[A. G. Maisey]

Willem, the gonjo on this keris is a barely acceptable replacement, the keris itself is very ordinary.

If the story is true, it may be able to be considered to be a royal gift.

But this raises the question of royalty in Central Jawa.

Javanese rulers had more than one official wife, and many unofficial wives (selir). My housekeeper of many years claimed descent from one such unofficial wife of Pakubuwono X.

Pakubuwono XII (1925 -- 2004) had six wives, and from these six wives he had 15 sons and 20 daughters. He also had an unknown number of selir and an unknown number of children from these selir.

Over the years I have known many people who can claim royal descent --- taxi drivers, shop assistants, factory workers, office workers, accountants, a physician.

There is nothing at all special about being able to claim royal descent, unless one is accepted as an active part of the hierarchy of the Keraton. The minor children pretty much don't bother, and simply get on with their lives.

This keris may or may not be a gift from one such person. It may or may not be a gift from the Susuhunan of Surakarta himself, but whoever gifted it, it remains a very, very ordinary keris.

EDIT

Willem, I've just read through this thread from the beginning.

I believe you already have a very clear answer on the "royalty" thing, given on more than one occasion, and by more than one person.