"Buginees 'Executioners' Keris" for comment

[Sajen]

Hi Gene,

very interesting piece. Gustav is correct, the blade have a Lombok touch. Can you provide a picture how the blade fits inside the sheath? Pendokok look like a Sumbawa one. See here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=11474, look posts 2, 5 & 6. Never have seen a blade like this with harpoon like hooks.

Regards,

Detlef

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by Sajen

Hi Gene,

very interesting piece. Gustav is correct, the blade have a Lombok touch. Can you provide a picture how the blade fits inside the sheath? Pendokok look like a Sumbawa one. See here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=11474, look posts 2, 5 & 6. Never have seen a blade like this with harpoon like hooks.

Regards,

Detlef

Hi Detlef

Ah yes, I see.
Here are the pictures

[satsujinken]

very fascinating to see such unique keris like this

wonder how the harpoon like tip worked ...
as I logically think that harpoon like tip will be effective as stabbing weapon, but will not be so easy to pull out

or perhaps it is the actual purpose ? to create larger wound ?

[David]

Originally Posted by satsujinken

very fascinating to see such unique keris like this

wonder how the harpoon like tip worked ...
as I logically think that harpoon like tip will be effective as stabbing weapon, but will not be so easy to pull out

or perhaps it is the actual purpose ? to create larger wound ?

I don't think that this feature necessarily had a practical purpose. Given the amount of edge deterioration i'm not even sure this feature is original to the blade...

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by David

I don't think that this feature necessarily had a practical purpose. Given the amount of edge deterioration i'm not even sure this feature is original to the blade...

I thought that originally, but the shape although ragged through etching seems uniform and deliberate.
Only two barbs and they are symetrical.

[David]

Originally Posted by Atlantia

I thought that originally, but the shape although ragged through etching seems uniform and deliberate.
Only two barbs and they are symetrical.

Gene, i was implying that the "barbs" might have been added at a later date, and therefore, yes. deliberate...they could be original though, really hard to tell. I wouldn't exactly refer to them as "barbs" however. More like "bumps", but it is possible they were pointier once. Again, hard to tell.
As for origin, i would say this is most certainly not a Bugis keris and i agree with others who place it in Lombak or Bali. The sheath may have been made for the blade or it may have been re-fitted from an old sheath. As Rick has pointed out, it is not that unusual to find keris from one region fitted with a sheath from another. Certainly not an expert fit.

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by David

Gene, i was implying that the "barbs" might have been added at a later date, and therefore, yes. deliberate...they could be original though, really hard to tell. I wouldn't exactly refer to them as "barbs" however. More like "bumps", but it is possible they were pointier once. Again, hard to tell.
As for origin, i would say this is most certainly not a Bugis keris and i agree with others who place it in Lombak or Bali. The sheath may have been made for the blade or it may have been re-fitted from an old sheath. As Rick has pointed out, it is not that unusual to find keris from one region fitted with a sheath from another. Certainly not an expert fit.

Thanks David,

*sighs* These darn Keris are mighty confusing for a novice like me at times!

[kai]

Hello Gene,

Congrats, that's really a very sweet blade!

I thought that originally, but the shape although ragged through etching seems uniform and deliberate.
Only two barbs and they are symetrical.

Yes, I also believe these are original - just a little corroded.

I am fairly sure I saw such a barb-like feature in keris Jawa but haven't been able to hit my notes/books yet. Alan, any suggestions?

Regards,
Kai

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Atlantia

Hi Detlef

Ah yes, I see.
Here are the pictures

Hi mate,

seems to be a dress made for the blade. And not a recent one like the dark inner patination shows. I would guess that the sheath was overworked or restored.
Would like to read opinions from our members from Southeast Asia.

Best regards,

Detlef

[Rick]

The blade is quite ragged looking; I think any edge features that may seem unusual are a result of corrosion through etching and age .
It is not uncommon to see a blade from one island in the dress of another .
The fit of the blade in the scabbard is not quite what I'd like to see .
Maybe an older wrongko with a newer gandar and buntut for a scabbard .

[Henk]

Hi Gene,

Very nice keris indeed. But not an executioners keris as we dutch call it or a keris panjang. I have a very old book in dutch wich describes an execution with a keris panjang or executioners keris. When your keris would be used to perform an execution it would give too much mess.

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by Henk

Hi Gene,

Very nice keris indeed. But not an executioners keris as we dutch call it or a keris panjang. I have a very old book in dutch wich describes an execution with a keris panjang or executioners keris. When your keris would be used to perform an execution it would give too much mess.

LOL< thanks Henk.
That was the original collectors description so possibly a sales device fo the trader who sold it to him.
I always take that description with a pinch of salt hence the '' around it.
I'm more than happy for it to not have been used for such a ghastly purpose.
It's a good size though!

[Henk]

Originally Posted by Atlantia

LOL< thanks Henk.
That was the original collectors description so possibly a sales device fo the trader who sold it to him.
I always take that description with a pinch of salt hence the '' around it.
I'm more than happy for it to not have been used for such a ghastly purpose.
It's a good size though!

You're welcome Gene.

That's usually said here. Buy the weapon not the story.

Ghastly purpose, well, as long as it isn't used against you or me.
As the description tells, one could pass on a few meters without noticing an execution with a keris panjang is done. It is rather painless because the narrow long blade is driven from the collar bone right into the heart. The victim is chewing on a bettelnut which works anaesthetic. Then the blade is excavated while the executioner has cotton fiber on both sites of the blade to clean the blade. When the blade is completely removed the cotton fibber is pushed into the small wound. When done well no blood is visible. By the way, such an execution was only done by command of the sultan.