Bali Keris #3

A. G. Maisey · 13th June 2014, 12:04 AM

A couple of little comments.

In Jawa two part epoxy adhesives such as Araldite have been used in the restoration of keris since these adhesives became available.

The usual method of use is to mix the adhesive with iron filings and to coat the base of the blade and the bottom of the gonjo, fit together, wipe the excess clean and then fix.

The reason for using the adhesive is to prevent, or at least delay, the future attack of corrosion between the gonjo and the wilah.

Javanese dealers are very, very clever with the use of this Araldite+iron filings and in my experience most will not hesitate to fill holes in a blade, such as the erosion holes in sogokan, with this mix. You may never know that you have a blade with this sort of repair, or you may find out many years after purchase. If the job has been well done it is extremely unlikely that you will detect the repair without a microscopic inspection.

In fitting a gonjo I have never seen an original gonjo fitted with multiple pins, as GIO has shown. In my experience, the use of more than a single pin complicates the job and makes precise alignment difficult. The usual Javanese method is a single pin on the buntut urang side of the pesi.

The pin used to fit a gonjo should be cut square and tapered and fitted into a tapered square cut hole. You cut the square hole to accept the pin with a jeweller's file, you make the pin by using a jeweller's file.

Another way of fitting a gonjo is to make the hole in the gonjo a very neat, press fit to the tang, then tighten the gonjo around the tang with a hammer and punch.

Aluminium jaws for a vice are more effective and long lasting than wood, but for a quick fix, folded newspaper works well.

S.Workman · 13th June 2014, 02:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

In fitting a gonjo I have never seen an original gonjo fitted with multiple pins, as GIO has shown. In my experience, the use of more than a single pin complicates the job and makes precise alignment difficult. The usual Javanese method is a single pin on the buntut urang side of the pesi.

Eeeeek. I didn't notice that the drawing indicates multiple pins. Thats what I get for poking around on the internets at work. Alan, do you know anything about this type of keris?
I don't think I am going to do a thing with this keris, if only because it is an original finish, the keris is not in danger, and it won't damage it's own scabbard if handled with care. It is not as if I need it battle ready to fend off pirates or something.

A. G. Maisey · 13th June 2014, 03:12 AM

Know anything?

No, not really.

In sociological terms, little keris = little (as in low ranking) man. Very ordinary sort of keris, I've seen many like this over the years. I'd agree with ngulit semangko as pamor. Perhaps it should be repolished and restained, but in truth, it is probably not worth the effort --- many years ago when I was inexperienced with keris I would have put the time in on it, simply for the joy of learning, but these days I wouldn't bother. Its probably best left just as it is.

GIO · 14th June 2014, 03:16 PM

No, I do not use pins to secure the ganja. I get a small deformation on the ganja around the peksi, so that the ganja is firmly fixed.
The same principle is applied in Japan to adapt tsubas on the blades.
I am sure Alan has never seen such a system: it is my personal clumsy work to avoid the use of glue. In my defence I would emphasize that the result is invisible (also because hidden by the mendak) and reversible.
When a pin is present, I obviously use it. If it is worn out, I make a new one.

A. G. Maisey · 14th June 2014, 09:13 PM

Please accept my apologies Giovanni.

I misinterpreted your sketch:- I thought that the black spots surrounding the tang were holes to accept pins.

Yes, tightening a gonjo by working around the tang and punching the top of the gonjo is a valid way to fit a gonjo, I've often found this method used on Bugis and Peninsula keris, but I cannot recall ever having seen it used on a Javanese or Balinese keris.

GIO · 16th June 2014, 05:43 PM

Alan, you absolutely must not excuse yourself.
In fact I am rather flattered becoming aware that the procedure I follow to fix a ganja is being utilized in Indonesia too. At the end my work is not so clumsy and rough !

A. G. Maisey · 17th June 2014, 12:00 AM

Yes, I believe your finished job would be neat.

However, this type of fit can only be used when the hole in the gonjo is a neat fit to the tang.

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13th June 2014, 12:04 AM	#1
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,992	A couple of little comments. In Jawa two part epoxy adhesives such as Araldite have been used in the restoration of keris since these adhesives became available. The usual method of use is to mix the adhesive with iron filings and to coat the base of the blade and the bottom of the gonjo, fit together, wipe the excess clean and then fix. The reason for using the adhesive is to prevent, or at least delay, the future attack of corrosion between the gonjo and the wilah. Javanese dealers are very, very clever with the use of this Araldite+iron filings and in my experience most will not hesitate to fill holes in a blade, such as the erosion holes in sogokan, with this mix. You may never know that you have a blade with this sort of repair, or you may find out many years after purchase. If the job has been well done it is extremely unlikely that you will detect the repair without a microscopic inspection. In fitting a gonjo I have never seen an original gonjo fitted with multiple pins, as GIO has shown. In my experience, the use of more than a single pin complicates the job and makes precise alignment difficult. The usual Javanese method is a single pin on the buntut urang side of the pesi. The pin used to fit a gonjo should be cut square and tapered and fitted into a tapered square cut hole. You cut the square hole to accept the pin with a jeweller's file, you make the pin by using a jeweller's file. Another way of fitting a gonjo is to make the hole in the gonjo a very neat, press fit to the tang, then tighten the gonjo around the tang with a hammer and punch. Aluminium jaws for a vice are more effective and long lasting than wood, but for a quick fix, folded newspaper works well.

13th June 2014, 03:12 AM	#3
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,992	Know anything? No, not really. In sociological terms, little keris = little (as in low ranking) man. Very ordinary sort of keris, I've seen many like this over the years. I'd agree with ngulit semangko as pamor. Perhaps it should be repolished and restained, but in truth, it is probably not worth the effort --- many years ago when I was inexperienced with keris I would have put the time in on it, simply for the joy of learning, but these days I wouldn't bother. Its probably best left just as it is.

14th June 2014, 03:16 PM	#4
GIO Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 328	No, I do not use pins to secure the ganja. I get a small deformation on the ganja around the peksi, so that the ganja is firmly fixed. The same principle is applied in Japan to adapt tsubas on the blades. I am sure Alan has never seen such a system: it is my personal clumsy work to avoid the use of glue. In my defence I would emphasize that the result is invisible (also because hidden by the mendak) and reversible. When a pin is present, I obviously use it. If it is worn out, I make a new one.

14th June 2014, 09:13 PM	#5
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,992	Please accept my apologies Giovanni. I misinterpreted your sketch:- I thought that the black spots surrounding the tang were holes to accept pins. Yes, tightening a gonjo by working around the tang and punching the top of the gonjo is a valid way to fit a gonjo, I've often found this method used on Bugis and Peninsula keris, but I cannot recall ever having seen it used on a Javanese or Balinese keris.

16th June 2014, 05:43 PM	#6
GIO Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 328	Alan, you absolutely must not excuse yourself. In fact I am rather flattered becoming aware that the procedure I follow to fix a ganja is being utilized in Indonesia too. At the end my work is not so clumsy and rough !

17th June 2014, 12:00 AM	#7
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,992	Yes, I believe your finished job would be neat. However, this type of fit can only be used when the hole in the gonjo is a neat fit to the tang.