Orientation of the grip of this keris

David · 19th November 2008, 03:37 AM

I certainly would not argue that you and others have occasionally come across a hilt fixed into this "reverse" position, for whatever reason. However, i don't believe that one can automatically assume that the original position of this grip was therefore correct. We have no idea whose hands this keris was in over it's recent (and not so recent) past. Did this keris come out of S.E. Asia a long time ago, or has it been in more Western hands for many years? I certainly don't know, but it seems strange to me that you would form a conclusion based on the exception to the rule.
I do know that the opposite orientation, the one showed by Kulbunet, allows this keris to best be wielded as a weapon. It therefore seems a logical explanation to photos that might show a reverse orientation (again, i believe, the exception to the rule) that the wearer is perhaps show a peaceful intent. I do realize that this does not explain keris that have this reverse orientation fixed with damar, but how many of these have you actually encountered in you 50 some odd years of experience?

19th November 2008, 03:37 AM	#7
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,244	I certainly would not argue that you and others have occasionally come across a hilt fixed into this "reverse" position, for whatever reason. However, i don't believe that one can automatically assume that the original position of this grip was therefore correct. We have no idea whose hands this keris was in over it's recent (and not so recent) past. Did this keris come out of S.E. Asia a long time ago, or has it been in more Western hands for many years? I certainly don't know, but it seems strange to me that you would form a conclusion based on the exception to the rule. I do know that the opposite orientation, the one showed by Kulbunet, allows this keris to best be wielded as a weapon. It therefore seems a logical explanation to photos that might show a reverse orientation (again, i believe, the exception to the rule) that the wearer is perhaps show a peaceful intent. I do realize that this does not explain keris that have this reverse orientation fixed with damar, but how many of these have you actually encountered in you 50 some odd years of experience?