Keris with replacement piece

thomas hauschild · 16th January 2026, 03:58 PM

Hi guys.

Not to late to wish a happy new year. I got this keris some month ago. Clearly described by the seller as gold plated. But I liked it and it found the way to me together with other keris.

The lower part of the scabbard looked not like the real deal. A test with a hot needle shows melting plastic. I found the time now to replace it.

I think a Minangkabau Keris (?), the feeling is that the blade is older than the fittings. The lower piece was replaced maybe due to a lost by ivory-looking resin. I think it is better now with the same material. I tested to scratch a glass with that red stones. They where able to scratch it easily.

Best Thomas

Sajen · 16th January 2026, 08:29 PM

Hi Thomas,

Wow, a great Minangkabau keris and a well done restore job! Also when I imagine that the original foot could have looked a little bit different.
The blade is very typical for this sort of Minang keris and all could be of the same age IMVHO. The stones will be rubies I guess.

Regards,
Detlef

A. G. Maisey · Yesterday, 09:37 PM

A nicely done replacement.

The red stones are either pastes or garnets, if they scratch easily as you have noted, probably pastes, but that depends upon what they were scratched with, I'd get them into good directed light and use a jeweller's loupe on these stones, try to find inclusions in them, if you find inclusions the probability could be that they are garnets.

David · Yesterday, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

A nicely done replacement.

The red stones are either pastes or garnets, if they scratch easily as you have noted, probably pastes, but that depends upon what they were scratched with, I'd get them into good directed light and use a jeweller's loupe on these stones, try to find inclusions in them, if you find inclusions the probability could be that they are garnets.

I believe what Thomas was saying is that the stones scratched the glass, not the other way around. I suspect they are more likely garnets than rubies, but probably real gemstones.

A. G. Maisey · Today, 12:12 AM

Yes, true, I misread it.

So, very probably garnets, but in Indonesia they would be named as "mirah", be they rubies, garnets, or pastes.

Sajen · Today, 10:47 AM

Both, garnets and rubies can scratch glass, rubies have a hardness from 9 on the Mohs scala, garnets between 6,5 and 7,5. Glas has a hardness from 6. With the thick gilding I guess that the stones are rubies.

A. G. Maisey · Today, 12:27 PM

Detlef, if these red stones are rubies then that keris is an extremely valuable item, I mean bigtime.

On the other hand, gold plate is not expensive at all.

Rubies & a plastic buntut?

I rather think not.

Sajen · Today, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Rubies & a plastic buntut?

The plastic buntut would have been a replacement for a lost ivory buntut.

16th January 2026, 03:58 PM	#1
thomas hauschild Member Join Date: May 2017 Location: Germany Posts: 148	Keris with replacement piece Hi guys. Not to late to wish a happy new year. I got this keris some month ago. Clearly described by the seller as gold plated. But I liked it and it found the way to me together with other keris. The lower part of the scabbard looked not like the real deal. A test with a hot needle shows melting plastic. I found the time now to replace it. I think a Minangkabau Keris (?), the feeling is that the blade is older than the fittings. The lower piece was replaced maybe due to a lost by ivory-looking resin. I think it is better now with the same material. I tested to scratch a glass with that red stones. They where able to scratch it easily. Best Thomas Attached Images

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16th January 2026, 08:29 PM	#2
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,541	Hi Thomas, Wow, a great Minangkabau keris and a well done restore job! Also when I imagine that the original foot could have looked a little bit different. The blade is very typical for this sort of Minang keris and all could be of the same age IMVHO. The stones will be rubies I guess. Regards, Detlef

Yesterday, 09:37 PM	#3
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,141	A nicely done replacement. The red stones are either pastes or garnets, if they scratch easily as you have noted, probably pastes, but that depends upon what they were scratched with, I'd get them into good directed light and use a jeweller's loupe on these stones, try to find inclusions in them, if you find inclusions the probability could be that they are garnets.

Today, 12:12 AM	#5
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,141	Yes, true, I misread it. So, very probably garnets, but in Indonesia they would be named as "mirah", be they rubies, garnets, or pastes.

Today, 10:47 AM	#6
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,541	Both, garnets and rubies can scratch glass, rubies have a hardness from 9 on the Mohs scala, garnets between 6,5 and 7,5. Glas has a hardness from 6. With the thick gilding I guess that the stones are rubies.

Today, 12:27 PM	#7
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,141	Detlef, if these red stones are rubies then that keris is an extremely valuable item, I mean bigtime. On the other hand, gold plate is not expensive at all. Rubies & a plastic buntut? I rather think not.