Javanese Keris ID

[A. G. Maisey]

The method of production used to make most keris blades does indeed produce a large number of layers of material.

Using the most simple method of production, which begins with only 2 pieces of material placed into the forge as a bundle of 2, & then forge welded, the result from that first weld is a billet with 2 layers.

That 2 layer billet is then folded & welded like this:-

2 . 4 . 8 . 16 . 32 . 64 . 128

this is a pretty common progression, at 128 layers the billet is then folded again and a piece of steel that will form the core of the blade is inserted between the two halves of the billet and another weld is taken, the result is then 128 + 128 + 1 = 257 layers.

If the steel that is now the core of the blade was folded in production before insertion into the halved billet, then the number of layers will exceed 257 by the number of layers in the steel.

If the fold & weld process that applies to the material used to enclose the steel core has proceeded past 7 welds, then the layers of material in the blade can be much higher and could run into thousands of layers very easily.

[HughChen]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

The method of production used to make most keris blades does indeed produce a large number of layers of material.

Using the most simple method of production, which begins with only 2 pieces of material placed into the forge as a bundle of 2, & then forge welded, the result from that first weld is a billet with 2 layers.

That 2 layer billet is then folded & welded like this:-

2 . 4 . 8 . 16 . 32 . 64 . 128

this is a pretty common progression, at 128 layers the billet is then folded again and a piece of steel that will form the core of the blade is inserted between the two halves of the billet and another weld is taken, the result is then 128 + 128 + 1 = 257 layers.

If the steel that is now the core of the blade was folded in production before insertion into the halved billet, then the number of layers will exceed 257 by the number of layers in the steel.

If the fold & weld process that applies to the material used to enclose the steel core has proceeded past 7 welds, then the layers of material in the blade can be much higher and could run into thousands of layers very easily.

Think you Maisey!

[A. G. Maisey]

Post #1.

the majority of keris that we encounter can be attributed to the 1800's, ie, 19th century, because there were more people who wore keris in the 19th century than in previous periods, thus more keris were made, & because it is closer to our own time, more have survived.