Execution keris panjang ? Age ??

[francantolin]

Hello,
I'd like to show you this keris,
The person who give me it told me it comes from Sumatra
( his grandfather worked there and took it back in 1920-1930 )
nobody knows if it's older or not.

I'm not a specialist in keris at all,
I made some research on internet and find it look like what they call an execution keris. (?...)
It's a long keris: blade is 55cm long ( 21.6 inches),
total length is 70cm (27,55 inches)
The scabbard is just wood with rattan but I find the carving on the wrangka really nice.

the blade is in ( not so ) bad conditions ( especially on one side cf pictures )

What do you think ?

Thank you

[francantolin]

And the blade...
Thanks you !!

[Jean]

Hello,
Yes, this is a keris panjang (long kris) and commonly called execution kris.
It is probably originating from Sumatra and estimated to date from 19th century. The sampir (top of the scabbard) and the hilt are in rustic and unusual style, see a more traditional piece.
Regards

[francantolin]

Hello Jean,

Really thank you for the informations especially about rustic sampir ( I thought it was called wrangka too ) and hilt,
do you think that this kind of rustic model was used for executions too ?
or more fighting/hunting small sword ?

Do you think the blade is ok like that or can I clean it ( with what ?)
for see a better pattern.
The corrodated-endommaged blade won't like an acid treatment isn'it ?!
( Maybe it received too much acid bath before !?)


Kind regards

[Jean]

Originally Posted by francantolin

Hello Jean,

Really thank you for the informations especially about rustic sampir ( I thought it was called wrangka too ) and hilt,
do you think that this kind of rustic model was used for executions too ?
or more fighting/hunting small sword ?

Do you think the blade is ok like that or can I clean it ( with what ?)
for see a better pattern.
The corrodated-endommaged blade won't like an acid treatment isn'it ?!
( Maybe it received too much acid bath before !?)


Kind regards

Hello Francantolin,
Yes, the top of the scabbard is also called warangka or gambar, but the name sampir is more usual in Sumatra or Sulawesi.
These krisses were more often used as a sign of status or for ceremonies than for executions.
The sampir and hilt of your kris are really unusual and may originate from East Java?
You can clean the blade by soaking it in a bath of undiluted vinegar (7 to 10% acetic acid, cover the container) or 10% citric acid (weak acid) for about 24 -36 hours with regular brushings with an iron pad impregnated with CIF for removing the rust (this is what I did on my blade). After carefully rinsing and drying the blade, it should be immediately treated with WD40 or Ballistoil oil for avoiding further rusting.
These blades have usually no apparent pamor pattern but this treatment should remove the rust and improve the aspect of your blade.
Regards

[francantolin]

THANK YOU !!!
If I try I'll sure post some pictures !

Kind regards/ have a nice weekend

[David]

Originally Posted by Jean

The sampir and hilt of your kris are really unusual and may originate from East Java?

Hey Jean, since this "sampir" seems to originate in East Jawa, why not call it a wrongko?
Francantolin, i basically concur with what Jean has told you. Personally i'm not generally a fan of referring to these keris panjang as "execution keris". This is not to say that these keris were never used as such, but, as Jean has pointed out, these are status keris. They were not designed specifically to execute. I believe this idea has developed because firstly these blades are longer than the usually keris and seem like they would be more effective for the method of execution that has been described where the keris is inserted from above at the top of the shoulder and driven downward into the heart and secondly (perhaps) because those who hold the status to carry such blades might also have the power to decree executions.