Kalis
| Kalis كاليس | |
|---|---|
| Type | Sword |
| Place of origin | Philippines |
| Service history | |
| In service | Tondo, Rajahnate of Cebu, Butuan, Rajahnate of Maynila, Ma-i, Sultanate of Maguindanao, Sultanate of Sulu, Bruneian Empire |
| Used by | Moro people (Sama people, Maguindanao people, Maranao people, Tausūg people), Tagalog people |
| Specifications | |
| Length | blade length: 46–66 cm (18–26 in) |
| Blade type | Double edged |
| Hilt type | Wood, ivory |
| Scabbard/sheath | Wood |
A kalis (Baybayin: ; Jawi script: كاليس ;Abecedario: cális) is a type of Philippine sword derived from the wider Southeast Asian, originally Javanese keris, better known as kris. It differs in that the Philippine kris or kalis tends to be a sword, not a dagger, and thus often called a "kris sword".
Like the keris, the kalis has a double-edged blade, which is commonly straight from the tip but wavy near the handle. Kalis exists in several variants, either with a fully straight or fully wavy blade.
While the dagger-sized kris or kalis also exists in the Philippines, "kris" by itself in Philippine English contexts usually connotes the sword instead of the dagger. The sword is much larger than the keris and has a straight or slightly curved hilt, making it a primarily heavy slashing weapon in contrast to the stabbing pistol grip of the keris.
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.
The kalis is also known as sundang among the Maranao and Maguindanao people (not to be confused with the Visayan sundang, which is part of the wider bolo family of Philippine blades). It is also known as sundang, sondang or keris Sulu in Kalimantan and Sulawesi in Indonesia, where it was reintroduced from contact with Mindanao.