My new Keris

[Alam Shah]

Originally Posted by William.m

...While I am very pleased with my new keris it seems that somebody has put a pin through the handle in order to secure the blade. It is very annoying as it seems that the handle is on the wrong way around. So my question is firstly can you have keris with the handle alignment like mine and also were the handles and tang pinned together traditionally ?

Hi William.m,

The alignment is not normal (for both right hand and left hand use). Traditionally, the handle and tang is not pinned together. The hilt normally can be removed from the blade.
See here for removal tips.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...5&postcount=23

The first piece looks like a nice example of a Northern Malaysian / Pattani keris.

The big unusual bulging piece of wood below the cross-piece (of the sheath) is not original to the piece and spoils the aesthetics of the Sari Bulan sheath form. The sheath's end-piece, a pantat lipas form is missing.

An example of a pantat lipas sheath's end-piece.
http://alamshah.fotopic.net/p34057944.html

Beautiful Luk 3, keris blade. A good catch. Congratulations.