Java dress questions and translation

[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.

[Gustav]

Yes, a gorgeous blade.

What is a bit unusual for a Sulawesi blade is the single twisted rod on a side. This actually could be the first such blade I see. Two rods on a side are much more common.

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by 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.

A learned friend within these pages has also made reference to this reverse grip where the larger Kris/Sundang are concerned and that it is a "lost" grip for what of a better word, and your notations Alan support this. I suspect "lost" due to gentry over taking society. Where these larger brothers are concerned, I call it the sabre grip.

If I am reading your notes correctly, with reference to the grip, is it still holding the blade it the tradition position/orientation though... please correct me if I am wrong, this is what I feel when reading and handling the keris of this nature.

What I have also proposed in past conversations about the Keris, is that when in this orientation, to easily flip the orientation of the blade 180 degrees which is to also have a very positive grip in and and the application becomes a sabre which to me is the last hack and slash do or die, gotta get sh#t done aspect of melee... and having the gonjo protrude beyond the knuckles, this supports a devastating punch in melee combat...

Gavin

[A. G. Maisey]

Hold your arm straight out in front of you.

make a fist.

turn your fist so that the clenched fingers of the right hand are oriented towards your left side.

now insert the hilt so that the point of the blade points to the ground.

this is what I call a reverse grip, others have different names for this grip.

At one time in Solo, during the 1970's, my neighbour had been a participant during the Merdeka activities, we had a few conversations on use of a knife as a weapon. Some of his comments were that in actual use as a weapon the knife can be held is a variety of orientations, depending upon the situation.

For close combat where the fight is more like a brawl than gentlemanly duelling, the reverse grip that I have described was the preferred grip.

[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.