Hilt material

Maurice · 6th January 2025, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sajen

How does it feel? Very smooth? Walrus. A porous feel? Whalebone. But the stem of the scabbard from my keris which is made from whalebone too is also due patination very smooth. I would need to handle your grip to be sure.

Best regards,
Detlef

Thank you for the Minang keris photos.
It looks like it even has the same 'colour' as my keris hilt.
It feels rather smooth, but as you also say, because of age and patina it feels more smooth now as it did when it was new.

Regards
Maurice

Sajen · 6th January 2025, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maurice

Thank you for the Minang keris photos.
It looks like it even has the same 'colour' as my keris hilt.
It feels rather smooth, but as you also say, because of age and patina it feels more smooth now as it did when it was new.

Like David I guess that you handle is from whale bone too.

Regards,
Detlef

Rick · 8th January 2025, 06:25 AM

Looking at the patina on the grip makes me think that this handle has a lot of age cracks from use; the material seems eroded in places. The Cauliflower-like section confuses me a bit since it does look like the dentine, or pulp that is found in the center of a Walrus tusk.
I know from experience how much whale bone stinks; it is full of oil and it would take a very long time (years) to get the oil smell to go away if left outside in the open.
Now maybe there is a method unknown to me that would accelerate the breakdown of the oil, there probably is. But when I look at the hilt I see so many pores in its surface which tells me it is not the tooth of a Cetacean.

Surely there must be parts of the whale's skeleton that are firmer and less porous than the majority of its other parts. I would love to see some of them.

It is a very puzzling hilt.

Sajen · 8th January 2025, 09:26 AM

Here a kabeala hilt from whale bone. Just for comparison.

Ian · 9th January 2025, 01:44 PM

Hi Rick,

There is some information on whalebone hilts and guards on kampilan on the Ethno Forum, including this thread: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=21204

Rick Stroud (RSWORD) also has a nice example on his web site, and I have taken the liberty of downloading a couple of his pics...
.

Maurice · 9th January 2025, 04:06 PM

Thank you all for your replies!

What is bothering me, are the 'lines' or 'grains' on this specific area of the keris hilt, which you can see in the photo.
I don't find this on all of the whalebone examples posted.....

Regards,
Maurice

Sajen · 9th January 2025, 06:32 PM

Hi Maurice,

It's the same that bothered me, your handle looks somewhat different than the shown whalebone examples.

Regards,
Detlef

8th January 2025, 09:26 AM	#4
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,165	Here a kabeala hilt from whale bone. Just for comparison. Attached Images

9th January 2025, 01:44 PM	#5
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,362	Hi Rick, There is some information on whalebone hilts and guards on kampilan on the Ethno Forum, including this thread: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=21204 Rick Stroud (RSWORD) also has a nice example on his web site, and I have taken the liberty of downloading a couple of his pics... . Attached Images

9th January 2025, 04:06 PM	#6
Maurice Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,453	Thank you all for your replies! What is bothering me, are the 'lines' or 'grains' on this specific area of the keris hilt, which you can see in the photo. I don't find this on all of the whalebone examples posted..... Regards, Maurice Attached Images

8th January 2025, 06:25 AM	#3
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	Looking at the patina on the grip makes me think that this handle has a lot of age cracks from use; the material seems eroded in places. The Cauliflower-like section confuses me a bit since it does look like the dentine, or pulp that is found in the center of a Walrus tusk. I know from experience how much whale bone stinks; it is full of oil and it would take a very long time (years) to get the oil smell to go away if left outside in the open. Now maybe there is a method unknown to me that would accelerate the breakdown of the oil, there probably is. But when I look at the hilt I see so many pores in its surface which tells me it is not the tooth of a Cetacean. Surely there must be parts of the whale's skeleton that are firmer and less porous than the majority of its other parts. I would love to see some of them. It is a very puzzling hilt.

9th January 2025, 06:32 PM	#7
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,165	Hi Maurice, It's the same that bothered me, your handle looks somewhat different than the shown whalebone examples. Regards, Detlef