Keris Buda

[rasdan]

G'day Alan,

Thanks for the pictures. Very very interesting kerises. I always wondered, how do we actually authenticate this type of keris?

A link to an older keris buda thread, just in case other forumites wanted other references to expand this discussion:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=12168

Rasdan

[David]

Thanks Alan. I was on the verge of posting something myself put some wind in the sails in these doldrum days. Your posts are must appreciated.
On your first example is that a greneng-like feature where the gonjo hooks at the tail end or is it simply blade erosion?

[A. G. Maisey]

Rasdan

As with many things associated with the keris there is no way to give absolutely cast iron guarantees about anything, however authentification of a Keris Buda can be a matter of agreement between equals with considerable experience. Very often the ones that are genuine have been newly found at the time when they are sold, for instance, the one on the left in my photos has deposits sticking to it that look and react like volcanic deposits, it has obviously been in the ground for a very long time. The others I've shown photos of are correct in respect of material and both have been agreed upon as KB's by very senior people.

Authentification probably all comes down to experience and expertise.

I do have other KB's that were clearly made at a later time, not modern times, but probably around 14th-15th century.

David

That hole in the end of the gonjo is erosion.

[Battara]

Great examples to view Alan.

I guess I wonder how the form morphed into the sundang of later periods from Malaysia to the Philippines in a period of 200 years.

[A. G. Maisey]

Battara, I have never looked at that question.

I have looked very closely and over a very extended period of time at development in Jawa itself, but after the keris left Jawa it seems to have followed independent lines of development in the various places that it entered.

I recall an article of some years past by (I think ) Federico Malibago, that impressed me at the time, and made a lasting impression on me. To my mind that was a well reasoned and logical rationalisation for development of the sword form of the keris.

[rasjid]

Hi Alan,

For Keris Buda do you think yours is passing through the hardenning process?
Any idea? Or mostly just made from medium and low carbon steel?
My guess is all low carbon because the steel is not as refined like modern steel?

[Jean]

Originally Posted by rasjid

Hi Alan,

My guess is all low carbon because the steel is not as refined like modern steel?

AFAIK manufacturing low carbon steel is a quite recent process and old steel/iron had a high carbon content and was hard and brittle?
Regards