15 luk Bali?

A. G. Maisey · 23rd December 2011, 08:46 PM

Jean, it is not at all unusual to encounter Balinese blades that are pamor sanak or just plain iron on the outside with a steel core. Most especially we should not be surprised to see this in a large blade, as the bigger the blade, the more difficult it can become to satisfactorily produce a pamor effect. Possibly this blade appears just exactly as it should appear. The cleaning/staining process cannot alter the foundation.

Certainly, we all hope for a brilliant pamor to emerge from obscurity when we clean and stain a blade, but that does not always happen. I've had some very sobering experiences during my lifetime in this regard.

In respect of counting luk.

The way we count now is an accepted convention, as with most keris conventions that are popularly accepted, it is a Javanese convention. In some other places luk are not necessarily counted in exactly the same way.

However, if we are to count in way of the current fashion, the easiest way is to start the count at the convex luk directly above the gandhik, then progress to the point by counting the convex waves on alternate sides of the blade, making certain to finish with an uneven number on the same side of the blade as the gandhik.

23rd December 2011, 08:46 PM	#1
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,992	Jean, it is not at all unusual to encounter Balinese blades that are pamor sanak or just plain iron on the outside with a steel core. Most especially we should not be surprised to see this in a large blade, as the bigger the blade, the more difficult it can become to satisfactorily produce a pamor effect. Possibly this blade appears just exactly as it should appear. The cleaning/staining process cannot alter the foundation. Certainly, we all hope for a brilliant pamor to emerge from obscurity when we clean and stain a blade, but that does not always happen. I've had some very sobering experiences during my lifetime in this regard. In respect of counting luk. The way we count now is an accepted convention, as with most keris conventions that are popularly accepted, it is a Javanese convention. In some other places luk are not necessarily counted in exactly the same way. However, if we are to count in way of the current fashion, the easiest way is to start the count at the convex luk directly above the gandhik, then progress to the point by counting the convex waves on alternate sides of the blade, making certain to finish with an uneven number on the same side of the blade as the gandhik.