Between Solo and Yogya

[A. G. Maisey]

Here is an image of what I know as a cis.

There is considerable variation in form, but they all resemble either an angkus, or a harpoon.

Is this blade ovoid in cross section, or triangular?

How has the tang been formed?

[ganjawulung]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Here is an image of what I know as a cis.

There is considerable variation in form, but they all resemble either an angkus, or a harpoon.

Is this blade ovoid in cross section, or triangular?

How has the tang been formed?

Not triangular, but slightly curved, quite thin. The tang or pesi, just like badik's tang -- flat and wide... It looks more "pedang" (sword) than spear...

[A. G. Maisey]

I rather suspect that this blade could be something re-manufactured from a pedang blade, specifically for use in its original fittings.

[ganjawulung]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

I rather suspect that this blade could be something re-manufactured from a pedang blade, specifically for use in its original fittings.

Dear Alan,
Someday, if we'll meet I'll bring it to you. But I don't think it is a remanufacture. I am quite sure for that. You may see from the slorok -- that is not a (thick) slorok of a normal pedang. The slorok is as thin as keris slorok. It was regarded by many of my keris friend from Solo, Yogya, and according to them, it is "asli" (not fake or remake...)

The style of pamor -- is typically Mataram. (It is not possible to describe it by words), also the iron. A couple of "akhodiyat" (glitter pamor) in the beras wutah. But quite sure, that the metal material was especially made for such form of weapon. You may loop with your magnifying glass...

Anyway, thanks for your kind attention

Ganjawulung

[ganjawulung]

These are more pictures on keris sheaths made of "trembalo" wood, with different chatoyance. One Yogya gayaman with old silver pendhok, "bunton" type with "alas-alasan" motive (forest motive). And the other one is keris sheath, iras (one piece of wood) Yogya gayaman -- with brass pendhok, slewah or blewahan type.

Ganjawulung

[A. G. Maisey]

Pak Ganja, you have it in your hand, I do not, if you say it is asli, then it is asli.

However, it is a non-typical form, it is long rather than short, of light cross section, and it has a flat tang. In my experience, this type of blade is very likely to be re-manufactured. It is a waste of time looking at it to try to guess if it has been re-manufactured or not, it could have been done over 100 years ago, re-forged, cut and then reforged again.Let me start with a normal pedang suduk,and I could produce this blade , including the apparently thin slorok, myself.

But let me put it another way:- if came across this blade in the market place, I would assume it was re-manufactured and the price I paid for it would be based on that assumption.

Still, if you are convinced it is asli, then I bow to the wisdom of your judgement.

[PenangsangII]

Pak Ganja,

The type of weapon called "cis" you mentioned was as you said tangguh Mataram. May I ask who normally used it in the past - whether he was king, courtiers, Pangerans, Palace guards etc? How it was worn as definitely the bearer must also wear at least a keris?

[ganjawulung]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Here is an image of what I know as a cis.

There is considerable variation in form, but they all resemble either an angkus, or a harpoon.

Dear Alan,
I am very interested in knowing more on cis. Is this (pls see the pictures) also a cis? Where can I find the reference, that such form is a cis? I've tried to search in books, and also other source, but didnt find any clue...

Ganjawulung

[A. G. Maisey]

Pak Ganja, I do not know of any book reference on cis.

I have the name from various people that I know, and have known , in Solo.

My wife, who comes from East Jawa , calls some of these things "pancing buaya", which name she got from her father who used to make them, and use them for exactly that.Other of what people in Solo would call "cis", she has no name for, and does not recognise; these are the "cis" that resemble an angkus.

The item that you have posted a pic of, I personally would hesitate to call a cis, but probably some people in Solo would give it that name.

In fact, in Javanese, the word "cis" does have the meaning of "angkus".

I'm sure you have noted that when I posted the image of what I know as a "cis", I wrote:-

"Here is an image of what I know as a cis."

I did not write:-

"Here is an image of a cis."

I feel that what has happened with this group of items that we know as "cis" in Solo, is this:- some of them are correctly named as "cis", and these are the ones that look, and probably functioned as, an angkus; the others which bear a resemblance to a correctly named cis, are in fact not cis at all, but various types of harpoon used to harpoon crocodiles, or sharks and other large fish.

I have a few of these cis of both types. I'm not exactly sure where they are at the moment, but if I can locate them I will post some more pictures.

[ganjawulung]

Dear All,
This is only displaying cuts of pamor from only one side blade of my whatever name of weapon. (The size of the blade is one hasta, or around 50 centimeters). The motives of pamor (beras wutah) seemingly match with the size of narrow field of the blade. Quite fine beras wutah. I don't even think, whether this whatever weapon is a remanufactured-weapon or not...

Ganjawulung

[ganjawulung]

Dhapur "Brojol" with pamor "tunggak semi" (sprouting bud), and dhapur "tilamupih" with pamor "kupu tarung" (fighting butterfly). Both with Yogyanese hilts...

Ganjawulung

[ganjawulung]

Almost every collector who collect Javanese kerises in Java, know this popular dhapur "sabuk inten" (diamond belted), with 11 luks. As popular as Nagasasra (mostly thirteen luks, with naga or dragon relief). For comparison, I show you the dhapur "sengkelat" (thirteen luks) with almost similar "ricikan" (details) -- only differed by luks number... (The sengkelat with Solonese hilt is from 21th century, and the Sabuk Inten with Yogyanese hilt supposed to be from Mataram era. Or say it, keris with Mataram style)

The wood of the "branggah" style sheath is quite rare. It is from "nagasari" wood (Messua ferrea Linn.). Nagasari tree, is believed, came from part of India. The name of origin is "nagakesara". Or maybe in Malay, you may call it as "penaga lilin, penaga putih or penaga suga. Correct me if I'm wrong...

Ganjawulung

[BluErf]

This may come a bit late, but I wish to say that I greatly enjoyed the pictures posted. I have always liked beautifully-grained wood turned into excellent sheaths and hilts, sometimes at the expense of the blade.

A big thank you to Pak Ganja for sharing.

[ganjawulung]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Here is an image of what I know as a cis.

There is considerable variation in form, but they all resemble either an angkus, or a harpoon.

I found and example of a cis -- or more exactly, "cis and taji" -- in Karaton Solo's Museum (The Solo Palace Museum) just in the outer inside part of karaton. (Please see the picture, and the name tag below the special weapon).

Cis, according to this court information, is straight in form. And "taji" (cock's spur or curved nail of a cock) is curved in form. And the use of this weapon is for elephant-soldier...

Ganjawulung

[Alam Shah]

Originally Posted by ganjawulung

I found and example of a cis -- or more exactly, "cis and taji" -- in Karaton Solo's Museum (The Solo Palace Museum) just in the outer inside part of karaton. (Please see the picture, and the name tag below the special weapon).

Cis, according to this court information, is straight in form. And "taji" (cock's spur or curved nail of a cock) is curved in form. And the use of this weapon is for elephant-soldier...

Ganjawulung

Pak Ganja,

That looks like an ankus, elephant goad to me. How long is the handle?
When used by a man riding on the elephant, the handle is normally short. When used by a man walking beside the elephant, the handles are longer about 5 feet long but the hook is smaller.

[ganjawulung]

Originally Posted by Alam Shah

That looks like an ankus, elephant goad to me. How long is the handle?
When used by a man riding on the elephant, the handle is normally short. When used by a man walking beside the elephant, the handles are longer about 5 feet long but the hook is smaller.

Not too long,
I think it is the type of one "pengadeg" landeyan (spear-handle). One pengadeg is the same size of a standing man with hand straight upward...

Ganjawulung

[ganjawulung]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Here is an image of what I know as a cis.

There is considerable variation in form, but they all resemble either an angkus, or a harpoon.

Dear Alan,
Excuse me if I'm misunderstood. Is an angkus is weapon for elephant? And harpoon is weapon for fishing? Is a cis, meant for elephant and also fish? If for elephant, for what purpose? Killing? Would you like to inform me please...

Ganjawulung