Java dress questions and translation

[A. G. Maisey]

OK Gavin thanks.

This sort of thing is very often a keris that was used by a mercenary. Javanese rulers at all levels, as well as private businesses all used mercenaries from societies that understood combat, usually Madura, Bugis, Bali. Scabbards were frequently discarded before & during combat & replaced with whatever was handy later. The idea that everything --- blade, dress & etc --- must match is a nice one, but nobody ever told the people who actually used keris.

For a dress keris all components of the dress should be correctly mated, but even then, the keris in that beautifully mated dress will sometimes be from somewhere other than where the dress is from.

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

OK Gavin thanks.

This sort of thing is very often a keris that was used by a mercenary. Javanese rulers at all levels, as well as private businesses all used mercenaries from societies that understood combat, usually Madura, Bugis, Bali. Scabbards were frequently discarded before & during combat & replaced with whatever was handy later. The idea that everything --- blade, dress & etc --- must match is a nice one, but nobody ever told the people who actually used keris.

For a dress keris all components of the dress should be correctly mated, but even then, the keris in that beautifully mated dress will sometimes be from somewhere other than where the dress is from.

Thank you Alan, that is some sensation insight I was not aware of.

Gavin

[A. G. Maisey]

Maybe this might be regarded as an example of something I've been preaching for close to 50 years:-

if one wishes to understand the keris, forget about studying keris books, rather, study sociology, anthropology, history, art, & language of the people concerned.

of course if one only wishes to collect keris, then study keris books instead

[Gavin Nugent]

Alan,

The subject is intriguing, and I present the blade for viewing.

This not the average Bugis man's keris. To my eye and hand it is expertly made.

The edges are some of the sharpest I've ever encountered and they are very clearly defined within a single row of twistcore that has been layered quite well.

It is thick, robust, weighty, but so elegantly balanced. It contains a "symmetry" of sorts (for want of a better word), within the asymmetrical blades that keris are.

If indeed it is an older marriage under the subject you have pursued, the blade may offer a better glimpse in to time.

Gavin

[David]

Love this blade! Thanks for showing it.
Any plans to try to loosen the adhesive fixing that hilt so that you turn it around?

[Sajen]

Beautiful blade! I personally would keep this keris like this but would try to turn the handle in the correct direction.

[A. G. Maisey]

Superb, the work of a master.

In respect of the hilt.

We're used to seeing keris hilts in an agreed orientation.

That agreement is something that is correct for dress and it suits well the rapier grip.

However, the most useful grip for close combat is the reverse grip, that is, the grip that was used on the Keris Buda. This grip allows immense power to be delivered to the point, and is ideal for a situation where combat has become something like cage fighting, but one hand has a sharp pointy thing in it.

In fact, with the reverse grip you have several blows available with a single hand, you can punch, you can use the pommel, & you can use the blade.

With the reverse grip on a dagger you need to be able to support the edge of your hand, on a keris, the gonjo provides this support when the reverse grip is used.

If this keris was mine, I would apply heat to the sorsoran --- a candle or small kerosene lamp will do it, but a heat gun with a small nozzle is cleaner --- and I would remove the hilt and check what adhesive has been used to glue the grip to the tang. If it is a modern adhesive, I'd put the hilt into the agreed "correct" position, if it is jabung, or some other native adhesive, I'd put the hilt back in place in its original position.

In removing the hilt I would proceed slowly and gently, the hilt might not move because of rust, the rust might have weakened the tang. We do not want to break that tang, so, slowly, gently, not too strong in the wrist.

[kai]

Thanks, Gavin!

a single row of twistcore that has been layered quite well.

Could you please provide a pic from about the middle of this neat blade, too?

From the base of the blade, the pamor is tough to evaluate despite the very nice stacking.

Regards,
Kai

[Gustav]

Sorry Gavin, I didn't notice you already mentioned that.