Balinese Keris Kebo Lager for comment

A. G. Maisey · 16th December 2021, 08:31 PM

What you describe about erosion towards the point is the normal reaction to heat treatment of the blade.

Very often keris blades are hardened for only the first few inches and it is almost unheard of that hardening will ever move into the sorsoran. The hardened steel erodes much more easily than unhardened steel and iron. Keris blades were never drawn, only hardened, the laminated plates of pamor comprised of iron & nickelous material provided protection against breakage. The softer unhardened section of blade acted as a "shock absorber" and permitted a blade to bend without breaking.

Thanks for the pic of the gonjo top. Definitely a North Coast Jawa blade, definitely classifiable as Tuban Pajajaran.

This is an old blade, so it is entirely possible that it has lost some of its length.

It is not at all unusual to find Jawa blades in Balinese dress, and this is especially the case with Balinese keris that are regarded as family pusakas.

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16th December 2021, 08:31 PM	#4
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,989	What you describe about erosion towards the point is the normal reaction to heat treatment of the blade. Very often keris blades are hardened for only the first few inches and it is almost unheard of that hardening will ever move into the sorsoran. The hardened steel erodes much more easily than unhardened steel and iron. Keris blades were never drawn, only hardened, the laminated plates of pamor comprised of iron & nickelous material provided protection against breakage. The softer unhardened section of blade acted as a "shock absorber" and permitted a blade to bend without breaking. Thanks for the pic of the gonjo top. Definitely a North Coast Jawa blade, definitely classifiable as Tuban Pajajaran. This is an old blade, so it is entirely possible that it has lost some of its length. It is not at all unusual to find Jawa blades in Balinese dress, and this is especially the case with Balinese keris that are regarded as family pusakas.