Introduction with a question

[tunggulametung]

Pak Detlef,

Can not help to confirm but there are some nice info about whale bone here: http://www.flyingturtle.org/askdrg/askdrgalapagos3.html
and interesting quote from the page below:
While whale bones are real bones, they are apparantly a little "spongier" and less stiff than most land animal bones.
One of our sources says whale bones are full of oil and very smelly while they are "drying".

For that sheath size, I think cow/buffalo bone is also possible (?), but I'm not sure either, but sure it is more readily available. I remember to hold 'tourist' keris sheath made of bone, not sure if it is made of whale bone or other material but it is bone for sure (I tend to believe cow/buffalo), similar to yours but undyed so it is lighter in color. It is heavy and smells like bone
But I don't know if we can find large enough material from cow/buffalo for the sampir.

[Henk]

Detlef,

I thought to recognize some of the whalebone structure on your pictures. Whalebone is not much more heavier than cow or buffalo bone. As tunggulametung wrote, the structure of whalebone is more spongier. Maybe you can make a clear picture from the inside of the wrongko. Maybe the unpolished part of the material could tell us more.
Whalebone seems to be not an unusual material for kerissheaths. I'm not familiar with your Mrs. Ghiringhelli and don't know why she doesn't know about this material.

[Sajen]

Hello Henk, I will try to photograph the inside from the warangka. Mrs. G. is the author from the book "The Invincible Krises 2". Look in up from this threat, in her book is a keris with similar sheat.
Regards,
Detlef

[erikscollectables]

I have a hilt of similair material as this sheath and it is posted above. It is clearly different from any other bone hilt I have in my collection. Both structure and coulour are quite different from the regular bone hilts I have seen so far. The person with whom I traded it mentioned it that it is whalebone. So without any in depth knowledge I still go for whalebone untill a better option comes along....

Regards, Erik

Originally Posted by tunggulametung

Pak Detlef,

Can not help to confirm but there are some nice info about whale bone here: http://www.flyingturtle.org/askdrg/askdrgalapagos3.html
and interesting quote from the page below:
While whale bones are real bones, they are apparantly a little "spongier" and less stiff than most land animal bones.
One of our sources says whale bones are full of oil and very smelly while they are "drying".

For that sheath size, I think cow/buffalo bone is also possible (?), but I'm not sure either, but sure it is more readily available. I remember to hold 'tourist' keris sheath made of bone, not sure if it is made of whale bone or other material but it is bone for sure (I tend to believe cow/buffalo), similar to yours but undyed so it is lighter in color. It is heavy and smells like bone
But I don't know if we can find large enough material from cow/buffalo for the sampir.

[Sajen]

Hello Henk, difficult to photograph the inside, this the best what's possible for me.

[Sajen]

And a third one.

[Henk]

But enough for me. Well done!! Whalebone!!!

[brekele]

I'm with Henk, Whalebone!!
Agreed!

[Sajen]

Hello Henk, brekele and all others, thank you. Great help.