Bugis Keris

A. G. Maisey · 5th December 2014, 06:49 AM

I haven't read back through the previous posts, but I think from memory that there were comments that the bevels were a bit wider than normal, and in terms of proportion, yes, they probably are.

However, the rules?

My understanding is simply that the faces of a Bugis blade are flat and the gusen is wide. How wide? nobody ever told me, and my own observations are that "wide" means wider than we would normally expect to see in a Javanese blade. To my mind the matter of width is really a non-issue. If the bevels are a bit wider than we would expect to see it really doesn't matter one way or the other.

David · 5th December 2014, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

To my mind the matter of width is really a non-issue. If the bevels are a bit wider than we would expect to see it really doesn't matter one way or the other.

Well that is my point Alan. I am not convinced that the bevels on this keris are any wider than we would expect to see. I have in fact seen numerous Bugis keris with bevels that seem to be as wide as this. I own a a keris with a very similar profile as this (though with more luks) that does not seem to show any evidence of ever having the bevels widened at a later time. This keris' shape does not seem particularly unusual for this style of blade. The gonjo is another story.

A. G. Maisey · 5th December 2014, 08:03 AM

No argument David, this is purely a matter of opinion.

Based upon raw width the bevels are pretty much within normal parameters; based upon proportion of bevel to blade width, they are bit wider than we would normally expect to see.

Why are they a bit wider ?

Who knows?

There are a dozen possibilities from removal of edge knicks, to desire for increased sharpness, to the original maker's intent --- and all the other possibilities in between.

In fact, its much a given that every time we sharpen any sort of blade the bevel moves a bit higher up the blade than it was before we began to sharpen. The more times we sharpen, it seems that the wider the bevel gets.

But who cares?

It is not an issue.

The gonjo is.

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5th December 2014, 06:49 AM	#1
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,994	I haven't read back through the previous posts, but I think from memory that there were comments that the bevels were a bit wider than normal, and in terms of proportion, yes, they probably are. However, the rules? My understanding is simply that the faces of a Bugis blade are flat and the gusen is wide. How wide? nobody ever told me, and my own observations are that "wide" means wider than we would normally expect to see in a Javanese blade. To my mind the matter of width is really a non-issue. If the bevels are a bit wider than we would expect to see it really doesn't matter one way or the other.

5th December 2014, 08:03 AM	#3
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,994	No argument David, this is purely a matter of opinion. Based upon raw width the bevels are pretty much within normal parameters; based upon proportion of bevel to blade width, they are bit wider than we would normally expect to see. Why are they a bit wider ? Who knows? There are a dozen possibilities from removal of edge knicks, to desire for increased sharpness, to the original maker's intent --- and all the other possibilities in between. In fact, its much a given that every time we sharpen any sort of blade the bevel moves a bit higher up the blade than it was before we began to sharpen. The more times we sharpen, it seems that the wider the bevel gets. But who cares? It is not an issue. The gonjo is.