Restoration suggestion

[A. G. Maisey]

Sid, you have asked:-

What is the best type and style of wood for Hilt & Scabbard?

The simple answer to this question is that there is no "best wood".

Your existing scabbard (wrongko, wrangka, warangka) is a Javanese formal (ladrangan) scabbard, and as has already been advised looks to be totally acceptable with this blade.

There is a heirarchy for the materials used for a scabbard in Jawa, but this heirarchy depends more strongly upon the purpose of the scabbard in a social context, rather than upon any perception of "best".

Notwithstanding this social orientation there are several woods that the Javanese people place a high value upon for a keris scabbard, perhaps the most highly prized would be scented sandalwood (cendono,cendana) with a burl grain (gembol) or a feather crotch grain (simbar). Both of these wood types are not freely available and you could wait a lifetime before being given the opportunity to purchase a piece sufficient for a scabbard --- at an astoundingly high price.

Similarly with hilt (ukiran, jejeran) woods. There are many suitable woods but perhaps the most highly prized is tayuman. This is a very dense wood that sinks in water. It is not suitable for wear in daylight because it is very subject to cracking under direct sunlight. Apart from wood, many other materials are also used for the hilt, and again use depends upon social purpose or hierarchy.

Regarding the keris you have shown us. I endorse the remarks of David and Detlef and suggest that this seemingly very fine hilt be removed from this keris and kept as a stand alone display item.