First Keris for me

schmoozer · 24th February 2010, 12:55 AM

got it off, some old wrapping around the tang.
Once I got it off I noticed there is a definite offset in the axis of the tang and the blade. I read that the blade was supposed to point slightly downward when held level? If that is so, I think maybe my hilt was on 180-degrees off?

That level of cleaning I am up to...

A. G. Maisey · 24th February 2010, 01:48 AM

Thanks schmoozer.

We really need to look straight down onto the top of the gonjo, because the angled shots do not always give a correct impression of the outline or the proportion.

We need to see the shape of the thick end of the gonjo (the sirah cecak), but we also need to see the outline of the top of the gonjo between the tang and thin end of the gonjo.This is important, because if there is even the slightest inward curve in the line of the gonjo here, it is not Tuban.

Can you confirm that the line along the sides of the top of the gonjo, between the mid-point of the tang, and the thin end of the gonjo does not have any curve in it?

schmoozer · 24th February 2010, 02:15 AM

new view

David · 24th February 2010, 03:43 AM

Anyone care to take a shot at what that silver material on both sides of the top of the gonjo might be? Remnants of some sort of silver "kinatah".

A. G. Maisey · 24th February 2010, 04:56 AM

Thanks schmoozer, that's great.

This cannot be a Tuban blade.

The length of the gonjo from the pesi (tang) to the buntut urang (narrow end of gonjo) is too great, there appears to be a very slight curve in the side of the gonjo, and the buntut urang itself is the wrong shape for Tuban, additionally, many would not accept the sirah cecak form (wide end of gonjo) as Tuban.

I am not prepared to give a classification on this blade from a photograph.

David, I think that that material may be the remnant of a separate layer that once covered the top of the gonjo; it has eroded and broken away. I've seen this type of construction a number of times, sometimes in a pamor that matches the blade, sometimes in plain iron in order to conceal the pamor.

schmoozer · 25th February 2010, 03:41 AM

Thanks for all the information. I have the blade soaking in vinegar for the night.

I did ask a question regarding hilt orientation and the position of the blade tip. Should the tip point down when the hilt is held level? I have looked at other pictures in the forum and it seems that my hilt was off 180-degrees?

A. G. Maisey · 25th February 2010, 07:02 AM

With this type of keris the curl in the pommel of the hilt should be positioned over the thick end of the gonjo (sirah cecak), or angled just slightly towards the ground when the blade is held level.

24th February 2010, 12:55 AM	#1
schmoozer Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Seattle, Wa. USA Posts: 12	Success got it off, some old wrapping around the tang. Once I got it off I noticed there is a definite offset in the axis of the tang and the blade. I read that the blade was supposed to point slightly downward when held level? If that is so, I think maybe my hilt was on 180-degrees off? That level of cleaning I am up to... Attached Images

24th February 2010, 02:15 AM	#3
schmoozer Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Seattle, Wa. USA Posts: 12	new view Attached Images

24th February 2010, 01:48 AM	#2
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	Thanks schmoozer. We really need to look straight down onto the top of the gonjo, because the angled shots do not always give a correct impression of the outline or the proportion. We need to see the shape of the thick end of the gonjo (the sirah cecak), but we also need to see the outline of the top of the gonjo between the tang and thin end of the gonjo.This is important, because if there is even the slightest inward curve in the line of the gonjo here, it is not Tuban. Can you confirm that the line along the sides of the top of the gonjo, between the mid-point of the tang, and the thin end of the gonjo does not have any curve in it?

24th February 2010, 03:43 AM	#4
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,218	Anyone care to take a shot at what that silver material on both sides of the top of the gonjo might be? Remnants of some sort of silver "kinatah".

24th February 2010, 04:56 AM	#5
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	Thanks schmoozer, that's great. This cannot be a Tuban blade. The length of the gonjo from the pesi (tang) to the buntut urang (narrow end of gonjo) is too great, there appears to be a very slight curve in the side of the gonjo, and the buntut urang itself is the wrong shape for Tuban, additionally, many would not accept the sirah cecak form (wide end of gonjo) as Tuban. I am not prepared to give a classification on this blade from a photograph. David, I think that that material may be the remnant of a separate layer that once covered the top of the gonjo; it has eroded and broken away. I've seen this type of construction a number of times, sometimes in a pamor that matches the blade, sometimes in plain iron in order to conceal the pamor.

25th February 2010, 03:41 AM	#6
schmoozer Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Seattle, Wa. USA Posts: 12	Thanks for all the information. I have the blade soaking in vinegar for the night. I did ask a question regarding hilt orientation and the position of the blade tip. Should the tip point down when the hilt is held level? I have looked at other pictures in the forum and it seems that my hilt was off 180-degrees?

25th February 2010, 07:02 AM	#7
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	With this type of keris the curl in the pommel of the hilt should be positioned over the thick end of the gonjo (sirah cecak), or angled just slightly towards the ground when the blade is held level.