Bugis Sheath Info Requested

RobT · 7th March 2026, 09:45 PM

Hi All,

My wife gave me this very nice 3 luk Bugis keris with its very well carved, ivory Java demam hilt and silver selut for my birthday. I have four questions about the sheath which appears to be fairly recent. I know that I will need to make a small modification to the throat in order for the blade to seat properly but the size of the wranka appears to be proportionate to the hilt.
1) Is the sheath (which appears to be Sulawesi) appropriate for a Sumatera hilt?
2) Even though the gandar is considerably longer than the blade, can I leave it as is?
3) If the gandar needs to be shortened, how short can I make it without it appearing too “stumpy”
4) I would like to replace the damaged buntut with something to match the hilt. Would camel bone be appropriate?. I have some ivory scraps that could work also but I would prefer to use bone.

Sincerely,
RobT

Gustav · 7th March 2026, 10:34 PM

Rob, before you start doing something, could you please post a picture of mouth of the sheath, blade sitting in it?
You have here a Malay hilt and Pendokok, and Malay sheath. Even if the sheath was not made for this blade, I wouldn't shorten it.
There are a lot of sheaths ruined by collectors, who think sheath should match the length of blade, and blade shouldn't be visible when sitting in sheath.

A. G. Maisey · Yesterday, 01:40 AM

Gustav is correct Rob.

In times past Bugis & Malay & Balinese keris were often fitted to the scabbard with the gonjo visible.

Sajen · Yesterday, 01:04 PM

Hello Rob,

Like Gustav stated, you have a Malay keris, the handle will be from hippo ivory. And please don't shorten the gandar, it would be a great mistake. I would polish the scabbard with a good oil, it will look much better after this. And I wouldn't replace the little damaged buntut of the scabbard with bone of some sort, I would use ivory or wood instead.

Regards,
Detlef

RobT · Yesterday, 05:33 PM

Gustav & A. G. Maisey,
Here are the pictures of the blade seated in the throat. As you can see, the aring side is an exact fit but there is a lot of room in front of the blade on the dagu side. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t be too bothered by the ganja sitting slightly proud of the wranka but in this case, the width of the of the blade just below the tang is slightly wider than the throat. This has made that area a pivot point so that the blade rocks back and forth like a teeter totter when seated. I think that widening that area by 1/64” (.0396875 mm) or less will allow the blade to seat solidly in the sheath. A light pass or two on each side of the throat with a fine cut riffler file should do the trick. I have enough woodworking experience to be confidant about doing this properly. Unfortunately, I don’t think there is anything to be done about the gap in front of the blade on the dagu side.

Sajen,
I am very happy that you and Gustav agree that the gandar should be left as is. I was very loath to cut it down in the first place and was only willing to do so if it were absolutely necessary. Since shortening the gandar is no longer needed, I think that repair of the existing buntut is preferable to replacement.

Sincerely,
RobT

Sajen · Yesterday, 05:46 PM

Yes, you are correct, it's not the original scabbard for the blade.

7th March 2026, 09:45 PM	#1
RobT Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 615	Bugis Sheath Info Requested Hi All, My wife gave me this very nice 3 luk Bugis keris with its very well carved, ivory Java demam hilt and silver selut for my birthday. I have four questions about the sheath which appears to be fairly recent. I know that I will need to make a small modification to the throat in order for the blade to seat properly but the size of the wranka appears to be proportionate to the hilt. 1) Is the sheath (which appears to be Sulawesi) appropriate for a Sumatera hilt? 2) Even though the gandar is considerably longer than the blade, can I leave it as is? 3) If the gandar needs to be shortened, how short can I make it without it appearing too “stumpy” 4) I would like to replace the damaged buntut with something to match the hilt. Would camel bone be appropriate?. I have some ivory scraps that could work also but I would prefer to use bone. Sincerely, RobT Attached Images

Yesterday, 05:33 PM	#5
RobT Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 615	Requested Photos & Advice Taken to Heart Gustav & A. G. Maisey, Here are the pictures of the blade seated in the throat. As you can see, the aring side is an exact fit but there is a lot of room in front of the blade on the dagu side. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t be too bothered by the ganja sitting slightly proud of the wranka but in this case, the width of the of the blade just below the tang is slightly wider than the throat. This has made that area a pivot point so that the blade rocks back and forth like a teeter totter when seated. I think that widening that area by 1/64” (.0396875 mm) or less will allow the blade to seat solidly in the sheath. A light pass or two on each side of the throat with a fine cut riffler file should do the trick. I have enough woodworking experience to be confidant about doing this properly. Unfortunately, I don’t think there is anything to be done about the gap in front of the blade on the dagu side. Sajen, I am very happy that you and Gustav agree that the gandar should be left as is. I was very loath to cut it down in the first place and was only willing to do so if it were absolutely necessary. Since shortening the gandar is no longer needed, I think that repair of the existing buntut is preferable to replacement. Sincerely, RobT Attached Images

7th March 2026, 10:34 PM	#2
Gustav Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,312	Rob, before you start doing something, could you please post a picture of mouth of the sheath, blade sitting in it? You have here a Malay hilt and Pendokok, and Malay sheath. Even if the sheath was not made for this blade, I wouldn't shorten it. There are a lot of sheaths ruined by collectors, who think sheath should match the length of blade, and blade shouldn't be visible when sitting in sheath.

Yesterday, 01:40 AM	#3
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,181	Gustav is correct Rob. In times past Bugis & Malay & Balinese keris were often fitted to the scabbard with the gonjo visible.

Yesterday, 01:04 PM	#4
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,633	Hello Rob, Like Gustav stated, you have a Malay keris, the handle will be from hippo ivory. And please don't shorten the gandar, it would be a great mistake. I would polish the scabbard with a good oil, it will look much better after this. And I wouldn't replace the little damaged buntut of the scabbard with bone of some sort, I would use ivory or wood instead. Regards, Detlef

Yesterday, 05:46 PM	#6
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,633	Yes, you are correct, it's not the original scabbard for the blade.