51 luk keris with Naga

A. G. Maisey · 11th July 2008, 10:43 PM

Based upon what I can see in the photographs, this is not an old keris that has been re-shaped, but a recent creation of perhaps the 1970's.

The blade shows no evidence of a core, nor of folding. This material gives every appearance of being plain wrought iron, possibly a piece of carriage strapping, or even wheel rim.

The gonjo has a surface pattern that could possibly indicate folded material, and if this is so, it may be an old gonjo that has been recycled, however, the depth , smoothness and evenness of the surface pattern on the gonjo could indicate that the pattern has been created by a combination of mechanical and chemical means. Another possibility is that it has been made from the same wrought iron as the rest of the blade and the wrought iron layering has been deeply etched in order to reveal it. Physical examination would easily reveal the true nature of this gonjo, but it is difficult from a photograph.

Not a good keris, but interesting in that it shows clearly how far current era keris production has come in a relatively short space of time.

11th July 2008, 10:43 PM	#12
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,992	Based upon what I can see in the photographs, this is not an old keris that has been re-shaped, but a recent creation of perhaps the 1970's. The blade shows no evidence of a core, nor of folding. This material gives every appearance of being plain wrought iron, possibly a piece of carriage strapping, or even wheel rim. The gonjo has a surface pattern that could possibly indicate folded material, and if this is so, it may be an old gonjo that has been recycled, however, the depth , smoothness and evenness of the surface pattern on the gonjo could indicate that the pattern has been created by a combination of mechanical and chemical means. Another possibility is that it has been made from the same wrought iron as the rest of the blade and the wrought iron layering has been deeply etched in order to reveal it. Physical examination would easily reveal the true nature of this gonjo, but it is difficult from a photograph. Not a good keris, but interesting in that it shows clearly how far current era keris production has come in a relatively short space of time.