Kebo Giri? Kebokantong?

[shayde78]

Hi all, and Happy New Year!

I am definitively out of my depth here. I saw this item on ebay, and knew I hadn't seen this form before. So, I bid on it, and got very lucky. I did a lot of digging through the archives here, and found some information, so I trust the experts will weigh in. I have not yet learned the vocabulary specific to Keris, so please bear with me as I am bound to make a few mistakes.

From reading through the past threads, I believe this type of keris to be referred to as a Kebo Giri (luk tiga). Alternatively, it is referenced as dapur Kebokantong. It has an exaggerated gandik and the blade has luk beyond the sekar kacang (which I believe makes this even more rare).

I am eager to hear your opinions. It came with no additional dress than what is shown. I am not sure if the ganja is separate, or iras.

For what it is worth, the seller indicated it was "at least 40-50 years old". I asked her what she based that on and it was that it was her brother's, that he had died in the early 1990s, and that he hadn't traveled for years prior to his death, so he could not have collected it after the 1980s.

So, what do you think? Apologies for the dirty condition - I just received this today and am eager to get some expert feedback

[shayde78]

Some additional pictures - is the ganja separate, or iras?

[kai]

Some additional pictures - is the ganja separate, or iras?

Definitely separate, Shayde!

Keris Kebo Kanthong Luk Lima seems to be a good description for this rare dhapur.

Looks like a good blade. Could you please take pics of the whole blade (as well as a close-up of the section with luk) directly from above (vertically), i.e. not at an angle? Thanks!

Regards,
Kai

[Sajen]

Here is my one: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ight=Kebo+Giri
I guess you have seen it by your search.

And yes, better pictures would be very helpful.

[jagabuwana]

Happy New Year to you too, Shayde.
Nice find with this blade. If you intend to clean it, I'd really like to see the result afterwards.
Do you intend on getting a Jogja wrongko to match?

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by jagabuwana

Nice find with this blade. If you intend to clean it, I'd really like to see the result afterwards.
Do you intend on getting a Jogja wrongko to match?

Same questions from me!

Regards,
Detlef

[shayde78]

Originally Posted by jagabuwana

Happy New Year to you too, Shayde.
Nice find with this blade. If you intend to clean it, I'd really like to see the result afterwards.
Do you intend on getting a Jogja wrongko to match?

I certainly intend to clean it. It has a good personality I'd like to reveal under all the gunk and rust!

As for the wrongo - is the one in the link Sajen provided a Jogia Wrongko? Are there specific details that I should look for to compliment this keris? I will have to keep my eyes open for one.

How about for the hulu/hilt - should I keep it as is, or look for something else? It seems the current mount matches the other examples I've seen on here, but I could be wrong. I recently acquired a number of hilts that the seller thought were handles for files. I could perhaps select one of those unless the one pictured here is correct.

thanks again for the helpful feedback

[shayde78]

Originally Posted by kai

Definitely separate, Shayde!

Keris Kebo Kanthong Luk Lima seems to be a good description for this rare dhapur.

Looks like a good blade. Could you please take pics of the whole blade (as well as a close-up of the section with luk) directly from above (vertically), i.e. not at an angle? Thanks!

Regards,
Kai

Thank you to everyone for the feedback so far. I'm attaching a few more pictures below. Forgive me, as my camera is well below standard, but hopefully these show some of the requested detail.

I know it is fraught to make too many claims when all you have are poor photographs to go by, but can blades of this form be attributed to a specific region, time/era, people? I read that they were considered well suited to those involved in primary production (farming, livestock, etc.), but is this form associated with a specific culture?

[Mickey the Finn]

Psst... The previous owner had the hilt on backwards. I suspect that it's because people unfamiliar with keris see the greneng as having a function similar to what they think the function of "Spanish notches" on the forte of certain knives from the western hemisphere is. They see them as blade catchers on a knuckleguard. They certainly could function as blade catchers, as could "Spanish notches".
Sincerely and Respectfully,
Mickey the Finn