A Plastic Keris? for comment.

BSMStar · 13th April 2005, 01:08 AM

To dis-spell if it is plastic or not, here is a close up of the bottom of the face on the hulu. You can see the seam from the end of the beak to the neck, and the many bubbles... sanded seams are everywhere on the hulu and sheath as are the hollow bubbles (you can see them on the sheath edge here but blurry), but of course it is all painted, or chromed over and the plastic is not directly exposed for testing. I hope the picture helps.

BSMStar · 13th April 2005, 01:19 AM

Also,

Removing the keris, and looking inside the sheath... it is ruff plastic that has been ground in areas to fit the keris and then plainly painted brown. Where the paint has worn off, it is cream yellow in color.

At a distance, it looks impressive... but up close, it does not stand under scrutiny.

BSMStar · 13th April 2005, 01:26 AM

More bubbles (they are the lighter color spots in this picture on the sheath edges and some dark ones too).....

BSMStar · 13th April 2005, 01:37 AM

The back detail is terrible (obviously a casting)! Compare it to the first picture at the top of the page.

Alam Shah · 13th April 2005, 02:01 AM

As for the plastic sheath and hilt. It's hard to tell from these photos.
At first glance, looks pretty real. Only under close scrutiny can you spot it and if the picture is sharp enough.

I guess in future bidders should request the seller for the materials used for the
sheath and hilts.?

What will they think of next? "Maintenance free blades" = Plastic blades.

BSMStar · 13th April 2005, 02:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alam Shah

What will they think of next? "Maintenance free blades" = Plastic blades.

With a flip of the wrist, you have a Balinese keris

empu kumis · 13th April 2005, 08:55 AM

Hello Kerislovers,

since many years I follow the footsteps of faked and new kerisses but this is an most interesting handle, wrangka and pendok. The question is, are they made for faking ore just using new materials. The artistic quality seems to me not so bad exept the pendok and mendak. The wrangka has an form almost like the one in:

Sharum Bin Yub B.A.
Senjata 2 Pesaka Melayu, Keris dan Senjata 2 Pendek 1967 page 45

The blade may be even older then 19 cent. but age does not make good quality.

In general plastik in Indonesia for handles I have seen the first times in the late 1980ties. As BSMStar wrote about the bubbles are the traitors.

This handle I have found in 1989 in Solo. The black lines indicate the positions of several bubbles. The close up shows better.

13th April 2005, 01:08 AM	#1
BSMStar Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Kansas City, MO USA Posts: 312	To dis-spell if it is plastic or not, here is a close up of the bottom of the face on the hulu. You can see the seam from the end of the beak to the neck, and the many bubbles... sanded seams are everywhere on the hulu and sheath as are the hollow bubbles (you can see them on the sheath edge here but blurry), but of course it is all painted, or chromed over and the plastic is not directly exposed for testing. I hope the picture helps. Attached Images

13th April 2005, 01:26 AM	#3
BSMStar Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Kansas City, MO USA Posts: 312	More bubbles (they are the lighter color spots in this picture on the sheath edges and some dark ones too)..... Attached Images

13th April 2005, 01:37 AM	#4
BSMStar Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Kansas City, MO USA Posts: 312	The back detail is terrible (obviously a casting)! Compare it to the first picture at the top of the page. Attached Images

13th April 2005, 08:55 AM	#7
empu kumis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Germany Posts: 17	Hello Kerislovers, since many years I follow the footsteps of faked and new kerisses but this is an most interesting handle, wrangka and pendok. The question is, are they made for faking ore just using new materials. The artistic quality seems to me not so bad exept the pendok and mendak. The wrangka has an form almost like the one in: Sharum Bin Yub B.A. Senjata 2 Pesaka Melayu, Keris dan Senjata 2 Pendek 1967 page 45 The blade may be even older then 19 cent. but age does not make good quality. In general plastik in Indonesia for handles I have seen the first times in the late 1980ties. As BSMStar wrote about the bubbles are the traitors. This handle I have found in 1989 in Solo. The black lines indicate the positions of several bubbles. The close up shows better. Attached Images

13th April 2005, 01:19 AM	#2
BSMStar Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Kansas City, MO USA Posts: 312	Also, Removing the keris, and looking inside the sheath... it is ruff plastic that has been ground in areas to fit the keris and then plainly painted brown. Where the paint has worn off, it is cream yellow in color. At a distance, it looks impressive... but up close, it does not stand under scrutiny.

13th April 2005, 02:01 AM	#5
Alam Shah Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,248	As for the plastic sheath and hilt. It's hard to tell from these photos. At first glance, looks pretty real. Only under close scrutiny can you spot it and if the picture is sharp enough. I guess in future bidders should request the seller for the materials used for the sheath and hilts.? What will they think of next? "Maintenance free blades" = Plastic blades.