Bringing out an oldy for comment

[Lew]

Hi All


I picked this keris up 4 or 5 yrs ago and thought it needed a revisiting

Lew

[Alam Shah]

Lew,
Interesting blade. Looks like it's made from a file.
However, the blade is nicely shaped in the Northern Malaysia / Patani style.

[Lew]

One theory is that the marks were made from a vise?

[Alam Shah]

Originally Posted by LOUIEBLADES

One theory is that the marks were made from a vise?

Interesting theory. Possible, but unlikely. Unless it is done before the ganja is inserted into the pesi (tang). The 'criss-cross' marks are only visible at the thickest section of the blade, which is about the thickness of a thick file. The 'kriss-cross' portion near the gandik, is less visible possibly due to the filework done while shaping the gandik area.

[Lew]

Originally Posted by Alam Shah

Interesting theory. Possible, but unlikely. Unless it is done before the ganja is inserted into the pesi (tang). The 'criss-cross' marks are only visible at the thickest section of the blade, which is about the thickness of a thick file. The 'kriss-cross' portion near the gandik, is less visible possibly due to the filework done while shaping the gandik area.

Alam Shah

If you look at the left side you will notice the marks appear at a high point just to the right of the Kembang kacang or Belalai Gajah. Do you think this was purposely done to provide a perch or a guide for proper for gripping the keris?

Lew

[Alam Shah]

Lew,

Attached are your pictures with some illustrations to aid in our discussion.
(I hope you don't mind). Just to clear some doubts I'm having.

If you don't mind, could you post a picture from the top of the cross-section, with the hilt and hilt cup removed? By the way, what is the thickness at the
thickest part of the blade?

[kai]

Hello Lew,

Do you think this was purposely done to provide a perch or a guide for proper for gripping the keris?

I don't think so: The grip pretty much falls into place and is more used to direct the blade rather than holding it (as you know, the pushing is done with the center of the palm - not the fingers).

I'm wondering wether there was any forging done on the blade or just stock removal? (Must have been a pain to do from a fully hardened file!) Maybe a light etch would reveal more about the workmanship?

Could you please also post a close-up of the pesi? Thanks!

Regards,
Kai

[kai]

One theory is that the marks were made from a vise?

I'd also bet on a recycled file.

If it were impression marks from a vise, you'd expect them to show the negative rather than the surface pattern for better gripping you're used to from a vise...

Probably Alan did also this keris blade to confuse us even more!