Small Keris, dagger

David · 7th September 2013, 03:16 AM

No worries James. We all have items in our collections that were lessons. Actually, yours is better than many first keris. It's incomplete and a bit of a mishmash, but at least the metal work shows some quality. I look forward to seeing what comes to you from Singapore.

JamesKelly · 15th October 2013, 10:41 PM

Back to former workplace Oct 10, got to use an X-ray fluoroscope, one that seems good on non-ferrous, not so sure about steel.

The little/oversize "brass" hilt ring analysis is:
67.6% copper; 20.84% zinc; 4.51% silicon; 3.25% tin; 2.33% lead; 1.21%iron and 0.18% phosphorus.

Perhaps a copper-alloy metallurgist can make something of this. If he studies copper alloys of Indonesia. The silicon surprises me, guess it would make the alloy fairly hard. Lead is usually added to make castings more sound, iron & phosphorus just residual impurities.

The blade is of course a mix of at least two different steel grades, some part of it is about 1% nickel, 0.13% phosphorus.

Rick · 15th October 2013, 11:00 PM

I'm wondering if the high copper content is supposed to differ the appearance of the finished product from brass ; perhaps a little closer to swaasa when viewed .

James, can we see more pictures of the keris hilt ?

Battara · 16th October 2013, 03:41 AM

Basically what you have here is brass. The rest are added for various reasons, perhaps some being impurities.

The main percentage of mix (roughly 88%) is copper and zinc = brass.

7th September 2013, 03:16 AM	#1
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,211	No worries James. We all have items in our collections that were lessons. Actually, yours is better than many first keris. It's incomplete and a bit of a mishmash, but at least the metal work shows some quality. I look forward to seeing what comes to you from Singapore.

15th October 2013, 10:41 PM	#2
JamesKelly Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Michigan, U.S.A. Posts: 108	Back to former workplace Oct 10, got to use an X-ray fluoroscope, one that seems good on non-ferrous, not so sure about steel. The little/oversize "brass" hilt ring analysis is: 67.6% copper; 20.84% zinc; 4.51% silicon; 3.25% tin; 2.33% lead; 1.21%iron and 0.18% phosphorus. Perhaps a copper-alloy metallurgist can make something of this. If he studies copper alloys of Indonesia. The silicon surprises me, guess it would make the alloy fairly hard. Lead is usually added to make castings more sound, iron & phosphorus just residual impurities. The blade is of course a mix of at least two different steel grades, some part of it is about 1% nickel, 0.13% phosphorus.

15th October 2013, 11:00 PM	#3
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	I'm wondering if the high copper content is supposed to differ the appearance of the finished product from brass ; perhaps a little closer to swaasa when viewed . James, can we see more pictures of the keris hilt ?

16th October 2013, 03:41 AM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,270	Basically what you have here is brass. The rest are added for various reasons, perhaps some being impurities. The main percentage of mix (roughly 88%) is copper and zinc = brass.