In the area of Sumenep in Madura there is a story that tells of a failed invasion of Sumenep by Balinese warriors.. The ruler of Sumenep had advance warning of the Balinese arrival, waited until they left their boats to attack the town, burnt the boats and then came up behind them just as they approached his other forces who were guarding the town.
The Balinese were surrounded.
Goodbye invasion.
Did the ruler of Sumenep slaughter them and stick their heads on posts?
No.
He offered them a choice:- pledge your loyalty to me and become my people and I'll give you land and a wife, or, you can refuse to pledge your loyalty and I'll kill the lot of you.
The Balinese warriors made the sensible choice. Ever since that time there has been a small Balinese settlement in the Sumenep area. This is the reason we see this Bali-Madura keris style.
In the case of this example we have a keris of Balinese size, but of very distinct Madurese style, and dressed with the Madura-Bali wrongko.
Forget the hilt. Put it on ebay and look for the correct hilt for this wrongko, like a Bali bondolan, but a little bit fatter and shorter.
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