The Kriss knife, also called the Kris (my namesake), Keris, Kalis, Criss. It 's origin is primarily associated with Indonesia and Bali.
The primary distinctive characteristic of the Kris knife is it's curved, wavy blade, although there are some variants without the wavy blade.
There are hundreds of different variations of the Kris knife, including swords.
In many cultures, the Kris knife is considered to have magical powers, capable of holding either good luck or bad.
They are often used as talismans or (wiccan) Athames, in addition to cutting instruments or weapons.
The oldest Kris known was made in 1264, and is now housed in a museum in Amsterdam. I was unable to determine the value of this knife, but many collectible Kris knives sell for thousands of dollars.
The Kris was generally carried as a secondary weapon in the form of a dagger or small-midsize knife to be used as a backup in case a persons primary weapon was damaged, but in some areas was also used for executions.
The number of curves or waves (called luk) on a Kris blade should always be an odd number, usually between 3-13, although there are some historical variants with up to 29 waves. This wavy pattern and large cutting surface damages more blood vessels when someone is stabbed, causing greater injury than a straight blade of the same length. It also makes for a good slashing or defensive weapon.
The Kris knives pictured below are more modern variants, and could be commonly used in ritual or self defense circumstances.
Enjoy!
K