Planning to make a wrongko

[Johan van Zyl]

Hi Keris friends! It has been some time since I last had the honour of learning from you all in this forum, concerning my two kerisses. I hope you are all still well. I myself have been quite busy, and I am happy to report that I have just finished an article on my Java keris, this time to submit to the quarterly newsletter of my firearms and edged weapons collector's society. This time I did it in my home language, Afrikaans, and that is why I cannot share it with you - although, if one of you can manage the Afrikaans, please request a copy if you want. I would be very willing to have a knowledgeable person scrutinise it! (There's no keris boffin where I live!)

You might recall that I reported that the scabbard of my second keris (the Bugis) was incomplete. I actually only have the original 1850's centre part. I am planning to make the wrongko myself, and I will have to make the buntut as well. There's no other way open for me, because I don't think I will ever, in this country, be able to get hold of original (spare) parts for a Bugis scabbard.
I don't have modern specialist tools for the job, but then, the empu's didn't have specialist tools either! I might just be able to do the job tolerably well. I plan to use four layers of fine quality wood for the wrongko. One of the reasons for this is that it is never my purpose to have the wrongko pose as a genuine part, when viewed by persons without the knowledge that I had made it. The lamination will indicate that it is a recent home-built part, and it might also be a reflection of the laminated nature of the blade that it protects. Part of my plan is that I do not in any way alter the original centre piece. I want to attach the new wrongko and buntut in such a way that the centre piece is unharmed. I have already drawn up a pattern (template) of a typical Bugis scabbard outline with its wrongko.
Please be so kind as to indicate whether you support my plan, and offer me such advice that I might need for the job at hand. I can hardly wait to get started.
Regards, Johan