Bali Dress. Bali Blade?

RobT · 19th November 2022, 07:47 PM

Hi All,

I recently got this Balinese dressed keris but the look of the blade makes me suspect that it’s not from Bali and the blade to sheath fit isn’t really good either. The very slender (about 7/8” [22.22cm] wide) blade is about 14-3/4” (37.5cm) long and has a pronounced ada ada which vanishes into a thickened tip (with chigger bite at the very end). I have taken close-ups of the blade to show the pamor which is the most delicate I have ever seen. Perhaps if the blade were in proper color, the pamor would look bolder? I have also provided side and top views of the ganja area. Hopefully the pictures will be sufficient for a blade ID.
As for the dress, the front of the gandar is a kajoe pelet veneer and the back side had at one time been painted red (which somebody tried very hard to remove). The wranka is also kajoe pelet. I don’t know if the double kendhit on the bondolan hilt is real or a stain. When I got the keris, the hilt was on backwards and there was no uwer. The ensemble is otherwise as found.

Sincerely,
RobT

David · 19th November 2022, 08:29 PM

I would be fairly comfortable believing this blade is from Bali, though i would be more convinced if i could see it in full stain so that the pamor was revealed.
It is not that unusual for a blade to be adapted to a used sarung.

kai · 19th November 2022, 10:52 PM

I'm with David and also believe the blade to be proper in a Bali context; also recycling of fittings is not unusual, indeed.

From what I can glean from the pics, also the pamor seems to fit with a Bali origin.

The blade is quite worn and may be older. These often tend to be on the small side of the common size range.

Regards,
Kai

drdavid · 19th November 2022, 11:35 PM

Make it 3 votes for Bali
DrDavid

Anthony G. · 20th November 2022, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drdavid

Make it 3 votes for Bali
DrDavid

It is a nice Balinese keris alright. Not bad, lucky you

A. G. Maisey · 20th November 2022, 03:23 AM

I'm with everybody else.

19th November 2022, 07:47 PM	#1
RobT Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 452	Bali Dress. Bali Blade? Hi All, I recently got this Balinese dressed keris but the look of the blade makes me suspect that it’s not from Bali and the blade to sheath fit isn’t really good either. The very slender (about 7/8” [22.22cm] wide) blade is about 14-3/4” (37.5cm) long and has a pronounced ada ada which vanishes into a thickened tip (with chigger bite at the very end). I have taken close-ups of the blade to show the pamor which is the most delicate I have ever seen. Perhaps if the blade were in proper color, the pamor would look bolder? I have also provided side and top views of the ganja area. Hopefully the pictures will be sufficient for a blade ID. As for the dress, the front of the gandar is a kajoe pelet veneer and the back side had at one time been painted red (which somebody tried very hard to remove). The wranka is also kajoe pelet. I don’t know if the double kendhit on the bondolan hilt is real or a stain. When I got the keris, the hilt was on backwards and there was no uwer. The ensemble is otherwise as found. Sincerely, RobT Attached Images

19th November 2022, 08:29 PM	#2
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,023	I would be fairly comfortable believing this blade is from Bali, though i would be more convinced if i could see it in full stain so that the pamor was revealed. It is not that unusual for a blade to be adapted to a used sarung.

19th November 2022, 10:52 PM	#3
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,215	I'm with David and also believe the blade to be proper in a Bali context; also recycling of fittings is not unusual, indeed. From what I can glean from the pics, also the pamor seems to fit with a Bali origin. The blade is quite worn and may be older. These often tend to be on the small side of the common size range. Regards, Kai

19th November 2022, 11:35 PM	#4
drdavid Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 369	Make it 3 votes for Bali DrDavid

20th November 2022, 03:23 AM	#6
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,697	I'm with everybody else.