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Old 5th February 2013, 11:33 AM   #7
kai
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,218
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Hello Moshah,

Quote:
if the blade was made with such besi with higher carbon contain, does it mean it can easily break?
I wouldn't worry (unless one tries to abuse it as a sharpened pry bar); competent differential hardening can go a long way. If used incorrectly, the weak point (for most of the personal sidearms throughout the archipelago) would most likely be the hilt IMVHO.


Quote:
I've read somewhere stated that besi melela was actually comes from a sandy grains along the west coast of java. Is that true?
I'm sure there were a lot of local sources; secondary iron deposits are not rare in wet climates.


Quote:
if not laminated, means that it was not done like how a keris should be?
These are laminated (on a microscopic level) and traditional. There may be some blades made from imported European steel hiding within the wesi/besi malela category but usually you will see some forging lines suggesting extensive local forge work regardless of the primary source.

Regards,
Kai

Last edited by kai; 6th February 2013 at 08:50 AM. Reason: changing "use" into "abuse"
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