Sumatran kris

AHite · 3rd May 2025, 11:21 PM

I acquired this kris, which I believe is Sumatran. The blade is layered and shows severe etching from cleaning. The edge is still very sharp, though. The handle is wood with carving. The sheath, unfortunately has damage that was poorly repaired. Even if I could get the old repair glue off there will still be pieces of wood missing when I reset the cracks. Leaving it alone for now.

Question for the forum: How old is this kris? The ganya is separate from the blade. Are the wood handle and sheath original to this blade or later replacements. Any idea of the wood species used on the sheath, in the event I try to repair it?

The blade is approximately 31cm.

A big "Thanks" to all the forum members who have given me great information on all of the various ethnographic weapons I have posted here!

Regards,
Andrew

rasdan · 4th May 2025, 03:31 AM

Hello AHite,

My opinion the blade is very likely Madura or East Java. The sheath could also be Madura or East Java, but West Java is a probability as well.

I am not sure about the hilt, but probably it is also East Java, thus the combination of the sheath, hilt and blade in my opinion makes sense. However the combination of the fittings does not really matter since it is very normal a blade and the dress got changed/switched.

milandro · 4th May 2025, 11:48 AM

I agree, this is not a sumatran kris.

I don't understand the comment about the sharpness of the blade. Krises are thrusting weapons and although some blades are sharper than others the blades are not supposed to cut (as in a slashing weapon).

Handle and sheath are parts which are often replaced and blades are sometimes adapted to different cultural contexts.

It will be certainly ok to repair whatever you have ( and also turn the orientation of the handle which is wrong and add a suitable ring or mendak because it is missing, if the handle or ukiran has been glued needs to be loosened by means of heat because it is supposed to be friction mounted with some cloth or rope around the tang)

AHite · 4th May 2025, 02:22 PM

My comment about the edge sharpness of this blade is just an observation. However it happened the edges are very sharp, despite all of the erosion of the surface.

I am not sure where I would source the appropriate ring. I had the suspicion that it was missing one, based on the photos of similar keris I have looked at. Also, how is the handle supposed to be aligned? Thanks for the information!

Andrew Hite

milandro · 4th May 2025, 09:28 PM

the hilt should be turned 180º, in other words it has to face the other way around. Please observe other Javanese krises on the forum and you will understand how to turn it.

The Mendak or as you say " ring" can be purchased there are many sellers who sell rings of many types. You need one which would go on a a Keris like this please take a look here

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...=madura+mendak

David · 4th May 2025, 10:50 PM

I tend to agree with Rasdan on the blade origin. Certainly not Sumatran. Blade is most likely 19th century. It is difficult to know if the wrongko is original to the blade based upon your photos. How well does the blade fit into the sheath? I would think it is unlikely that the hilt is original to this keris since this is a Surakarta form of planar hilt that would not be a natural fit for it.
You can find both new and used mendhaks fairly easily in places like eBay. And yes, the hilt should be turned 180º for a proper orientation.

A. G. Maisey · 5th May 2025, 02:33 AM

I'd be inclined to think of this keris as "generic Javanese".

As Rasdan has said, blade is most likely East Jawa, maybe Madura.

The wrongko could be from anywhere, when I see these slightly fatter gayamans I tend to think of Banyumas, but I've seen the same or similar from along the North Coast of Jawa, & the far East of Jawa, around Banyuwangi.

The hilt is a Javanese planar hilt, stylistically very possibly Surakarta, but again it could be from anywhere, East Jawa uses this planar style also, & it actually originated in Cirebon. Photographs can often distort the true form of a subject, and this hilt looks a bit to short and bunkul a bit too heavy for Jawa Tengah.

In any case, a pretty nice old "every man's" keris, well worth a bit of effort to give it a facelift.

milandro · 5th May 2025, 09:13 AM

I have a similar looking blade (also of some age) on a Bugis dress, cross contamination of blades and dress are very common and not necessarily the product of foul play. It still happens and happened in the past too.

A. G. Maisey · 5th May 2025, 12:44 PM

Jawa was a big exporter of weapon blades for a very long time & over a very big area. We can expect to find weapon blades that were made in Jawa in many places.

3rd May 2025, 11:21 PM	#1
AHite Member Join Date: Dec 2022 Posts: 64	Sumatran kris I acquired this kris, which I believe is Sumatran. The blade is layered and shows severe etching from cleaning. The edge is still very sharp, though. The handle is wood with carving. The sheath, unfortunately has damage that was poorly repaired. Even if I could get the old repair glue off there will still be pieces of wood missing when I reset the cracks. Leaving it alone for now. Question for the forum: How old is this kris? The ganya is separate from the blade. Are the wood handle and sheath original to this blade or later replacements. Any idea of the wood species used on the sheath, in the event I try to repair it? The blade is approximately 31cm. A big "Thanks" to all the forum members who have given me great information on all of the various ethnographic weapons I have posted here! Regards, Andrew Attached Images

4th May 2025, 03:31 AM	#2
rasdan Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kuala Lumpur Posts: 369	Hello AHite, My opinion the blade is very likely Madura or East Java. The sheath could also be Madura or East Java, but West Java is a probability as well. I am not sure about the hilt, but probably it is also East Java, thus the combination of the sheath, hilt and blade in my opinion makes sense. However the combination of the fittings does not really matter since it is very normal a blade and the dress got changed/switched.

4th May 2025, 11:48 AM	#3
milandro Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Netherlands Posts: 492	I agree, this is not a sumatran kris. I don't understand the comment about the sharpness of the blade. Krises are thrusting weapons and although some blades are sharper than others the blades are not supposed to cut (as in a slashing weapon). Handle and sheath are parts which are often replaced and blades are sometimes adapted to different cultural contexts. It will be certainly ok to repair whatever you have ( and also turn the orientation of the handle which is wrong and add a suitable ring or mendak because it is missing, if the handle or ukiran has been glued needs to be loosened by means of heat because it is supposed to be friction mounted with some cloth or rope around the tang)

4th May 2025, 02:22 PM	#4
AHite Member Join Date: Dec 2022 Posts: 64	My comment about the edge sharpness of this blade is just an observation. However it happened the edges are very sharp, despite all of the erosion of the surface. I am not sure where I would source the appropriate ring. I had the suspicion that it was missing one, based on the photos of similar keris I have looked at. Also, how is the handle supposed to be aligned? Thanks for the information! Andrew Hite

4th May 2025, 09:28 PM	#5
milandro Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Netherlands Posts: 492	the hilt should be turned 180º, in other words it has to face the other way around. Please observe other Javanese krises on the forum and you will understand how to turn it. The Mendak or as you say " ring" can be purchased there are many sellers who sell rings of many types. You need one which would go on a a Keris like this please take a look here http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...=madura+mendak

4th May 2025, 10:50 PM	#6
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,213	I tend to agree with Rasdan on the blade origin. Certainly not Sumatran. Blade is most likely 19th century. It is difficult to know if the wrongko is original to the blade based upon your photos. How well does the blade fit into the sheath? I would think it is unlikely that the hilt is original to this keris since this is a Surakarta form of planar hilt that would not be a natural fit for it. You can find both new and used mendhaks fairly easily in places like eBay. And yes, the hilt should be turned 180º for a proper orientation.

5th May 2025, 02:33 AM	#7
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,994	I'd be inclined to think of this keris as "generic Javanese". As Rasdan has said, blade is most likely East Jawa, maybe Madura. The wrongko could be from anywhere, when I see these slightly fatter gayamans I tend to think of Banyumas, but I've seen the same or similar from along the North Coast of Jawa, & the far East of Jawa, around Banyuwangi. The hilt is a Javanese planar hilt, stylistically very possibly Surakarta, but again it could be from anywhere, East Jawa uses this planar style also, & it actually originated in Cirebon. Photographs can often distort the true form of a subject, and this hilt looks a bit to short and bunkul a bit too heavy for Jawa Tengah. In any case, a pretty nice old "every man's" keris, well worth a bit of effort to give it a facelift.

5th May 2025, 09:13 AM	#8
milandro Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Netherlands Posts: 492	I have a similar looking blade (also of some age) on a Bugis dress, cross contamination of blades and dress are very common and not necessarily the product of foul play. It still happens and happened in the past too.

5th May 2025, 12:44 PM	#9
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,994	Jawa was a big exporter of weapon blades for a very long time & over a very big area. We can expect to find weapon blades that were made in Jawa in many places.