special blade that is straight at the top and has a wavy shape at the handle. All the Filipino types of kris swords are both larger and heavier than those from Indonesia. Although it is considered to be a slashing weapon, the kris can be effectively used for thrusts and stabs.

Physical description

Blade

In this example, the blade's lamination pattern can be seen. The darker high-carbon cutting edge of the blade can also be noticed. The said harder high-carbon cutting edge is termed as "sinubo" (roughly, sandwiched).

The kalis blade is defined as one that is wide on the base and double-edged. It is capable of delivering both chopping and slicing cuts. While many assume the traditional form of the kalis is the fully wavy blade, the half-waved half-straight, as well as the fully straight blades, are equally if not more common, as straight blades were more practical in combat. Moro kalis blades generally range in size from 18 to 26 inches (46 to 66 cm), though as with all Moro weapons there are exceptions. Generally however, the larger blades are found on later pieces, while the oldest Moro kalis tend to be of smaller stature. Damascene patterning is sometimes evident though often not as controlled as seen in the complex pattern welding of the smaller Malay keris.

Guard (gangya)

The demarcation line indicating the separate gangya (guard) can be seen.

The gangya (guard) of a kalis blade is made in such a manner that their lines flow very elegantly into the blade, never interrupting in continuity from transition from gangya proper to blade. Antique kalis (kalis made before 1930) were made with a separate gangya (guard) like their Malay cousins, while more modern made kalis lack this feature and have gangya that are in fact integral to the blade. Some newer kalis do have an engraved line to simulate the appearance of a separate gangya, but when inspected closely it is evident that this is only a cosmetic engraved line, and not a true separate gangya. At some point near the early 19th century, gangya started to be made with a distinct 45-degree angle near the terminus. Opposite the hook-like fretwork on the gangya, exists a curved cavity. It has been suggested that this cavity is representative of the trunk of an elephant, others contend that it is the mouth of the naga (serpent) with the blade being the tail, and still others contend that it is in fact the open mouth of an eagle.

Modern tourist kalis blades can be distinguished by a number of features that once identified are quite easy to spot. Perhaps the easiest to identify feature of a modern tourist/fake kalis blade are the shaping of the waves. Traditional kalis feature gracefully undulating waves that are forged deep into the blade to penetrate straight to the centerline of the blade. Tourist kalis, on the other hand, feature shallow angular waves, that appear to be cut out of the steel rather than forged into the blade.

Hilt

An example of a non-ornate pommel and simple hilt, wrapped in lacquered fiber for improved grip is style of kalis typically used by Moro warriors.

The hilt is either straight or slightly curved (most common on cockatua pommel hilts). Pommel variations are many, however the most common are the horse-hoof (the most distinctive variation coming from the Sulu Sultanate) and the cockatua. Commonly the pommel is made of beautiful hardwood burl (such as banati) with the hilt being wrapped in a lacquered natural fiber (such as jute). However, on higher end kalis, belonging to the upper class, the pommel would be made of such exotic materials as ivory, silver plating, solid brass, etc. with hilts often lavishly bound with silver or swasaa (an alloyed mixture of gold similar to red-gold) bands frequently with braided silver wire interspersing the chased bands.

Scabbard

An example of a simple scabbard made of two loose pieces of wood, secured together by loops of brass.

The Moro kalis scabbard shares many common characteristics with their Malay cousins, but are unique in their own style and form. Scabbards tended to be made of wide grain native hardwoods (e.g. mahogany, teak, narra, etc.), and lashed together with rattan bindings. Sometimes the cross-piece is a separate piece, with the tail-piece socketed in, but quite often the cross-piece and tail are made of one board. Older scabbards feature wider rattan lashings, and normally only cover small sections (e.g. bottom 1/3, 4 inch bands, etc.) of the scabbard.

Kalis blades are wide at the base, double-edged, and can be waved, half-waved half-straight, or straight.

References

↑ Raiders of the Sulu Sea (Documentary). Oakfilms3, History Channel Asia. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
↑ Albert G Van Zonneveld (2002). Traditional Weapons of the Indonesian Archipelago. Koninklyk Instituut Voor Taal Land. ISBN 9-0545-0004-2.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Weapons of the Moro people of the Philippines.

Filipino weapons

Edged weapons	Balisong knife Balisword Barong Bolo knife Dahong palay Gunong Kalis Kampilan Golok Parang Klewang Karambit Panabas Tagan (Sawfish rostrum) Kris Pinutí Mandau (knife)

Impact weapons	Baston (cane) Tabak-Toyok Pingga Tungkod Bugsay (Karay-a)

Shields	Kalasag Taming

Flexible	Buntot Pagi Cadena Latigo

Pole or spear weapons	Sibat/Bangkaw (spear)

Projectile	Pana (Bow and arrow) Sumpit (Blowgun) Saltik/Paltik/Tirador (Slingshot)

Firearms	Filipino Marine Scout Sniper Rifle Floro PDW Model 45A Paltik PVAR rifle Special Operations Assault Rifle GA Personal Defense Weapon Sumpak

Associated martial arts	Arnis Kuntao Silat Sikaran Suntukan Yaw-Yan

Indonesian traditional weapons and bladed tools

Swords	Alamang Balato Gari Klewang Langgai Tinggang Luwuk Mandau Niabor Pandat Parang Nabur Piso Halasan Sikin Panyang Sundang Surik

Daggers & knives	Badik Keris Kujang Palitai Peurawot Rencong Sewar Si Euli

Choppers & machetes	Blakas Golok Golok Rembau Jimpul Kabeala Parang Parang Chandong Parang Latok Wedung

Impact weapons	Cabang

Pole or spear weapons	Arbir Bambu runcing Trisula

Flexible weapons	Cambuk

Miscellaneous weapons	Celurit Kerambit Salukat Sumpit Tolor

Armours & shields	Baluse Kanta Klebit Bok Kurabit Peurise Awe Peurise Teumaga Salawaku

Knives and daggers

List of daggers List of blade materials

Types of knives	Aircrew Survival Egress Knife Athame Balisong/Butterfly Ballistic Ballpoint pen knife Bayonet Boline Bolo Boning Boot knife Bowie Bread knife Cane knife Cheese knife Chef's knife Cleaver Clip point Combat knife Commander Corvo CQC-6 Deba bōchō Diving knife Drop point Electric knife Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife Gerber Mark II Ginsu Grapefruit knife Gravity knife Gunong Hunting knife Jacob's ladder Karambit Kīla Kirpan Kitchen knife Kukri Laguiole knife Machete Mandau Mezzaluna Misericorde Mora knife Multi-tool Nakiri bōchō Navaja Neck knife Nontron knife Opinel knife Palette knife Pantographic knife Parang Penknife Penny knife Pocket knife Putty knife Puukko Rampuri Resolza Sabatier Sami knife Santoku SARK Scalpel Seax Sgian dubh Sharpfinger Shiv Sliding knife Smatchet SOG Knife Straight razor Strider SMF Survival knife Swiss Army knife Switchblade Taping knife Throwing knife Tomato knife Trench knife Tumi Ulu Utility knife Warrior knife X-Acto Yanagi ba Yatagan

Types of daggers	Anelace Applegate–Fairbairn fighting knife Arkansas toothpick BC-41 Bagh naka Baselard Bichuwa Bollock dagger Cinquedea Dirk Ear dagger Emeici Facón French Nail Hachiwara Hunting dagger Janbiya Kaiken Kalis Kard Katar Khanjali Khanjar Kris Mark I trench knife Ocean Edge Knife Parrying dagger Poignard Push dagger Rondel dagger Seme Shobo Sica Stiletto Tantō Marine Raider stiletto V-42 stiletto Yarará Parachute Knife Yoroidōshi

Knife manufacturers	Aitor Al Mar Knives American Tomahawk Company Bear MCG Benchmade Böker Buck Knives Caber Camillus Cutlery Company Cattaraugus Cutlery Company Chris Reeve Knives Cold Steel Columbia River Knife & Tool Cuisinart Cutco Cutlery DOVO Solingen Dexter-Russell Dirte Knives Eikhorn Ek Commando Knife Co. Emerson Knives Erizo F. Dick Fällkniven FAMAE Fiskars Füritechnics Gerber Legendary Blades Global Golok Hanwei Imperial Schrade J. A. Henckels Ka-Bar Kershaw Knives KitchenAid Korin Japanese Trading Company Kyocera Leatherman Mad Dog Knives MercWorx Microtech Knives Morseth Murphy Knives Ontario Knife Company Opinel Pro-Tech Knives Randall Made Knives Ranz Rigid Knives Rösle SOG Specialty Knives Sabatier Aîné & Perrier Spyderco Strider Knives Survival Aids TEKNA Thiers Issard Victorinox Vox Knives W. R. Case & Sons Cutlery Co. Walther arms Wenger Western Knife Company Wilkinson Sword Windlass Steelcrafts Wüsthof Yarara Ltd

Knifemakers	A.G. Russell American Bladesmith Society Rex Applegate James Black Blackie Collins John Nelson Cooper Ernest Emerson Jerry Fisk Phill Hartsfield Bill Harsey, Jr. Gil Hibben Knifemakers' Guild Zanjan Knifemakers Jimmy Lile Bob Loveless Bob Lum William F. Moran Ken Onion Ralph Osterhout Bo Randall Chris Reeve Jody Samson William Scagel Mike Snody Robert Terzuola Michael Walker Buster Warenski Daniel Winkler

Book:Knives and daggers Category:Knives / Daggers

Sword types and classifications by region and era

Europe

Ancient / Early history	Bronze Age sword

Iron Age / Classical period	Iron Age sword Gladius Xiphos Kopis/Falcata Makhaira Spatha Sica Rhomphaia Falx

Post-classical period	Viking sword Arming sword Longsword Claymore Falchion Shashka

Early modern period	Zweihänder Spada da lato Katzbalger Cinquedea Estoc Side-sword Espada ropera Swiss degen

Modern period	Rapier Sabre Cutlass Basket-hilted sword Small sword Dueling sword Hunting sword Pistol sword Spadroon Sword bayonet

China

Ancient	Jian Dao

Medieval	Dadao Zhanmadao

Ming – Qing	Liuyedao Wodao Changdao Yanmaodao

Modern	Miaodao

Korea

Bronze Age – Gojoseon	Liaoning bronze dagger culture

Iron Age – Three Kingdom Era	Hwandudaedo Seven-Branched Sword

Goryeo and Joseon era	Jedok geom Bonguk geom Hwando Wungeom Four Tiger Sword

Japan

Yayoi – Nara periods	Chokutō Tsurugi

Heian – Kamakura periods	Tachi Ōdachi Tantō

Muromachi – Edo periods	Wakizashi Uchigatana Katana

Meiji period and beyond	Guntō Iaitō Ninjatō Shikomizue

India

Ancient	Khanda Firangi Talwar Kayamkulam vaal Pata

Indonesian

Early period	Mandau Niabor Parang Balato Gari Surik

Late period	Klewang Sundang Langgai Tinggang Parang Nabur Sikin Panjang

Philippines

Pre-Hispanic period	Kampilan Kalis Barong Panabas

Spanish colonization	Bolo Balisword Buntot Pagi Espada y Daga Dahong palay Pinuti

Middle East

Scimitar type	Kilij Shamshir Saif Kaskara Flyssa Takoba Yatagan Mameluke sword

South and Southeast Asia

Classic stage	Khanda Urumi Hook sword Dha

Post-Classic stage	Talwar Kastane Krabi

Mesoamerica

Pre-Columbian era	Macuahuitl Macana

Africa

Ancient Egypt	Khopesh Acinaces

Mainland	Ida Kaskara Nimcha Shotel Billao

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