Is it a real Keris?

[A. G. Maisey]

The blade shown in post #10 is old, I do not have an opinion on how old, but definitely pre-WWII.

Old keris often have very thin blades, as do keris of ordinary quality.

More recent keris often have heavier blades.

Whether a keris is old or recent has very little to do with its quality or its desirability.

Certainly an older keris of high quality has a much higher value than a recent keris of high quality. It is also certain that some collectors prefer older keris, but many collectors focus on the artistic aspects of the keris, & these collectors will have collections that contain large numbers of more recent keris.

Just because a keris has some age, that does not necessarily mean that it is very desirable for all collectors.

[HughChen]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

The blade shown in post #10 is old, I do not have an opinion on how old, but definitely pre-WWII.

Old keris often have very thin blades, as do keris of ordinary quality.

More recent keris often have heavier blades.

Whether a keris is old or recent has very little to do with its quality or its desirability.

Certainly an older keris of high quality has a much higher value than a recent keris of high quality. It is also certain that some collectors prefer older keris, but many collectors focus on the artistic aspects of the keris, & these collectors will have collections that contain large numbers of more recent keris.

Just because a keris has some age, that does not necessarily mean that it is very desirable for all collectors.

Then the question will be what's the use of those thin blade? IF the blade were thin, they can be of no use in combat. And it will be easy to be hurt or broken. So why do they produce those kind of blade? Since they are almost useless, what elements make them real Keris?

[A. G. Maisey]

As a weapon the keris is used as a stabbing weapon, it is usual that for most keris from most societies, no more than just the first couple of inches of the blade is hardened.

In respect of Javanese keris, the preferred method of use was the surprise attack from the side, in passing, or from the back; face to face combat was avoided & no system of fence was developed, when forced into use in a face to face situation, the keris was used as an addition to indigenous martial arts systems.

It might be noted, that indigenous Javanese martial arts systems rely heavily upon the element of surprise, the Javanese philosophy of personal combat is that combat should be avoided at all cost, & never engaged in except upon one's own choice of time & place.

The keris was never, at any time, a weapon of war, but most Javanese in ancient times would carry at least one keris into a battle situation, & sometimes as many as three. In the battle context the keris was a weapon of last resort that hopefully never was used, but by its presence did offer a level of spiritual protection.

Older blades become thin over time because of the continual cleaning over hundreds of years.

In the early 19th century, Raffles recorded that since about 1750, the position of the keris in Javanese society had been similar to the position of the small sword in European society, that is, as an item of dress that might very occasionally be called upon to serve as a weapon.

The position of the keris in the various SE Asian societies that adopted its use varies, in some societies it was thought of primarily as a weapon, in others the way in which it was thought of was socio-religious. However, I believe that in all keris bearing societies there was & is a spiritual element attached to the keris.

[HughChen]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

The blade shown in post #10 is old, I do not have an opinion on how old, but definitely pre-WWII.

Old keris often have very thin blades, as do keris of ordinary quality.

More recent keris often have heavier blades.

Whether a keris is old or recent has very little to do with its quality or its desirability.

Certainly an older keris of high quality has a much higher value than a recent keris of high quality. It is also certain that some collectors prefer older keris, but many collectors focus on the artistic aspects of the keris, & these collectors will have collections that contain large numbers of more recent keris.

Just because a keris has some age, that does not necessarily mean that it is very desirable for all collectors.

It's really very very thin !

[A. G. Maisey]

Yes, true, & what I have written is really very, very accurate.

I don't think in terms of a razor blade, but I have often likened the thinness of old keris to the thinness of a piece of paper.

[HughChen]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Yes, true, & what I have written is really very, very accurate.

I don't think in terms of a razor blade, but I have often likened the thinness of old keris to the thinness of a piece of paper.

It's indeed a piece of paper. I can't believe how can such a thin blade survive 100 years.

Based on what I learn today, I think this Javanese blade discussed before must be old and genuine too. Because it's also thin, not as thin as this paper-like one, but still thin and vounarable in the point.


http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=30105

[A. G. Maisey]

It was probably thicker 100 years ago.

Keris are regularly cleaned with coconut water or lime juice, or some other mild acid, sometimes they are polished with abrasives, this cleaning removes, dirt, corrosion & also metal.

[HughChen]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

It was probably thicker 100 years ago.

Keris are regularly cleaned with coconut water or lime juice, or some other mild acid, sometimes they are polished with abrasives, this cleaning removes, dirt, corrosion & also metal.

It is losing its metal in a visible way. This Keris is like a piece of toast without crust, every time you touch it with your hand, some bread crumbs will fall off.