Keris Bugis?

Henk · 5th February 2012, 11:58 AM

Put in my two cents.

Metal fittings aren't cut out from a pendok but made for this sheath. The pictures are not good enough for me to judge the buntut.

The ukiran is an ivory one as mentioned but the mendak is a replacement IMHO. It looks more like a javanese mendak.

The keris isn't a sturdy Bugis blade but has more the feature of a javanese blade. But as we know keris in that region were also forged after Javanese examples which where highly apreciated.But javanese blades were also subject of trading by the Buginese sailors.

I would say we look at an Sumatran keris. I would certainly leave it as it is.
The only thing one can consider to change is the mendak.

Caedo · 9th February 2012, 11:49 PM

Thanks again for the comments and suggestions. It is my understanding that Bugis blades are usually almost hexagonal in cross-section, which is why I didn't think this blade matched the dress. The grain in the buntut is hard to make out due to its narrowness and the grooves carved into it. It is definitely a few shades lighter in color than the rest of the sheath, however, but whether that is due to different woods or different finishes is beyond me.

I will indeed look into replacing the mendak.

5th February 2012, 11:58 AM	#1
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	Put in my two cents. Metal fittings aren't cut out from a pendok but made for this sheath. The pictures are not good enough for me to judge the buntut. The ukiran is an ivory one as mentioned but the mendak is a replacement IMHO. It looks more like a javanese mendak. The keris isn't a sturdy Bugis blade but has more the feature of a javanese blade. But as we know keris in that region were also forged after Javanese examples which where highly apreciated.But javanese blades were also subject of trading by the Buginese sailors. I would say we look at an Sumatran keris. I would certainly leave it as it is. The only thing one can consider to change is the mendak.

9th February 2012, 11:49 PM	#2
Caedo Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Tennessee Posts: 11	Thanks again for the comments and suggestions. It is my understanding that Bugis blades are usually almost hexagonal in cross-section, which is why I didn't think this blade matched the dress. The grain in the buntut is hard to make out due to its narrowness and the grooves carved into it. It is definitely a few shades lighter in color than the rest of the sheath, however, but whether that is due to different woods or different finishes is beyond me. I will indeed look into replacing the mendak.