A Keris for slashing...

mrwizard · 22nd May 2011, 04:43 PM

I just received this keris with rather unusual (or at least unusual for me) fittings. The hilt has been elongated with a piece, so that it can be gripped like a sword sabre.
Blade length is 36cm (14.2'') and build rather robust compared to most other keris i have handled (which actually doesn't mean much

).
Unfortunately, it looks like someone couldn't resist the urge to slash at something an damaged the blade.

Despite those nasty breakouts and some surface-rust the blade is in a remarkably good condition.

I bought it from a descendant of a german noble family. The seller rediscovered it 20 years ago in a closet at the family homestead and (until i told him that it is a keris) assumed it was a custom made short sword for one of his ancestors.
Good thing about nobility is that they tend to keep track of their ancestors, so it was rather easy to find out that one of his ancestors held a command at Batavia in the first half of 19th century. Descendants of this officer lived (or maybe still live) in Padang.

With any luck this could be a 19th century blade that still has its original fittings.

Comments are welcome. Especially on the "mendak" thing

Best Regards,
Thilo

Best Regards

Sajen · 22nd May 2011, 05:25 PM

Hello Thilo,

really funny ensemble you got there. Keris and sheath seems to be from Peninsula with refitted hilt somewhere in Indonesia, most proable Java since it is a javanese hilt from Central Java. When you want to restore it you need to carve a new buntut for the sheath and infix a adequate piece of wood under the crosspiece. A fitting handle and pendokok would be necessary as well....
A lot of work for a demaged blade IMHO.
Others with a lot more knowledge will tell you more.

Regards,

Detlef

Sajen · 22nd May 2011, 05:28 PM

I think that the keris have to look like one of the shown examples in this thread:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=11474

mrwizard · 22nd May 2011, 05:52 PM

Hello Detlef,

Thank you for your comments and the restoration advice.

I don't plan to completely remodel this keris. IMHO this would strip the individual character that made me buy it in the first place. Somehow i like those partially broken or imperfect pieces.

My plan was to clean the blade but leave the overall ensemble untouched. Well... maybe i will try to carve a replacement buntut to make it a little more "displayable".

Best Regards,
Thilo

David · 22nd May 2011, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrwizard

Hello Detlef,

Thank you for your comments and the restoration advice.

I don't plan to completely remodel this keris. IMHO this would strip the individual character that made me buy it in the first place. Somehow i like those partially broken or imperfect pieces.

My plan was to clean the blade but leave the overall ensemble untouched. Well... maybe i will try to carve a replacement buntut to make it a little more "displayable".

Best Regards,
Thilo

Thilo, i don't know how or why thos keris ended up in this crazy configuration, but there is nothing very "right" about the dress. The added piece makes no sense is is aesthetically incorrect for any keris that i know off. As has been pointed out, the hilt is from Jawa, the sheath probably peninsula, the piece in between is not correct for either location. The hilt is also facing backwards.
You could go a long way in improving the appearance of this piece simply by removing the odd piece between the hilt and the blade and turning the hilt around to the opposite orientation.

Interesting blade that has a few uncommon features on it such as the "squared" off front edge of the gandik and the triangular shape of the sogokan.

Gustav · 22nd May 2011, 08:29 PM

I would probably leave it as it is. There are some such utilized/adjusted keris blades in Europa, and this is by far not the strangest combo.

The main problem is, when this piece between hilt and blade was added, the sides of gonjo and protruding parts of sorsoran were filed down to fit it with this joint-piece, so the blade is flat now. If you will try to get it in it's "original" state again (without this joint piece, proper hilt, pendokok), you will end with a strange, mutilated blade.

Now we see, WHY it is mutilated, we have a historical context, and this is the most valuable thing regarding this blade.

22nd May 2011, 04:43 PM	#1
mrwizard Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Dortmund, Germany Posts: 102	A Keris for slashing... I just received this keris with rather unusual (or at least unusual for me) fittings. The hilt has been elongated with a piece, so that it can be gripped like a sword sabre. Blade length is 36cm (14.2'') and build rather robust compared to most other keris i have handled (which actually doesn't mean much ). Unfortunately, it looks like someone couldn't resist the urge to slash at something an damaged the blade. Despite those nasty breakouts and some surface-rust the blade is in a remarkably good condition. I bought it from a descendant of a german noble family. The seller rediscovered it 20 years ago in a closet at the family homestead and (until i told him that it is a keris) assumed it was a custom made short sword for one of his ancestors. Good thing about nobility is that they tend to keep track of their ancestors, so it was rather easy to find out that one of his ancestors held a command at Batavia in the first half of 19th century. Descendants of this officer lived (or maybe still live) in Padang. With any luck this could be a 19th century blade that still has its original fittings. Comments are welcome. Especially on the "mendak" thing Best Regards, Thilo Best Regards Attached Images

22nd May 2011, 08:29 PM	#6
Gustav Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,247	I would probably leave it as it is. There are some such utilized/adjusted keris blades in Europa, and this is by far not the strangest combo. The main problem is, when this piece between hilt and blade was added, the sides of gonjo and protruding parts of sorsoran were filed down to fit it with this joint-piece, so the blade is flat now. If you will try to get it in it's "original" state again (without this joint piece, proper hilt, pendokok), you will end with a strange, mutilated blade. Now we see, WHY it is mutilated, we have a historical context, and this is the most valuable thing regarding this blade. Last edited by Gustav; 22nd May 2011 at 11:49 PM.

22nd May 2011, 05:25 PM	#2
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,779	Hello Thilo, really funny ensemble you got there. Keris and sheath seems to be from Peninsula with refitted hilt somewhere in Indonesia, most proable Java since it is a javanese hilt from Central Java. When you want to restore it you need to carve a new buntut for the sheath and infix a adequate piece of wood under the crosspiece. A fitting handle and pendokok would be necessary as well.... A lot of work for a demaged blade IMHO. Others with a lot more knowledge will tell you more. Regards, Detlef

22nd May 2011, 05:28 PM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,779	I think that the keris have to look like one of the shown examples in this thread: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=11474

22nd May 2011, 05:52 PM	#4
mrwizard Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Dortmund, Germany Posts: 102	Hello Detlef, Thank you for your comments and the restoration advice. I don't plan to completely remodel this keris. IMHO this would strip the individual character that made me buy it in the first place. Somehow i like those partially broken or imperfect pieces. My plan was to clean the blade but leave the overall ensemble untouched. Well... maybe i will try to carve a replacement buntut to make it a little more "displayable". Best Regards, Thilo