Hilt material

[Maurice]

Hello,

I have a Buginese keris, but I'm not sure about the material of the hilt.
It looks like whalebone to me, but it looks like it has a dental nerve canel on top if the hilt?

Best wishes,
Maurice

[thomas hauschild]

Looks a little bit like the core of walrus-ivory. But these tooth are straight and it will be really difficult to make a grip with a 90° curve out of it. I saw walrus tusk with 1 m length and 10 cm diameter ( they are mostly oval but 8cm on the short side and 10 as the longer diameter ) such a big tusk will be enough for a keris hilt. Difficult to see from the pictures if the area of the grip near the blade will show „outside structure“ of the tusk or not. Maybe a hilt made of 2 parts ? Take a look at pictures of Yatagan with walrus grips. The „ears“ of that grips will show the outside structure and the area near the tang will show the core grain.

[Maurice]

Originally Posted by thomas hauschild

Looks a little bit like the core of walrus-ivory. But these tooth are straight and it will be really difficult to make a grip with a 90° curve out of it. I saw walrus tusk with 1 m length and 10 cm diameter ( they are mostly oval but 8cm on the short side and 10 as the longer diameter ) such a big tusk will be enough for a keris hilt. Difficult to see from the pictures if the area of the grip near the blade will show „outside structure“ of the tusk or not. Maybe a hilt made of 2 parts ? Take a look at pictures of Yatagan with walrus grips. The „ears“ of that grips will show the outside structure and the area near the tang will show the core grain.

Hello Thomas,

Thank you for your insight. Walrus ivory is something that came up my mind also. But at first I thought it would not be possible because of the (90 degree bend) shape of the hilt.
I can't see any marks that the hilt had been made by two different parts.

When looking at the marked part of the hilt in the added photo, you see a kind of 'rougher' surface. I would say if it should be whale tooth ivory or walrus ivory, this part should have been smooth, and not with a kind of porous area?

Kind regards,
Maurice

[Sajen]

Hi Maurice,

Could very well be made from whalebone. Attached are pictures from a Minangkabau keris from my collection where the scabbard is made from whalebone.

Best regards,
Detlef

[Sajen]

How does it feel? Very smooth? Walrus. A porous feel? Whalebone. But the stem of the scabbard from my keris which is made from whalebone too is also due patination very smooth. I would need to handle your grip to be sure.

Best regards,
Detlef

[David]

it is hard to be certain without handling it, but whale bone would be my first guess as well.
Love your example as well Detlef.

[Maurice]

Originally Posted by Sajen

How does it feel? Very smooth? Walrus. A porous feel? Whalebone. But the stem of the scabbard from my keris which is made from whalebone too is also due patination very smooth. I would need to handle your grip to be sure.

Best regards,
Detlef

Thank you for the Minang keris photos.
It looks like it even has the same 'colour' as my keris hilt.
It feels rather smooth, but as you also say, because of age and patina it feels more smooth now as it did when it was new.

Regards
Maurice