Kris pommel attachment

[JeffS]

Hello. I am working on an old kris, and find the pommel is attached by pins (old work). Is this common? I am also curious about the divot that has been cut into the plug. Since the plug fits flush, the divot could be there to hold a small object (talisman?).

[Interested Party]

It could also be to relieve stresses in the wood to lessen cracking as it dries. How deep does it go?

[Battara]

Yes Jeff this is common. Some kris even have pommels that have several holes due to several refittings.

[Ian]

Voids in pommels seem to be reasonably common also.

[Interested Party]

Yes Jeff this is common. Some kris even have pommels that have several holes due to several refittings.

Are you saying that the pommel was stabilized by a peg on the longitudinal axis at one point in its life?

[xasterix]

Are you saying that the pommel was stabilized by a peg on the longitudinal axis at one point in its life?

In my experience...there's usually something like that, yes. Wooden peg, nail... the most unique that I've encountered was a small bone splinter. And it isn't just in Krises, repaired kampilans also have a peg of some sort.

[Battara]

Totally agree with Xasterix.