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#1 |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 135
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I am new to collecting keris, this being my second example.
The catalogue description was as follows: 19th Century Long Bladed Executioner's Malayan Kris. 22 inch straight double edged blade. Large top forte. Two short chiseled top fullers. Polished horn grip with oval turned in pommel carved with a flower and foliage design. Contained in its wooden scabbard with large throat. Old repair to chape. The stats are: Weight, sword: 12oz (0.34kg), in scabbard: 1lb (0.46kg) Length overall: 26.75'' (68cm) Blade: 22'' (56cm) POB: 3.5'' (9cm) Profile taper: 2.43'' (61.7mm) at widest part of ricasso, 0.69'' (17.5mm) just after ricasso 0.67' (17.2mm) mid blade, 0.49'' (12.5mm) 2 inches from tip. Distal taper 0.56'' (14.6mm) at ricasso, 0.11'' (2.9mm) mid blade. 0.08'' (2mm) 2 inches from tip. I know that the term Executioner's Keris is misleading but I do have a few other questions. I am not sure if the grip is horn as the slight areas of damage show a strong grain. Is this a characteristic of horn or is ebony or similar wood more likely? I will try and include a close-up picture. The pamor on the blade is very plain and I gather that this can sometimes indicate an older blade. Can this one be classified and dated? Finally a general question, the handle orientation seems to vary from keris to keris on the examples I have seen. Is there a reason for this?, is there a standard way to hold a keris or just individual choice and preference? Any information people here can share with a newbie will be gratefully received. Thank you. |
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#2 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 313
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A nice Sumatran panjang blade, not that old but with some age. The tapak kuda hilt very likely horn, which is normally found with this kind of kerises. The scabbard seems of recent manufacture but unfortunately the grain of the wood in the lower part of the gandar is not up to the overall quality of the rest of the scabbard.
The absence of pamor is normal for such blades. I personally believe that the pamor is more frequently found on recent made blades, probably to increase the appeal. As to the orientation of the hilt, there is no strict rule. It depens how comfortably it rests in the hand when holding the kris in the proper way. Congratulations for the purchase. |
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#3 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 313
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One more thing: a nice selut would greatly enhance the aspect and value of this keris.
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#4 | ||
Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,252
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Thanks, Giovanni, for beating me at it!
Quote:
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Most of these scabbards have a rounded tip. However, there are also examples with more or less blunt-ended chased silver fittings. This and a proper selut would make the ensemble much nicer, agreed. Regards, Kai |
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#5 |
Keris forum moderator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 7,100
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My two cents....
The blade, especially at the greneng, does appear well preserved, but this does appear to be an antique example, so late 19th to early 20th century would not be unreasonable. I'd say the hilt is probably horn. I doubt it is painted wood as the exposed areas at the break would not appear so dark as they do. I have seen horn look that way in broken areas, but better photos might confirm. I believe that this sheath should have a "toe" piece at the end of the stem. These were often either horn to ivory. I do agree that a nice "selut" would bring this piece together nicely. Such things are available if you look. Ask a trusted keris dealer if they can find you an appropriate piece. While no pamor isn't necessarily a good gage of age, examples with complex pamors are almost always contemporary ones. Some exceptions probably exist. |
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#6 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 313
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Thanks Kai and David for having better developed my opinions.
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#7 |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 135
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Thank you all very much for your help. My usual area of collecting is European military swords so getting my head around the terms and terminology of these blades is a steep learning curve. In terms of adding a selut would this keris normally have had one? Is this the same thing as a mendak? Do these require an expert to fit them? Presumably the blade needs to be removed and then refitted. Is this easy? The sabbard repair I will probably leave as is. I would rather have a piece that shows its history that over restore it and take away its charater.
Thanks again. |
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#8 | |||
Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,252
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Hello Robert,
Looks like a genuine keris panjang! Quote:
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One would be tempted to classify this blade as Sumatran (realising these got traded widely) and antique. However, the greneng are very well preserved and, from the top of my head, I can't place this specific style. Quote:
![]() Regards, Kai |
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