Ma'af, ma'af, I forgot to explain that you will likely need to right click your mouse, or pad to enlarge to full screen.

Well Wayan, if you go back and reread my post i didn't say that raksasa was a god. I am as aware of his demon status as you are that the others ARE gods. But like the gods that are depicted, raksasa is also in human form and is quite prevailent in Java, even past the 17thC. Perhaps the laws of Islam aren't so cut-and-dry as as you believe. Obviously these hilts exist, i own at least a couple of them. Maybe you need to re-think this belief of yours? :)

BTW, thanks for correcting my grammer. Your English is impecible. Where did you study? Hopefully you understand it as well as you write it and we will have no misunderstandings between us? :)
Your photography is also pretty good. These pictures remind me of those by an ebay dealer i once knew of.
Actually, i don't believe blawong is a bahasa word. I think it might be Javanese (as in the language). If you wish me to believe that a Balinese pande carved this blawong for this particular keris then i would be very surprised. This holder is far too small for MOST Bali keris and yours looks very out of proportion in it, don't you think? It is my understanding that these blawongs are fairly specific to Javanese culture, though i would not be surprised in the least if some Balinese carvers were presently carving them. They are highly favored in villages for special talismanic keris.

[QUOTE=Wayan]
The hilt is not recent work, in fact that kris, hilt, sarong and all, has been in the family of a Balinese high priest for several generations. [QUOTE]

Wayan, is the family of this Balinese high priest aware that you are showing their keris pusaka on the internet? I would think that would be most unusual.

OK “Cincinnati” you want to have some fun? That’s fine by me. I’m not taking any of this discussion personally, and I sure hope you’re not. We can have a little banter, suffer some slings and arrows, and convince the forum Gods that we have no hard feelings, nor are we breaking the Leave it to Beaver or Martha Stewart, “it’s a good thing” rules.

On to business. If you want to believe that Raksasa is human in form, than more power to you, but don’t come to Bali and try to convince a Balinese of that. On the other hand, your efforts to do so could be very amusing to many of us.

You also write, “perhaps the laws of Islam aren't so cut-and-dry as as you believe.”

Well, I have to chuckle at that too! Although I am not Muslim, I do live in the most populated Islamic country in the world...but, hey...what do I know about Islam compared to someone from Cincinnati?

Since you brought up my English, and thanked me for a grammar correction, may I again make another point? You wrote, “actually, i don't believe blawong is a bahasa word.” The term, “bahasa word” is meaningless. Bahasa only means language, as in bahasa Indonesia....the Indonesian language, etc.

You also write, “if you wish me to believe that a Balinese pande carved this blawong for this particular keris then i would be very surprised.” What can I say? Slap in some old tapes of Gomer Pyle and follow along with me....”surprise, surprise, surprise.” YES, Pande Retug carved two of these just for me.

I guess what has got me by the short hairs the most is this:

“Wayan, is the family of this Balinese high priest aware that you are showing their keris pusaka on the internet? I would think that would be most unusual.”

Why? Apa? Hello? It’s not like I’m posting naked photos of his daughter! What in the world are you getting at with that? And anyway, it's my kris now, not his.

Unfortunately, this thread is now closed. Feel free to take this delightful exchange to private emails.

Civility is required. If you are incapable of civility, you are not welcome here.




Cannonmn, if you like, please start another thread about your weapons.