WHICH SUNDANG?

A. G. Maisey · 24th March 2010, 02:46 AM

I normally use a 2.5X or 3X machinists loupe. These magnifications are sufficient for the purpose and easier to use than high mag jeweller's loupes.

If you pick at the filling material with a needle and watch through the loupe, you can usually see the composition and consistency of the material. If its just dirt and rust, it picks away quite easily, but if it is a modern exoxy based filler it tends to stick together and you break little bits of it off, if it is plastic steel its almost impossible to pick it away.

But then there is the possibility that the material was put there during a recent renovation to protect the ganja and blade from further erosion:- just finding a modern material in place does not necessarily gaurantee that it is a modern blade, its only an indicator that it might be.

Whether the material is there to fill, or just to give protection, the end effect is that the adhesive qualities of the epoxy resin will assist in firmly fixing the ganja.

Really, the only way you can be certain what it is , is by close physical examination. As has already been demonstrated in another thread, photographs are a very poor substitute for having the thing in your hand.

ganjawulung · 24th March 2010, 05:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Whether the material is there to fill, or just to give protection, the end effect is that the adhesive qualities of the epoxy resin will assist in firmly fixing the ganja.
Really, the only way you can be certain what it is , is by close physical examination. As has already been demonstrated in another thread, photographs are a very poor substitute for having the thing in your hand.

Thanks a lot, for all the advice. I think it is very useful too, for everyone in this Warung. Really knowledgeable advice... Even in my own hand, still everytime I misjudged to analyze what happened to the blade I was seeing. So everytime I am posting the blade to ask the more knowledgeable person like you, Alan, in this Warung to comment... Thanks a lot

GANJAWULUNG

A. G. Maisey · 24th March 2010, 11:27 AM

Pak Ganja, I thank you for your compliment, however, I cannot understand why you would consider that any opinion given upon the basis of photographs could possibly be more valid than an opinion given in the physical presence of a keris.

I'm positive that everybody who has had any lengthy contact with keris has made many errors when attempting appraisal of a keris. All of the really big name people whom I have known personally have made errors, not once, but repeatedly, and I myself have made many errors. These errors have been made with the keris in hand.

Now, when we consider that all we have to work with in respect of a photograph , is a flat two dimensional image that in most cases lacks even a reasonable rendition of detail, then it is inevitable that the error count will rise. To fairly judge a keris we need to hold it in the hand, consider it in three dimensions, consider the percieved weight and balance, consider the texture of the material, and consider many other details that simply cannot be provided in even the very best photograph, let alone an inferior image on a computer screen.

Any opinions that are given upon the basis of a photograph must be viewed as tentative only. The opinions that you would receive from your friends when they actually have the blade in hand must be given much more weight than any opinion given here, no matter who gives that opinion.

24th March 2010, 02:46 AM	#1
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,085	I normally use a 2.5X or 3X machinists loupe. These magnifications are sufficient for the purpose and easier to use than high mag jeweller's loupes. If you pick at the filling material with a needle and watch through the loupe, you can usually see the composition and consistency of the material. If its just dirt and rust, it picks away quite easily, but if it is a modern exoxy based filler it tends to stick together and you break little bits of it off, if it is plastic steel its almost impossible to pick it away. But then there is the possibility that the material was put there during a recent renovation to protect the ganja and blade from further erosion:- just finding a modern material in place does not necessarily gaurantee that it is a modern blade, its only an indicator that it might be. Whether the material is there to fill, or just to give protection, the end effect is that the adhesive qualities of the epoxy resin will assist in firmly fixing the ganja. Really, the only way you can be certain what it is , is by close physical examination. As has already been demonstrated in another thread, photographs are a very poor substitute for having the thing in your hand.

24th March 2010, 11:27 AM	#3
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,085	Pak Ganja, I thank you for your compliment, however, I cannot understand why you would consider that any opinion given upon the basis of photographs could possibly be more valid than an opinion given in the physical presence of a keris. I'm positive that everybody who has had any lengthy contact with keris has made many errors when attempting appraisal of a keris. All of the really big name people whom I have known personally have made errors, not once, but repeatedly, and I myself have made many errors. These errors have been made with the keris in hand. Now, when we consider that all we have to work with in respect of a photograph , is a flat two dimensional image that in most cases lacks even a reasonable rendition of detail, then it is inevitable that the error count will rise. To fairly judge a keris we need to hold it in the hand, consider it in three dimensions, consider the percieved weight and balance, consider the texture of the material, and consider many other details that simply cannot be provided in even the very best photograph, let alone an inferior image on a computer screen. Any opinions that are given upon the basis of a photograph must be viewed as tentative only. The opinions that you would receive from your friends when they actually have the blade in hand must be given much more weight than any opinion given here, no matter who gives that opinion.