Unusual Keris

Spunjer · 18th November 2014, 04:12 PM

here, i have a handle that i haven't seen anywhere else. of course, being green to all of these, you could take that statement with a grain of salt..
the handle is made out of stag horn. i thought it was plastic at first, but yes, it's stag horn. the carving is that of an orangutan, or an orang pendek. i'm kinda leaning on the latter, since you could clearly see the fangs. what's odd is, she appears to be breastfeeding a monitor lizard. my thinking is, it's some sort of a local legend?
the blade is unusual as well. it's unkeris-like, being that both side is symmetrically the same. would love to hear everyone comments on this...

David · 18th November 2014, 09:56 PM

This is such an odd one Ron. The blade seems old and genuine, though i have never seen on quite like it. But it would qualify as a keris sepang i suppose. The hilt is more of a mystery. I'm not sure that it hasn't been adapted for something else, but i can't image what that would be. The carving isn't bad, but the subject matter is nothing i have seen come out of Indonesia before. I think the hilt is newer than the blade.

Rick · 18th November 2014, 10:01 PM

That's what I thought, David .
The bottom seems unfinished compared to other handles .

A. G. Maisey · 18th November 2014, 10:48 PM

Yep. Strange.

Older blade, sepang, ujung gunung, not especially skilled work.

Central Jawa gayaman.

Hilt? No idea.

To my way of thinking, merely a curiosity.

But then a lot of people don't agree with my way of thinking.

18th November 2014, 04:12 PM	#1
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	Unusual Keris here, i have a handle that i haven't seen anywhere else. of course, being green to all of these, you could take that statement with a grain of salt.. the handle is made out of stag horn. i thought it was plastic at first, but yes, it's stag horn. the carving is that of an orangutan, or an orang pendek. i'm kinda leaning on the latter, since you could clearly see the fangs. what's odd is, she appears to be breastfeeding a monitor lizard. my thinking is, it's some sort of a local legend? the blade is unusual as well. it's unkeris-like, being that both side is symmetrically the same. would love to hear everyone comments on this... Attached Images

18th November 2014, 09:56 PM	#2
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,127	This is such an odd one Ron. The blade seems old and genuine, though i have never seen on quite like it. But it would qualify as a keris sepang i suppose. The hilt is more of a mystery. I'm not sure that it hasn't been adapted for something else, but i can't image what that would be. The carving isn't bad, but the subject matter is nothing i have seen come out of Indonesia before. I think the hilt is newer than the blade.

18th November 2014, 10:01 PM	#3
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	That's what I thought, David . The bottom seems unfinished compared to other handles .

18th November 2014, 10:48 PM	#4
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,897	Yep. Strange. Older blade, sepang, ujung gunung, not especially skilled work. Central Jawa gayaman. Hilt? No idea. To my way of thinking, merely a curiosity. But then a lot of people don't agree with my way of thinking.