Advice wanted
 

I have this keris since years, the blade have been very rusty, the sheat is missing it buntut and it haven't had a handle when I get it and the sheat was painted brown. Now I started to restore it, first I have cleaned the blade because I want to see if a restoration is worthwhile. The iras blade look good after the cleaning and so I cleaned the sheat also.
I am unsure if it is a pure Bugis keris since the gandar is very flat oval and so I want to ask you if you think that this very old sumatran ivory Jawa Deman handle would be adequat for this keris.
Second question, what do you think have to look the buntut? I want to carve a new one from black horn.

Many thank's in advance,

Detlef

I think this is a Straits Bugis keris. A regular Riau-style jawa demam would be perfect. :)

The sheath would probably liven up after some oiling and buffing with wax.

The buntut can just be a flat simple oval piece that is slightly larger than the batang. If the inward taper due to wear and tear at the end of the batang bothers you, maybe you can have a silver buntut made with an extension to cover that part.

Hello Kai Wee,

thank you very much. What you think about the hilt in the picture? And what you think about the pendokok? The problem is that the pesi is very large and this is nearly the only hilt I have in my collection which I can attach. :o
A flat buntut would be possible, I can cut the batang/gandar a little bit that the wear isn't visible anymore, the blade have enough place.
Of course the sheat will get a covering with shellac to come back to old glory. ;) And the blade will get a decent stain.

Best,

Detlef

It is a pity the selut is too big :shrug: . The hilt is wonderful :)
You can find an image of a kris from Minangkabau with the same hilt and wrangka in Jensen's Krisdisk. (cap. 9.2 page 20 fig. 161 a).

well, the problem is I have never really seen what sort of keris sheath and blade goes with the hilt you have posted. :) so I'm not sure about it. Also, based on my experience, the regular Riau jawa demam should be ok, but you probably have to find one of sufficient girth. A taller pendoko could be useful in fitting the hilt onto the long pesi.

I would say that if you were to use this hilt you would want to find a different pendoko anyway because this one doesn't seem to fit the hilt properly.

Hello Gio,

thank's for the compliment about the hilt. I found a other pendokok for this hilt, picture will follow. The sheat in Jensen's Krisdisk is different, it a pure Minangkabau sheat. ;)

Hello Kai Wee,

you can show me which type of hilt you exactly mean? Thank's in advance,

Detlef

Hello David,

what do you think about this pendokok? It's very similar but a little bit more small in diameter.

It's this type. :)

Thank's, now I know what you mean! :)

The restoration of the sheat is finished. The last picture shows the keris with hilt. Until I don't have found a hilt like Kai Wee have shown this one will be the placeholder.

Hi Detlef,

Nice restore.

What did u use on the wranka , oil or lacker ?

Hi Danny,

thank's! It's shellac.

It seems that the picture in #12 is gone by what reason however. So here again!

Proportion-wise, the hilt is too tall and colunmnar for the keris. :)

You're right by this, when I look at the picture it's the same impression in my mind. :( Will look for a other one, the problem is the big pesi.

I think that this is the best hilt from my collection I can give the keris.

What do you think?

Sajen, well done! That a very good effort at restoring your sheath. Your cross piece is made from very good kemuning wood. The grains and chatoyance is wonderful. Your stem is sena and is good too. It is a pity that you do not have access to good craftsmen where you are... Very good effort indeed.

I would like to suggest that instead of the rounded shaped that you have used for the Buntut, you should instead used the one shown below. It should follow the shape of and slightly bigger then the stem.

To help you you can refer to the photos I have included below. The bottom view is on the left and the side view is on the right..

Under the circmstances... its great... congrats again for a worthwhile effort...

This looks great! :) Yes, keep it this way, Sajen.

BigG,

thank you for your kind words! :) The Buntut is worked a little bit higher because I want to cover the wear at the end of the stem, look the pics in up.
When you look from down the shape followed the shape of the stem.

Regards,

Detlef

Thank you Kai Wee! :)

Rite its mor clearer now... good job...