Lombok keris fullers and age query

A. G. Maisey · 24th January 2025, 06:25 AM

Actually Jeff, carving steel & iron is no more difficult than carving wood, in fact, in some respects it is easier because you have no grain to accommodate. Of course, if we are working with steel we anneal the material before putting tools on it.

But it does take time.

This keris that I have shown is one of the keris that I have made, I welded the forging in Solo, & I carved it back in Australia. I worked with two strikers for 3 days, about 20 or so hours, to do the hot work, then it took around 45 days at 8 to 10 hours a day to carve it.

The sogokan on each side of the blade took 4 days per side.

So yes, although there is a degree of skill involved, the really important thing is understand what needs to be achieved & be prepared to take the necessary time to achieve it.

Incidentally, I used only traditional Javanese tools to carve this keris, I did not use any electric grinders, I used only files, scrapers, cold chisels & a hammer, the files I bought, the scrapers & chisels I made.

24th January 2025, 06:25 AM	#9
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,989	Actually Jeff, carving steel & iron is no more difficult than carving wood, in fact, in some respects it is easier because you have no grain to accommodate. Of course, if we are working with steel we anneal the material before putting tools on it. But it does take time. This keris that I have shown is one of the keris that I have made, I welded the forging in Solo, & I carved it back in Australia. I worked with two strikers for 3 days, about 20 or so hours, to do the hot work, then it took around 45 days at 8 to 10 hours a day to carve it. The sogokan on each side of the blade took 4 days per side. So yes, although there is a degree of skill involved, the really important thing is understand what needs to be achieved & be prepared to take the necessary time to achieve it. Incidentally, I used only traditional Javanese tools to carve this keris, I did not use any electric grinders, I used only files, scrapers, cold chisels & a hammer, the files I bought, the scrapers & chisels I made.