Keris for comment.

[Atlantia]

I picked up this Keris in a deal and it seems to have good age and an intersting iron mount.
Can any of you enlighten me, as these are rather a mytery to me.
Age? Any information really. Does it need an etch? Can anyone show me what it 'should' look like?

Thanks
gene

[Gustav]

This once was an anak-alang of very high quality, peninsular, probably Pattani.

To me unusual seems the very strong well forged central rib. Unfortunately some damage to greneng, which also was well made, somewhat to classical for a peninsular blade. Sumatran influence?

Somewhat unusual also the way Tikel Alis is "suggested". Normally there is a more or less deep one (often more), or nothing at all.

Pendokok is a form associated with Pattani. Could it be silver? Would be a little bit strange to have an iron pendokok for piece of such quality.

Sampir and hilt are very well done, the sampir wood is beautiful with it's two coloured grain.

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by Gustav

This once was an anak-alang of very high quality, peninsular, probably Pattani.

To me unusual seems the very strong well forged central rib. Unfortunately some damage to greneng, which also was well made, somewhat to classical for a peninsular blade. Sumatran influence?

Somewhat unusual also the way Tikel Alis is "suggested". Normally there is a more or less deep one (often more), or nothing at all.

Pendokok is a form associated with Pattani. Could it be silver? Would be a little bit strange to have an iron pendokok for such piece of such quality.

Sampir and hilt are very well done, the sampir wood is beautiful with it's two coloured grain.

Hi Gustav,

Thank you for the help. Can I sak, what makes this a high quality example?
Any ideas what the date would be and should it be etched?

Many Thanks
Gene

[David]

Nice blade, but it does not have the profile and features that i would normally expect to see on a anak-alang, so i would question that assessment.
The pendokok might well be dirty silver. Did you test with a magnet to determine that it was iron? Unfortunate that it is damaged so much however.
If you plan to restore you will want to create a new "toe" for the sheath and get a new pendokok. I would image that a nice piece of blade horn would work well here.
AFAIK peninsula blades are not normally stained, but i would say this blade certainly should be cleaned. However, i am not convinced that this keris isn't of Sumatran origin, in which case a staining might be in order.

[Gustav]

David, may I ask you, which features of a "typical" anak alang this keris is lacking?

Also it seems to me, there are genuine old Malay blades, which are originally stained, including also blades with no pamor.

[Sajen]

Hello Gene,

I would call this nice keris Anak Alang as well with unusual blade profile. I don't want to appoint it to Sumatra or Peninsula since I am unsure from where it is. The tip of the sheath have to look like the example I show from the profile. A piece of black horn like David suggested would look nice but dark wood would be ok as well.

Regards,

Detlef

[David]

Originally Posted by Gustav

David, may I ask you, which features of a "typical" anak alang this keris is lacking?

Also it seems to me, there are genuine old Malay blades, which are originally stained, including also blades with no pamor.

Frankly Gustav, i don't believe i have ever seen a anak alang with a center ridge (ada-ada) down the blade like this. To my understanding the profile of this dhapur looks more like this blade that Big G posted some time back. Note the profile, the thinner "waist" as it approaches the base of the blade, the "C" indentation in the gandik.
Whether or not peninsula blades are stained has been an unanswered debate on this forum for some time. I would love to hear something more definite about what the actual traditions are, but have yet to see anything i would call conclusive.