Rick, going back about 30 years or so, an English friend of mine told me he had seen British made keris blades that were exported to Malaya.
About 15 years ago a highly respected European keris authority told me that the English had made keris blades for export to Malaya.
Going back about 8 years a highly respected American authority on the keris told me that keris blades had been exported to SE Asia by the British.
All hearsay, but one must ask if they were all wrong.
Personally I think its a good bet that the cutlers of Sheffield --- or maybe Birmingham--- identified a commercial opportunity.
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