Keris gamble, fingers crossed?

Tim Simmons · 9th April 2007, 11:32 AM

I have gambled what I consider quite a fair sum of the folding stuff on this keris. I thought it looked old and interesting. I have taken a lot of pictures that will take a couple of posts to upload. Have I been a bit silly? I have no real idea about it.

Go on punch me in the stomach, I can take it

.

Tim Simmons · 9th April 2007, 11:52 AM

I was surprised how short the tang is 40mm. The blade is also too thin to be a fighting weapon? I am happy to spend money on African special weapons but this just makes me feel a little uncomfortable. The patterns on the blade are very swirly. The ring thingy has some damage which is made of copper and brass. The handle is rather dainty carved from some dark horn with a nice patina. There has also been a patch, fill in? repair with a gum substance, to the wood scabbard just where it meets the metal sleeve. As far as I can tell looking inside and outside, this happened at the time it was being made or soon afterwards. I do not know if I should put a new bit of cloth round the tang to stop the handle turning round. I do no think it is the original cloth.

David · 9th April 2007, 01:45 PM

Well Tim, i think it all depends on just how much of the folding stuff you actually laid out for this keris. To me it looks like a genuinely old Jawa keris in Dyogyakarta dress. The pendok (the metal thingy on the sheath

) looks like a nicely reprossed white brass or mamas. The blade may be thin now, but keep in mind that it has probably seen many years of acid washing and was no doubt much stouter when it was made, so i wouldn't count it out as a usable blade. The pamor looks like it might be the very popular wos wutah (scattered rice). I think it is a very collectable old piece, but it doesn't look like anything too extraordinary to me. The hilt does look nice with a nice patina. Are you sure it is horn and not some dark wood?

Tim Simmons · 9th April 2007, 03:18 PM

Thanks David. Well it is probably around 11 portions.

The handle is wood I think.

David · 9th April 2007, 03:50 PM

Yep, i figured the hilt was probably wood. Looks like it is a good example of that form though.
To answer your other question, if i were you i would feel free to add abit more cloth or yarn to stablize the hilt. Unfortunately, over time tangs often break or are foreshortened, making keeping the hilt in place even more difficult. Be careful to add material slowly to the tang. You want the hilt to stay in place, but to don't want to crack the wood.

Tim Simmons · 9th April 2007, 04:26 PM

To be honest now I have had time to really look. I am more than a little dissapointed with it. The handle is already cracked and have a feeling that the bottom section of the blade has been gunged up with glue. The tang is so short and tapered I do not think I will ever be able to stop it turning so easily. I do not have much luck with these things, I should and will stick to what I do know about and have more of a feel for. It is a pain in the bum learning these lessons, so late in game so to speak. ouch

9th April 2007, 11:32 AM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,739	Keris gamble, fingers crossed? I have gambled what I consider quite a fair sum of the folding stuff on this keris. I thought it looked old and interesting. I have taken a lot of pictures that will take a couple of posts to upload. Have I been a bit silly? I have no real idea about it. Go on punch me in the stomach, I can take it .

9th April 2007, 11:52 AM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,739	I was surprised how short the tang is 40mm. The blade is also too thin to be a fighting weapon? I am happy to spend money on African special weapons but this just makes me feel a little uncomfortable. The patterns on the blade are very swirly. The ring thingy has some damage which is made of copper and brass. The handle is rather dainty carved from some dark horn with a nice patina. There has also been a patch, fill in? repair with a gum substance, to the wood scabbard just where it meets the metal sleeve. As far as I can tell looking inside and outside, this happened at the time it was being made or soon afterwards. I do not know if I should put a new bit of cloth round the tang to stop the handle turning round. I do no think it is the original cloth. Last edited by Tim Simmons; 9th April 2007 at 12:03 PM.

9th April 2007, 01:45 PM	#3
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,029	Well Tim, i think it all depends on just how much of the folding stuff you actually laid out for this keris. To me it looks like a genuinely old Jawa keris in Dyogyakarta dress. The pendok (the metal thingy on the sheath ) looks like a nicely reprossed white brass or mamas. The blade may be thin now, but keep in mind that it has probably seen many years of acid washing and was no doubt much stouter when it was made, so i wouldn't count it out as a usable blade. The pamor looks like it might be the very popular wos wutah (scattered rice). I think it is a very collectable old piece, but it doesn't look like anything too extraordinary to me. The hilt does look nice with a nice patina. Are you sure it is horn and not some dark wood?

9th April 2007, 03:18 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,739	Thanks David. Well it is probably around 11 portions. The handle is wood I think.

9th April 2007, 03:50 PM	#5
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,029	Yep, i figured the hilt was probably wood. Looks like it is a good example of that form though. To answer your other question, if i were you i would feel free to add abit more cloth or yarn to stablize the hilt. Unfortunately, over time tangs often break or are foreshortened, making keeping the hilt in place even more difficult. Be careful to add material slowly to the tang. You want the hilt to stay in place, but to don't want to crack the wood.

9th April 2007, 04:26 PM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,739	To be honest now I have had time to really look. I am more than a little dissapointed with it. The handle is already cracked and have a feeling that the bottom section of the blade has been gunged up with glue. The tang is so short and tapered I do not think I will ever be able to stop it turning so easily. I do not have much luck with these things, I should and will stick to what I do know about and have more of a feel for. It is a pain in the bum learning these lessons, so late in game so to speak. ouch