keris, siraui or somethingg else?

rumpel9 · 28th February 2026, 09:53 AM

Hello everyone. I recently acquired this item. As far as I can tell, it originates from South Sumatra. However, I'm not entirely sure what its specific name is. I'm inclined to think it's a keris, as it has a pendokok and a Putri Malu handle. I might be wrong. What do you think?

Sajen · 28th February 2026, 12:01 PM

Hello Rumpel,

It's not a keris, it's in Palembang style, I would say that it belongs to the kerambit family. If we could call the handle as an effigy of Putra Malu is a little bit diputable. With a little bit of TLC your dagger will look much better. Interesting little dagger!

Regards,
Detlef

rumpel9 · Yesterday, 01:38 PM

Detlef, Thank you.

Sajen · Yesterday, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rumpel9

Detlef, Thank you.

You're welcome! The wooden parts I would polish with a good oil, linseed, almond or walnut oil for example, the pendokok I would polish up and the blade as well, it would look much better. The handle I would turn by 45 degrees to the front.
When you ever want to part with it, just let me know!

Regards,
Detlef

David · Yesterday, 10:04 PM

I agree. It certainly is not a keris, even though it does have a keris hilt. The hilt may be a replacement, though i don't know what the orginal may have looked like. Nor is it a siraui, which does curve similar to this, but is a single sided blade. Detlef may be correct to place this in the kerambit family.

Sajen · Yesterday, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

Nor is it a siraui, which does curve similar to this, but is a single sided blade.

Here is my siraui for comparison. David is correct, a siraui is always single edged.

Ian · Today, 11:41 AM

Would I be way off the mark to suggest that the OP is a khanjar variant? Double-edged, curved blade, central ridge.

A. G. Maisey · Today, 01:13 PM

I think I'm looking at a married piece.

The hilt is a Palembang keris hilt --- or SE Sumatera at least.

The scabbard looks a bit like some korambi scabbards.

The blade in Jawa would be called "Lawi Ayam" (cock's tail feather), or perhaps jambiyo.

If it had its original hilt instead the keris hilt we might be able to name it as a type, but it does not, so why bother to try to christen it as something it is not?

If you wander around the markets in Jawa you come across this sort of thing a lot, ie, various unrelated elements put together either by user or dealer or collector. They don't really need to have a specific name, because they are outside the parameters for a specific type.

28th February 2026, 09:53 AM	#1
rumpel9 Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 70	keris, siraui or somethingg else? Hello everyone. I recently acquired this item. As far as I can tell, it originates from South Sumatra. However, I'm not entirely sure what its specific name is. I'm inclined to think it's a keris, as it has a pendokok and a Putri Malu handle. I might be wrong. What do you think? Attached Images

28th February 2026, 12:01 PM	#2
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,603	Hello Rumpel, It's not a keris, it's in Palembang style, I would say that it belongs to the kerambit family. If we could call the handle as an effigy of Putra Malu is a little bit diputable. With a little bit of TLC your dagger will look much better. Interesting little dagger! Regards, Detlef Attached Images

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Yesterday, 01:38 PM	#3
rumpel9 Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 70	Detlef, Thank you.

Yesterday, 10:04 PM	#5
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,277	I agree. It certainly is not a keris, even though it does have a keris hilt. The hilt may be a replacement, though i don't know what the orginal may have looked like. Nor is it a siraui, which does curve similar to this, but is a single sided blade. Detlef may be correct to place this in the kerambit family.

Today, 11:41 AM	#7
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,668	Would I be way off the mark to suggest that the OP is a khanjar variant? Double-edged, curved blade, central ridge.

Today, 01:13 PM	#8
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,175	I think I'm looking at a married piece. The hilt is a Palembang keris hilt --- or SE Sumatera at least. The scabbard looks a bit like some korambi scabbards. The blade in Jawa would be called "Lawi Ayam" (cock's tail feather), or perhaps jambiyo. If it had its original hilt instead the keris hilt we might be able to name it as a type, but it does not, so why bother to try to christen it as something it is not? If you wander around the markets in Jawa you come across this sort of thing a lot, ie, various unrelated elements put together either by user or dealer or collector. They don't really need to have a specific name, because they are outside the parameters for a specific type.