Fledgling keris collector first purchases

[David]

Originally Posted by Mefidk

Rick - I was hoping that if I waited long enough someone might clue me in to what a kebo is, but I guess I just have to advertise my ignorance
I'm beginning to feel the need to buy my second keris book already - any suggestions to rectify ignorance problems such as the above?

Sorry Chris, but i think i did describe that for you, though perhaps it need a bit more explanation. I believe that literally "kebo" refers to a water buffalo, but in the context keris dhapurs it refers to a category of keris that have an enlongated gandik, that area at the front base of your blade. This i believe would be classified a kebo lajer. If it had a sekar kacang (the sort of abstract "elephant head" you see on many keris) then it might be kebo teki. Here is a link to a diagram that names parts of the Javanese keris:
http://kerisattosanaji.com/kerisdiagram.html
Hope that helps you.
BTW, you will probably need a great many books about keris and Indonesian cultures if you want to scratch the many layers of understanding that make up the inscrutable onion that is the keris. If you search this forum you will probably find a good list or two on where to get started.