Modern keris bethok

jagabuwana · 13th April 2023, 04:39 AM

How's it going everyone?

Thought I'd share this keris bethok. Definitely made in recent times but with old features like a thick square tang and an iron methuk.

I've been told the warangka timber is Philippine ebony. Whatever it is, neither it nor the handle done with much precision.

The keris is very heavy in hand and you'd sooner club someone to death with it than stab them. I've been informed that in Jawa people refer to it, perhaps jokingly as a "linggis" - a long, straight and heavy crowbar used for digging out fence posts.

It aint much to look at, but I like it.

Rick · 13th April 2023, 05:26 AM

I also like it.

No core, right?

jagabuwana · 13th April 2023, 08:08 AM

The pamor goes all the way to the edges. I'm not sure if this means there is no core or if there is a core but it hasn't been exposed. How can I tell?

Gustav · 13th April 2023, 09:35 AM

From what I see in the picture, it has a core.

David · 13th April 2023, 03:48 PM

There is a wood known as Kamagong which is sometimes called "Philippine Macassar Ebony". I can't say for sure if this is that wood or not. Examples i have seen seen to have more veins of darker coloured wood running throughout and i believe it is these darker areas of the wood that leads people to liken it to ebony.

A. G. Maisey · 13th April 2023, 06:24 PM

What we are looking at here in your example David is a log that has been milled to use both sapwood and heartwood;- the sapwood is light coloured and the heartwood is dark coloured.

Only the heartwood of any of the ebony trees is valuable, if we see only the sapwood, it is very difficult to know exactly what we are looking at.

13th April 2023, 04:39 AM	#1
jagabuwana Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 281	Modern keris bethok How's it going everyone? Thought I'd share this keris bethok. Definitely made in recent times but with old features like a thick square tang and an iron methuk. I've been told the warangka timber is Philippine ebony. Whatever it is, neither it nor the handle done with much precision. The keris is very heavy in hand and you'd sooner club someone to death with it than stab them. I've been informed that in Jawa people refer to it, perhaps jokingly as a "linggis" - a long, straight and heavy crowbar used for digging out fence posts. It aint much to look at, but I like it. Attached Images

13th April 2023, 03:48 PM	#5
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,124	There is a wood known as Kamagong which is sometimes called "Philippine Macassar Ebony". I can't say for sure if this is that wood or not. Examples i have seen seen to have more veins of darker coloured wood running throughout and i believe it is these darker areas of the wood that leads people to liken it to ebony. Attached Images

13th April 2023, 05:26 AM	#2
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	I also like it. No core, right?

13th April 2023, 08:08 AM	#3
jagabuwana Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 281	The pamor goes all the way to the edges. I'm not sure if this means there is no core or if there is a core but it hasn't been exposed. How can I tell?

13th April 2023, 09:35 AM	#4
Gustav Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,249	From what I see in the picture, it has a core.

13th April 2023, 06:24 PM	#6
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,893	What we are looking at here in your example David is a log that has been milled to use both sapwood and heartwood;- the sapwood is light coloured and the heartwood is dark coloured. Only the heartwood of any of the ebony trees is valuable, if we see only the sapwood, it is very difficult to know exactly what we are looking at.