Any U.K. Members

Rick · 8th January 2008, 10:54 PM

Have you ever heard of the alleged English made keris in Cutler's Hall Sheffield ?

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...t=cutlers+hall

Would any of you fellows care to take a photo and post it if you're in the area ?

A. G. Maisey · 8th January 2008, 11:48 PM

Rick, going back about 30 years or so, an English friend of mine told me he had seen British made keris blades that were exported to Malaya.

About 15 years ago a highly respected European keris authority told me that the English had made keris blades for export to Malaya.

Going back about 8 years a highly respected American authority on the keris told me that keris blades had been exported to SE Asia by the British.

All hearsay, but one must ask if they were all wrong.

Personally I think its a good bet that the cutlers of Sheffield --- or maybe Birmingham--- identified a commercial opportunity.

Rick · 9th January 2008, 12:13 AM

I have to admit Alan, my curiousity has been piqued after Spiral made that remark .

I'd love to see this artifact of rumor and hearsay .

So who's for Cutler's Hall, eh ?!?

lemmythesmith · 9th January 2008, 08:17 PM

Hi Rick,Alan, I've just had a look at Cutler's Hall website-it's now a conference and convention centre! I would imagine that the English keris possibly resides in the Royal Armouries in Leeds now. I would certainly believe that it exists-the English produced all kinds of edged weapons for many cultures, so a Sheffield or Birmingham keris wouldn't surprise me.

A. G. Maisey · 9th January 2008, 08:57 PM

Its still around, but I'm uncertain where. I asked a good friend of mine yesterday if she had seen it on her recent visit to Sheffield, and she had. I know that she and her husband visited the Cutler's Hall, and even got into the "inner sanctum", so its probably there.

A. G. Maisey · 17th March 2008, 10:44 PM

I think I have an answer on the question of keris made in Sheffield.

I made approaches to a couple of people for photographs, and these approaches were unsuccessful, although I did get some promises.

Then I contacted the archivist for The Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire, Dr. Joan Unwin.

Dr. Unwin returned several photos to me within a very short space of time.

These English keris, are not keris. They are European style daggers with flamboyant blades. I presume that the manufacturers of these daggers called them "keris" in much the same way that present day manufacturers call some models of pocket knives yataghans, & etc.

Three "keris" have been archived, two by Joseph Beal, one by Joseph Rogers.

I do not have Dr. Unwin's permission to publish these photos, and I feel disinclined to ask for this, however, anybody who would like to see these photos may contact me and request copies.

After seeing these daggers I cannot imagine what my previous informants were talking about.

8th January 2008, 10:54 PM	#1
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,287	Any U.K. Members ... A Quest ! Have you ever heard of the alleged English made keris in Cutler's Hall Sheffield ? http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...t=cutlers+hall Would any of you fellows care to take a photo and post it if you're in the area ? Last edited by Rick; 9th January 2008 at 12:20 AM.

8th January 2008, 11:48 PM	#2
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,855	Rick, going back about 30 years or so, an English friend of mine told me he had seen British made keris blades that were exported to Malaya. About 15 years ago a highly respected European keris authority told me that the English had made keris blades for export to Malaya. Going back about 8 years a highly respected American authority on the keris told me that keris blades had been exported to SE Asia by the British. All hearsay, but one must ask if they were all wrong. Personally I think its a good bet that the cutlers of Sheffield --- or maybe Birmingham--- identified a commercial opportunity.

9th January 2008, 12:13 AM	#3
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,287	I have to admit Alan, my curiousity has been piqued after Spiral made that remark . I'd love to see this artifact of rumor and hearsay . So who's for Cutler's Hall, eh ?!?

9th January 2008, 08:17 PM	#4
lemmythesmith Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 93	Hi Rick,Alan, I've just had a look at Cutler's Hall website-it's now a conference and convention centre! I would imagine that the English keris possibly resides in the Royal Armouries in Leeds now. I would certainly believe that it exists-the English produced all kinds of edged weapons for many cultures, so a Sheffield or Birmingham keris wouldn't surprise me.

9th January 2008, 08:57 PM	#5
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,855	Its still around, but I'm uncertain where. I asked a good friend of mine yesterday if she had seen it on her recent visit to Sheffield, and she had. I know that she and her husband visited the Cutler's Hall, and even got into the "inner sanctum", so its probably there.

17th March 2008, 10:44 PM	#6
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,855	I think I have an answer on the question of keris made in Sheffield. I made approaches to a couple of people for photographs, and these approaches were unsuccessful, although I did get some promises. Then I contacted the archivist for The Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire, Dr. Joan Unwin. Dr. Unwin returned several photos to me within a very short space of time. These English keris, are not keris. They are European style daggers with flamboyant blades. I presume that the manufacturers of these daggers called them "keris" in much the same way that present day manufacturers call some models of pocket knives yataghans, & etc. Three "keris" have been archived, two by Joseph Beal, one by Joseph Rogers. I do not have Dr. Unwin's permission to publish these photos, and I feel disinclined to ask for this, however, anybody who would like to see these photos may contact me and request copies. After seeing these daggers I cannot imagine what my previous informants were talking about.