My latest Keris

David R · 13th December 2023, 03:13 PM

For someone without a special interest in such I do seem to accumulate pieces from this area.

I recently bought a stripped Keris blade from an online dealer, it arrived today, and now posted here for your perusal and comment..... The top piece is loose but does fit very closely, a pity and not mentioned in the sale description.

Next up I suppose is to dress it in a respectful manner.

kai · 14th December 2023, 12:59 AM

Hello David,

Looks like originating from the eastern Sumatran coast (including the Riau archipelago) to me.

Either classical Riau fittings or more generic Bugis-style fittings would go well with this blade.

Regards,
Kai

Jean · 14th December 2023, 09:06 AM

You should just glue the loose gonjo around the pesi, not a problem.

A. G. Maisey · 14th December 2023, 08:39 PM

I beg to differ Jean.

We do not glue gonjos.

We refix them with a key, if a key was used in the first place, or we use a nail punch with a relatively fine tip & punch the gonjo around the pesi so that we achieve a pressure fit.

Stylistically this blade would classify as Bugis, and usually Bugis gonjos are fitted by the punch method.

In any case, a gonjo is always a pressure fit.

David R · 15th December 2023, 07:58 PM

Thank you! I did a bit of digging and found what you were writing about... In the process learning a lot more about Keris!

A. G. Maisey · 15th December 2023, 09:01 PM

There is a lot out there to learn, David.

If you like learning, the keris question can keep you occupied for a very long time, I've been learning keris now since 1953, for most of that time I have focused on Javanese keris, and in my opinion, I'm not even halfway through the Javanese course.

13th December 2023, 03:13 PM	#1
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,079	My latest Keris For someone without a special interest in such I do seem to accumulate pieces from this area. I recently bought a stripped Keris blade from an online dealer, it arrived today, and now posted here for your perusal and comment..... The top piece is loose but does fit very closely, a pity and not mentioned in the sale description. Next up I suppose is to dress it in a respectful manner. Attached Images

14th December 2023, 12:59 AM	#2
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,254	Hello David, Looks like originating from the eastern Sumatran coast (including the Riau archipelago) to me. Either classical Riau fittings or more generic Bugis-style fittings would go well with this blade. Regards, Kai

14th December 2023, 09:06 AM	#3
Jean Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,740	You should just glue the loose gonjo around the pesi, not a problem.

14th December 2023, 08:39 PM	#4
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,876	I beg to differ Jean. We do not glue gonjos. We refix them with a key, if a key was used in the first place, or we use a nail punch with a relatively fine tip & punch the gonjo around the pesi so that we achieve a pressure fit. Stylistically this blade would classify as Bugis, and usually Bugis gonjos are fitted by the punch method. In any case, a gonjo is always a pressure fit.

15th December 2023, 07:58 PM	#5
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,079	Thank you! I did a bit of digging and found what you were writing about... In the process learning a lot more about Keris!

15th December 2023, 09:01 PM	#6
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,876	There is a lot out there to learn, David. If you like learning, the keris question can keep you occupied for a very long time, I've been learning keris now since 1953, for most of that time I have focused on Javanese keris, and in my opinion, I'm not even halfway through the Javanese course.