Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

A. G. Maisey · 8th October 2011, 10:43 PM

I find your post very interesting Pak Ganja.

You say that there is no keris type that is known as "Keris Sombro".

Is this correct?

However, from the mid-1970's until Monday 3rd. October 2011, very knowledgeable people at the heart of the keris world in Solo were still referring to small, lightweight keris betok with a piercing at the end of the tang as a keris sombro.

I do understand that you are very well placed in the keris world in Jakarta, so I accept your advice that within this coterie of which you are a part, Sombro now is only taken to refer to the legendary female maker who bore that name, however, people in other places still recognise a particular type of keris as "Sombro".

I find the recent --- let us say, within the last 10 or 15 years --- changes in keris "knowledge" and terminology very interesting. It demonstrates very well that no matter how long established a particular field of interest may be, new comers can always make alterations to suit current needs.

However, in respect of the keris under discussion, yes, I agree, this is a betok puthut.

8th October 2011, 10:43 PM	#3
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,697	I find your post very interesting Pak Ganja. You say that there is no keris type that is known as "Keris Sombro". Is this correct? However, from the mid-1970's until Monday 3rd. October 2011, very knowledgeable people at the heart of the keris world in Solo were still referring to small, lightweight keris betok with a piercing at the end of the tang as a keris sombro. I do understand that you are very well placed in the keris world in Jakarta, so I accept your advice that within this coterie of which you are a part, Sombro now is only taken to refer to the legendary female maker who bore that name, however, people in other places still recognise a particular type of keris as "Sombro". I find the recent --- let us say, within the last 10 or 15 years --- changes in keris "knowledge" and terminology very interesting. It demonstrates very well that no matter how long established a particular field of interest may be, new comers can always make alterations to suit current needs. However, in respect of the keris under discussion, yes, I agree, this is a betok puthut.