How old is this dagger? Why is the blade so black?

aspalathos · 21st April 2022, 02:49 PM

Hello dagger for comment please

kronckew · 21st April 2022, 04:39 PM

It's a keris from Indonesia. It's black because they deliberately stain them that way with an arsenic bath. They use a pattern welding of different steel alloys, and some with nickel, sometimes in the best ones, meteoric high nickel iron alloys. The nickel doesn't stain, so it shows the pattern made by the smith, there are various named known patterns with specific traditional meanings.

You might want to read thru the keris forum threads for more detail. This probably should be moved to that forum. Their experts can give you more info on it's age, exactly where it was likely made, how they stain the blades, what the patterns mean, etc.

fernando · 21st April 2022, 05:00 PM

Thread moved to the Keris forum.

Sajen · 21st April 2022, 10:23 PM

It is a very poorly made recent keris, scabbard is Madura style, blade looks somewhat Balinese and the very poor carved handle is a fantasy produkt.
Sorry for the bad news.

Regards,
Detlef

David · 21st April 2022, 10:39 PM

Detlef, i would say that the blade was made in Madura as well. It does seem that it is an attempt at a Balinese style blade, but not done with much skill.
The handle is poorly carved, but i am not convinced this is a "fantasy product". I have seen this same figure before. This one is just a very poor depiction.
This was probably made within the last 20 years or so.

Sajen · 21st April 2022, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

Detlef, i would say that the blade was made in Madura as well. It does seem that it is an attempt at a Balinese style blade, but not done with much skill.

Hello David,
Yes I agree, I write "looks Balinese".

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

The handle is poorly carved, but i am not convinced this is a "fantasy product". I have seen this same figure before. This one is just a very poor depiction.
This was probably made within the last 20 years or so.

Possible! But this one is an insult to my eyes! I hope that Aspalathos not paid too much for it.

Regards,
Detlef

A. G. Maisey · 22nd April 2022, 01:30 AM

Yes, not a real good example of a keris, but it is a keris and several people placed a part of their lives into making it.

It is recent, and it is a fact of life that not everybody either needs or can afford a nice keris.

Looking at it does not offend my eyes, I simply recognise the limits of human existence.

21st April 2022, 02:49 PM	#1
aspalathos Member Join Date: Nov 2019 Posts: 97	How old is this dagger? Why is the blade so black? Hello dagger for comment please Attached Images

21st April 2022, 10:39 PM	#5
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,123	Detlef, i would say that the blade was made in Madura as well. It does seem that it is an attempt at a Balinese style blade, but not done with much skill. The handle is poorly carved, but i am not convinced this is a "fantasy product". I have seen this same figure before. This one is just a very poor depiction. This was probably made within the last 20 years or so. Last edited by David; 21st April 2022 at 11:00 PM.

21st April 2022, 04:39 PM	#2
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,183	It's a keris from Indonesia. It's black because they deliberately stain them that way with an arsenic bath. They use a pattern welding of different steel alloys, and some with nickel, sometimes in the best ones, meteoric high nickel iron alloys. The nickel doesn't stain, so it shows the pattern made by the smith, there are various named known patterns with specific traditional meanings. You might want to read thru the keris forum threads for more detail. This probably should be moved to that forum. Their experts can give you more info on it's age, exactly where it was likely made, how they stain the blades, what the patterns mean, etc.

21st April 2022, 05:00 PM	#3
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Thread moved to the Keris forum.

21st April 2022, 10:23 PM	#4
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,781	It is a very poorly made recent keris, scabbard is Madura style, blade looks somewhat Balinese and the very poor carved handle is a fantasy produkt. Sorry for the bad news. Regards, Detlef

22nd April 2022, 01:30 AM	#7
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,892	Yes, not a real good example of a keris, but it is a keris and several people placed a part of their lives into making it. It is recent, and it is a fact of life that not everybody either needs or can afford a nice keris. Looking at it does not offend my eyes, I simply recognise the limits of human existence.