Very unusual old keris , any ideas ?

chiefheadknocker · 17th August 2019, 02:32 PM

I picked this up recently , i thought it looked like an unusual hilt for a keris , though i could be wrong ,
the hilt i think is made from bone.
whats your thoughts on it ?
the blade is 32 cm long total length 43 cm

Jean · 17th August 2019, 07:07 PM

Moro hilt and Indonesian blade?

chiefheadknocker · 17th August 2019, 07:14 PM

Hi yes that was my thought a moro hilt on a indonesian blade , but when you see the hilt its very small and surely would be too small for a moro kris , im stumped

David · 17th August 2019, 09:50 PM

Well, it is most certainly a Moro hilt on an Indonesian blade. I can't say that this stumps me. The small size of the hilt is not that unusual. Especially some older Moro kris tended to be smaller and then there is also the possibility that the hilt came from a child's kris. How and when they came together is anybody's guess though.
BTW, i am not convinced that the pommel is bone. Would need to see better photos and/or handle it, but it could be ivory.

chiefheadknocker · 17th August 2019, 11:03 PM

Hi david , im no expert but i guessed it must be a moro hilt though very small, i have added some more pics of the hilt and as you can see the pommel can be removed , im not sure if its ivory or not ?
i have taken a picture of it against what is allready a small moro hilt to give it some perspective

Bob A · 18th August 2019, 01:33 AM

No expertise here either, but it has the look of bone to me.

Aside from the appearance of bone, the dagger has a utilitarian look, on which I doubt ivory would be used.

17th August 2019, 02:32 PM	#1
chiefheadknocker Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 143	Very unusual old keris , any ideas ? I picked this up recently , i thought it looked like an unusual hilt for a keris , though i could be wrong , the hilt i think is made from bone. whats your thoughts on it ? the blade is 32 cm long total length 43 cm Attached Images

17th August 2019, 11:03 PM	#5
chiefheadknocker Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 143	Hi david , im no expert but i guessed it must be a moro hilt though very small, i have added some more pics of the hilt and as you can see the pommel can be removed , im not sure if its ivory or not ? i have taken a picture of it against what is allready a small moro hilt to give it some perspective Attached Images

17th August 2019, 07:07 PM	#2
Jean Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,740	Moro hilt and Indonesian blade?

17th August 2019, 07:14 PM	#3
chiefheadknocker Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 143	Hi yes that was my thought a moro hilt on a indonesian blade , but when you see the hilt its very small and surely would be too small for a moro kris , im stumped

17th August 2019, 09:50 PM	#4
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,124	Well, it is most certainly a Moro hilt on an Indonesian blade. I can't say that this stumps me. The small size of the hilt is not that unusual. Especially some older Moro kris tended to be smaller and then there is also the possibility that the hilt came from a child's kris. How and when they came together is anybody's guess though. BTW, i am not convinced that the pommel is bone. Would need to see better photos and/or handle it, but it could be ivory.

18th August 2019, 01:33 AM	#6
Bob A Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 427	No expertise here either, but it has the look of bone to me. Aside from the appearance of bone, the dagger has a utilitarian look, on which I doubt ivory would be used.