old keris for comments

JamesKelly · 1st May 2014, 08:18 PM

Gentlemen, thank you again. I do not know how to count numbers of luk. Bali-Lombok? Another new term!

Speaking as a newbie (with some knowledge of metals and 19th century muskets) I assume the two grooves which symbolize Siwa are those about 2-3/8 to 3" (600 - 760 mm) long? The longer one being on the side away from the, ahhh . . . elephant's nose, and rusty appearing in the bottom.
The blade appears to have had some rust at one time. This looks to have been mechanically removed, most of the blade polished and sharpened, leaving some fine pitting. Those two grooves were cut, and then the metal was repatinated. I assume with arsenic and acid. Nevertheless the pattern in the steel goes down into the grooves, and the chemical finish was applied after the grooves were cut.

Sitting on the deck with Dog, idly paring my thumbnail I realize this religious-object-which-is-not-a-weapon sure has a sharp edge. One could well pare more than a thumbnail should one's mind wander.
I became interested in blades in general, looking for something to stimulate this aged mind more than gun collecting. Well, each time Mr. Maisey comes forth I realize I sure have found it.

It reminds me of one college math course when our professor tried to get us to visualize a 4-dimensional object.
Yeah.
That is what all this is to me, coming from a simpler world of Old-Things-That-Go-Bang.

Addicting.

And at this point I can still enjoy the carving on handle and sheath. In the USA, in some other context, this would be regarded as skilled work. Never mind that it took just ten minutes under a palm tree, it is better than I can do.

A. G. Maisey · 2nd May 2014, 07:53 AM

James, in recent years there has been a tendency for some people to claim that the keris is not, and in fact never has been a weapon, in spite of the more than ample evidence to the contrary.

I am not one of those people. Nor are any of the truly knowledgeable keris people whom I know in Jawa. Nor were the Balinese people of pre-puputan days.

The keris is a weapon, but it is unique amongst functional weapons in that it has characteristics that make it more than a weapon.

We may view it as a work of art, as a store of wealth, as a status marker, as a talisman, as a personal shrine, as a link between the members of a kin group, as a link between the Seen and Unseen Worlds, or we may view it as weapon. It all depends upon personal orientation.

1st May 2014, 08:18 PM	#1
JamesKelly Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Michigan, U.S.A. Posts: 108	Gentlemen, thank you again. I do not know how to count numbers of luk. Bali-Lombok? Another new term! Speaking as a newbie (with some knowledge of metals and 19th century muskets) I assume the two grooves which symbolize Siwa are those about 2-3/8 to 3" (600 - 760 mm) long? The longer one being on the side away from the, ahhh . . . elephant's nose, and rusty appearing in the bottom. The blade appears to have had some rust at one time. This looks to have been mechanically removed, most of the blade polished and sharpened, leaving some fine pitting. Those two grooves were cut, and then the metal was repatinated. I assume with arsenic and acid. Nevertheless the pattern in the steel goes down into the grooves, and the chemical finish was applied after the grooves were cut. Sitting on the deck with Dog, idly paring my thumbnail I realize this religious-object-which-is-not-a-weapon sure has a sharp edge. One could well pare more than a thumbnail should one's mind wander. I became interested in blades in general, looking for something to stimulate this aged mind more than gun collecting. Well, each time Mr. Maisey comes forth I realize I sure have found it. It reminds me of one college math course when our professor tried to get us to visualize a 4-dimensional object. Yeah. That is what all this is to me, coming from a simpler world of Old-Things-That-Go-Bang. Addicting. And at this point I can still enjoy the carving on handle and sheath. In the USA, in some other context, this would be regarded as skilled work. Never mind that it took just ten minutes under a palm tree, it is better than I can do. Attached Images

2nd May 2014, 07:53 AM	#2
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	James, in recent years there has been a tendency for some people to claim that the keris is not, and in fact never has been a weapon, in spite of the more than ample evidence to the contrary. I am not one of those people. Nor are any of the truly knowledgeable keris people whom I know in Jawa. Nor were the Balinese people of pre-puputan days. The keris is a weapon, but it is unique amongst functional weapons in that it has characteristics that make it more than a weapon. We may view it as a work of art, as a store of wealth, as a status marker, as a talisman, as a personal shrine, as a link between the members of a kin group, as a link between the Seen and Unseen Worlds, or we may view it as weapon. It all depends upon personal orientation.