Thanks for your response Detlef.
Yes, I think that your idea of a "gana" hilt is about as most people who use the term understand it.
However, when was this term first used for these hilts?
The earliest use of the term "gana" that I can find is in Martin Kerner's keris grip book that was published in 1996. I cannot find the term used to refer to this type of hilt, prior to this. Because Martin was rather relaxed in his attitude towards providing references for his information, I have no alternative at the moment but to assume that this term is a product of Martin's inventive imagination. However, Martin also uses the term to refer to a hilt made of ceramic, and that can hardly be a naturally occurring form, so just exactly what did Martin have in mind as the attributes of this particular hilt form?
I am aware that the term is used by some people who contribute to discussion in this forum, but I do not know where else it appears in print.
Detlef, since you are aware of the presence of this terminology in many books, other than in Martin Kerner's keris grip book, could I trouble you to name those books, and the date of publication?
My present feeling is that we could well have another situation similar to the intensely interesting Durga terminology on our hands.
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