metal or fiber wraps on a kris gandar

milandro · 25th March 2022, 03:12 PM

Thanks David, very nice.

David · 25th March 2022, 05:44 PM

This is my favourite keris with a wrapped sheath stem. It is, as you can see, obviously in the family of Bugis influence, though i can't say for certain that only Bugis keris have used this wrap style.

milandro · 26th March 2022, 09:03 AM

yes it is very beautiful and I was precisely wondering how to add such a wrap to the sheath? Has anyone done it?

David · 26th March 2022, 04:28 PM

I've never done it. On this one of mine it does appear that some glue of some type may have been used to secure it, but i don't know what is traditional. There are certainly ways to tie off a wrap like this without the use of adhesives. Also the glue may have just been a repair to fix a loose piece. Impossible to know at this point i'm afraid.

milandro · 27th March 2022, 09:07 AM

very nice indeed. I guess some amount of glue would be needed to have a tight fit and that may have ben natural glues in the past or artificial ones now.

I am not much of a DIY but enjoy these things (at least seeing them) ,unfortunately specific information on the manufacture of anything kris related is very sketchy and for the most part in local languages.

this is a video about something else but the wrapping technique ( especially the way he closes the wrap) can be very useful as an inspiration (it would be nice if there would be a way for this forum to embed videos so that they can be played directly )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnWD58gWY10

milandro · 8th June 2022, 10:06 AM

I am coming back to this thread which I started because I’ve bought a Bugis kris which obviously has had, at some point, one of this wraps or ligatures. I am still wondering on how to make one in the best possible way for someone with two left hands.

David · 9th June 2022, 01:32 PM

I not at all sure what was going on with this particular sheath Milandro. Whatever was here is not the same kind of wrap that i posted on my keris above, which i believe is meant to preserve the stem from wear and damage. I don't see any reason why the wood would need to be notched like this to place a wrap on the sheath. I suspect there is something non-traditional at work here. These grooves are rather inexpertly carved here. It may have been someone's idea of a repair and may have even been done outside of the culture.
But it would certainly improve the look of this sheath to lay either a fiber or wire wrap into those grooves to fill them up. May suggestion would be to work with some kind of nature fiber cord. It is inexpensive and whatever you do would not be permanent so if it doesn't turn out well the first time you can easily remove it and try again. Good luck.

25th March 2022, 05:44 PM	#2
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,229	This is my favourite keris with a wrapped sheath stem. It is, as you can see, obviously in the family of Bugis influence, though i can't say for certain that only Bugis keris have used this wrap style. Attached Images

26th March 2022, 04:28 PM	#4
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,229	I've never done it. On this one of mine it does appear that some glue of some type may have been used to secure it, but i don't know what is traditional. There are certainly ways to tie off a wrap like this without the use of adhesives. Also the glue may have just been a repair to fix a loose piece. Impossible to know at this point i'm afraid. Attached Images

27th March 2022, 09:07 AM	#5
milandro Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Netherlands Posts: 497	very nice indeed. I guess some amount of glue would be needed to have a tight fit and that may have ben natural glues in the past or artificial ones now. I am not much of a DIY but enjoy these things (at least seeing them) ,unfortunately specific information on the manufacture of anything kris related is very sketchy and for the most part in local languages. this is a video about something else but the wrapping technique ( especially the way he closes the wrap) can be very useful as an inspiration (it would be nice if there would be a way for this forum to embed videos so that they can be played directly ) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnWD58gWY10 Last edited by milandro; 27th March 2022 at 09:49 AM. Reason: addition

8th June 2022, 10:06 AM	#6
milandro Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Netherlands Posts: 497	I am coming back to this thread which I started because I’ve bought a Bugis kris which obviously has had, at some point, one of this wraps or ligatures. I am still wondering on how to make one in the best possible way for someone with two left hands. Attached Images

25th March 2022, 03:12 PM	#1
milandro Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Netherlands Posts: 497	Thanks David, very nice.

26th March 2022, 09:03 AM	#3
milandro Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Netherlands Posts: 497	yes it is very beautiful and I was precisely wondering how to add such a wrap to the sheath? Has anyone done it?

9th June 2022, 01:32 PM	#7
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,229	I not at all sure what was going on with this particular sheath Milandro. Whatever was here is not the same kind of wrap that i posted on my keris above, which i believe is meant to preserve the stem from wear and damage. I don't see any reason why the wood would need to be notched like this to place a wrap on the sheath. I suspect there is something non-traditional at work here. These grooves are rather inexpertly carved here. It may have been someone's idea of a repair and may have even been done outside of the culture. But it would certainly improve the look of this sheath to lay either a fiber or wire wrap into those grooves to fill them up. May suggestion would be to work with some kind of nature fiber cord. It is inexpensive and whatever you do would not be permanent so if it doesn't turn out well the first time you can easily remove it and try again. Good luck.